Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-03-25

between the music and the cheers
seemed to get no further than the post Of
No. Q, and Corporal Mahoney had gone
10 see II three and four were all right.
Silence WINS gradually settling down
upon the moonlit garrison, although
voices Of women and children came
floating family across the dim parade.
and out under the spectral wl,ite flag
staff tiny sparks ms Of cigars could be
seen, and low, gruff voices were heard
In consultation. A moment or two more
and the sentry on No. was hidden to
call Off half-past 1e. and barely had he
done so. and Merriam wns straining his
ears for the answering cry Of the outly'
ing posts, than second time the sentry
let loose his voice and challenged sharp
ly: "Who comes there?"
Commanding officer aid friends.
was the answer In Buxton's growl.
"Halt! Corpril the Guard-command
ing officer and friends" answered No. l..
and Merriam sprang to his feet while
the corporal went bounding out to en-
anime and receive the party.
~ want the officer Of the guard, !" said
Buxton, impatient Of etiquette or for.
mality as he bulged ahead. "0h, Mr.
Merriam, there must be at least hun
bred of our men gone tagging along
with the 'doughboys' in hopes Of II
round OF drinks at the Junction, proba.
bly,. I want a mounted patrol to 90 in
at once and head 'em all back, otherwise
some Of them will be carried away on
the train, sure as shooting. Just give
your stable sentry orders to let dozen
horses out. I'll send Mr.. Whitaker in
command; he wanted to turn out and go
as escort. Lots Of your men are in there,
suppose, Capt. Grafton" he concluded.
as he turned to the silent officer at his
side.
Half dozen, possibly, sir, though |
doubt II. Do you wish horses and men
from my troop? lfnot, sir, I'll retire"
"Yes. sir, / do. want three men and
horses from each troop-good men, too.
II send squad from just one troop,
those runagates will be down on just
that one company and we'll be in hot
water for whole year."
Grafton silently touched his cap and
turned away. Far off to the southeast
there was the sound Of cheering, and the
band had struck up some rollicking
quickstep, whereat old Bux grir:ed his
teeth and swore anew. damn those in
fernal idiots! Do you know what'll be
the result Of this? The regiment will
get away on the train, and then thar
band instead of coming back will 60 to
Miguel's saloon, and there they'll start
q bale and have that whole greaser
population in there drinking mescal
and 'guardiente, and ripping and fight
ing until everybody's beastly drunk. ]
won't have 1t, sir!" and he glared ut the
officer Of the guard as though he con.
sidered that silent official coconspira-
tor. ~ won't have it, / say. wish Mr..
Whitaker to start at once and round
up the whole gang"
And with that he strobe portentously
away in the direction of headquarters.
the orderly following with q grin. Cor
poral Mahoney came In from his round.
reporting three and four all right and
everything secure.
"But there's one thing, sir: No. s
can't begin to see the length of his post,
and with so many private horsesin thelit
tie stables back Of the row what's to pre-
vent them beggars from town running
off half dozen head? Once across the
mesa and into the Santa Clara country
there'd be no catching them"
1--WE must take the chances" said
Merriam, briefly. "The commanding
officer will not permit any increase Of
sentries."
Yet the corporal's warning made him
think Of bis own favorite saddle horse
and Floy's pretty bay. She rode sc
well, so fearlessly, tirelessly, that one OF
his very first gifts to her had been this
dainty little mare, swift and sure-foot-
ed as O greyhound, and about as won
derful q jumper, and Florence gloried II
her and In the dashing rides they used
to take. They didn't mind the lack OF
shaded bride paths. They secured the
plain full gallop, riding recklessly after
the bounding jack-rabbits, and coming
home all athrlll and aglow with the
glorious exercise. But of late the rides
had become more sedate and slow and
less frequent, and then when Mrs. Nc
Lane proposed being Of the party Flor
ence discovered Mignon to be suddenly
lame, and had q shoe removed and Q
hoof poulticed. and Randy smiled bu.
said nothing. Mignon was surprised
perhaps, but not Mr.. Merriam. He was
thinking Of the unprotected condition
Of those stables back Of officers row.
where those gentlemen who owned pri
waite stock were required to keep theirs
instead OF, as had been customary un.
der previous administration, ut the
cavalry or quartermaster's corrals. The
colonel Of the Riflers had once beer
handicapped for allowing public
forage to be fed to private mounts" Of
some garrison ladies, and now he had
his eyes open. The Freemans, Haynes.
Graftons and Merriams, as well rs the
doctor, oil had private horses for ladies'
use; SO did certain others; and, III
though every mounted officer could
draw forage for two horses, not peel
Of oats could he get beyond that, aE'-
when II came to forage for ladies
horses-animals never ridden or drives
except by ladies, and too light for gov
ernment service, the colonel drew the
line at that entirely, and was sustained
by virtuous congress.
So Randy Ind TO buy forage for