Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-04-25

porter had told him Mrs. Mainwaring
was an army lady; go, doubtless, was
the young lady with her. Very possibly
the lieutenant was their escort, and the
escort was wrathful over his usurpation
of an escorts functions, so far as the
damsel was concerned. Gray could not
remember the officers busying himself
in any way to aid Mrs. Mainwaring.
True, he was still half stunned and was
bathing his bruises, while Gray was car
ing for the very attractive if somewhat
disheveled girl in the pale blue wrap
per. Something in the contemplation Of
his loneliness and isolation during the
earlier night-a man without home,
the would be sharer Of the freman's
seat the companion of the rude sol-
diery, the alder and abettor of tramps--
and the exaltation of his present tickled
his sense of the humorous. Had he NOT
won the gratitude, the almost effusive
thanks, of Mrs. Mainwaring, the clos
quent, if silent, recognition Of very
pretty girl and now the undoubted jeal-
ousy and dislike of an army officer?
There's some fun left in life, even
now,' was his grim comment, as he
calmly studied Rawson's reddening
face, gazing speculatively into the lat
ter's shifting eyes until uneasily they
turned away.
The gray dawn was sheeting the
slopes about them, and farther to the
west the mountain tops loomed, dim,
pallid and white with snow. Fine, soft
AL, ~ Il
Longs prediction was being verified.
That faithful soldier of his country and
the road" was now stretched on the
| fiat of his back on the floor of the bag
/ gage car, with some car seats for mat
tress, pluckily sitting the moan of pain
that would have forced itself through
| his set teeth. To him came the younger
soldier. the sergeant, full of sympathy.
lyon re badly shaken, Mr.. Long.
Wouldn't little whisky help you?''
said he, the cavalry cure all of the old
days most naturally suggesting itself.
II don t know but what it would,
groaned the engineer. 1.-The Lieutenant
has some, hasn't he?"
Eyes, he has, !" was the half hesitant
reply. Then the freemasonry of the
craft seemed to show in the look that
followed, half comical, half confiding,
but all significant "But-he amt the
sort of man I'd ask for anything.
Tain't like as if it was Captain Ray or
Blake or Truscott or any of them was
here, you know. But can find you
some all right .
And, jumping from the car, Sergeant
Kearney went straight to Mr. Gray.
"Our engineer. sir" said he. sis badly
stove MP Could you oblige me.with
little whisky?''
'tCertainly." said Gray, going down
into his pocket and fishing up the silver
topped flask. "Give him good swig,
and, sergeant, help yourself.
The sergeant grinned thanked him,
hurried back to his new friend and
gave him what he called an honest cav
airy four fingers
God" said Long, smaoking his lips,
timer. Then as the potent liquor, long
stranger to his once case hardened sys-
tenn, began glowingly to assert itself he
blinked his gratitude and looked admir-
ingly at the handsome flask. "That's q
swell stopper you We got to that canteen,
sergeant. Where'd you capture it?"
Tall young fellow in the first Sleep
err. Seems to have money and whisky,
cigars aud good nature, till you can't
rest, said Kearney in the vernacular
of the day, surprised at Longs sudden
interest. The engineer bracea himself
up on an elbow, all eagerness
Smooth face, with light mustaohe,
, regular six footer. slim, broad shoulder
ed, travelling cap and big ulster?'
"That's the Teller. Treated half my
squad to pie and coffee back there at the
. Junction. No end of a swell, l. Why,
' what's amiss? Say, wouldn't take an
other drink just now, would your" he
> broke off anxiously, for Long was reach-
ing for the flask.
, II want to see the monogram, or
whatever you call it, on that silver Stop
per. Dye know what think Of that
Teller? He's first cousin or twin brother
to the foxiest gang of bank and train
robbers in the whole country, and if we
. hadn't run over or run our nose slap
: into No. 12 right here at Alkali Flats
= I'm betting my bottom dollar we'd have
found hts gang waiting for us back of
}, Thunder Gaa.
Kearney drew back, startled. Long
had seized the flask and was studying
the stopper with keen interest. No won
der he couldn't decipher it. There was
: no monogram. Instead there was a
- queer shaped shield with diagonal lines
and odd little figures, like tiny leaves,
! cut on the surface, and above it was the
= paw of an animal grasping dagger,
= and there was scroll with some words
, in a foreign tongue, Long knew moi
y what He searched the cup of silver
y that fitted on the base, but that was
y smooth and polished. The red Russis
~ leather covering also bore no mark.
. That don't look like train robber, >
= said Kearney, pointing to the device or
the top of the stopper. "Ain't thai
. what you call coat of arms, or some
:. thing?"