The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-03-10

IGuuGI VI Ills 1OI lj6I USilSAl,
his meekness of mien until the court
had concluded his case and gone; then
his sudden resumption of bold, trucu-
lent, defiant manner, his midnight
breach of arrest which had leaked out
through the guard that was promptly
sent forth to fetch him in; then his de-
mand for the return of his property and
his furious outburst on learning that
Loring had taken him at his word and
sent it without delay by the safest pos
sible hands
That proved an exciting day. The adj
Jutant's message had temporarily awed
and quoted the man, but toward 3 p.
m. the mail carrier arrived from the
ella with his sack of letters and papers
He reported having been stopped only
five miles out from Sancho's by masked
men, who quickly examined his big
leather bag, silently pointed to a curious
MARIA dab of paint that must have got
on it while he was there at the ranch
and sent him ahead without a word
being spoken. He saw other men, but
they passed him by in wide circuit. He
met Lieutenant Blake and the troop,
and the lieutenant babe him hurry So
the letters were delivered nearly two
hours earlier than usual In the mail
were a dozen missives for Captain New
ins-two in dainty feminine superscrip-
ton postmarked San Francisco, several
that might be bills. others that were
slipped in at Sancho's.
The major himself looked these en-
velopes over as though he thought their
contents ought to be examined, but even
q convicted man had his rights, and the
letters were sent to him. In less than
less air of the long afternoon was sud-
denly burdened with another eruption
of oaths and rawlings. One or two wo1n-
en- sitting in the shade of their canvas
shelters across the parade clapped their
hands to their ears and ran indoors, and
the majors orderly dashed full tilt for
the guard. Half an hour later Captain
Nevins was escorted to new abode, a
tent pitched just outside, not within,
the corral, and there he was left to
swear at will with the sentry on No. 4
warned to call the corporal of the guard
if the gentleman for one moment quit
the seclusion of his solitary quarters
And this was the status OF affairs
when the sun went down at the close of
the third day after adjournment.
When it rose upon the fourth, all was
quiet about the impetuous captain IS
canvas home-too quiet, thought the
officer OF the day after his visit to the
guard at reveille, and therefore did he
unite the cords that fastened the flaps
in front and peer within. Five minutes
later two new prisoners were placed in
charge of the guard, of which they had
been members during the night-Pri-
Yates Poague and Pritzlaff of the first
and second reliefs respectively. But the
aggregate gain in the column of "in ar
rest or confinement" was only one. fol
Captain Nevins had disappeared.
OF course there was rush to the out.
lying ranch whose few remaining occu.
pants grinned e2asperatingly and
shrugged their shoulders, but gave nc
information. OF course courier was
sent scurrying away on the trail Of the
cavalry, but he came back sore footed
at night, relieved of his horse, arms and
equipments and thanking God for his
life OF course another courier was
started by night to make the perilous
ride to the Salado and order the instant
return of at least platoon, but nothing
more was heard of him for week, anc
it was nearly five days before these
desert bound exiles of Camp Cooke go,
another atom of reliable news from
Sancho's, and meantime wondrous 9th
er things had happened.
1t did not take long to determine the
means by which Nevins had succeeded il
getting away There was little indeed
to prevent his doing SO if he saw fit tt
go, for unless sentries were posted OF
all four sides of his tent he NIGH
crawl off in the darkness unobserved
The sentry on No. had received order.
merely tn summon the corporal and re
port to him if the officer ventured t.
leave his tent, and as No. 4 was pos
over a hundred yards in length and the
sentry responsible for all of it Their.
was no right or reason in demanding O
him that he should give his undivided
attention to what might be going OF
close to the corral.
In fact, by removing Nevins from thu
inner quadrangle of the camp and plac
ing him outside the walls Major Starkt
had made it all the easier for him tt
skip second time if he saw fit to do SO
but Starke reasoned that Nevins still
had some hope that congressional influ
ence would save him from dismissal
and therefore would not peril hi
chances by second flight. Starke dit
not know that Nevins was honest a
least in one statement-that he expect
ed dismissal His fate was sealed; hi
pay was confscated to square shortages
There was actually nothing to be gain
ed by staying at Cooke in virtual con
finement perhaps eight or ten week
until his case could be decided i'll Wash
ington and the orders received back il
Arizona 1t actually simplified matter
in many ways for Nevins to go