Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-05-17
Copyrighted 1900 by til. j. B. llppineo,, company.]

But-Wltn lJS SurOnS locks ana 1ntrl-
cate system of pigeon-holes and Sc
cret drawers. He would "chance it"
one night, he said, and give his trust
ed servant orders to stand guard
over the premises, and SO the little
bag of gold went into one closed COM
partment, the envelopes and wads of
treasury notes into the hidden
drawer, and the key into his watch
pocket.
His servant was young man
whose father had been with Col. Ray
for quarter of century, a. faithful
Irishman by the name of Hogan. He
was honest to the core and had but
one serious failure-he would drink.
And now Saturday morning, while
the guns of Alcatraz were booming
in salute across the bay and all the
garrison was out along the shore or
on the seward heights, waving fare
well to the Vinton fotilla, and his
mother and Maidie had gone out with
the department commander to bid
them godspeed, poor Sandy sat
wretchedly in his quarters.
Hogan, overwhelmed by the magni-
tude of his masters misfortunes, and
realizing that it was due in no small
degree to his own neglect, was now
self-exiled from the lieutenant's roof,
and seeking such consolation as he
could find at the Harp of Erin out
side the walls, miserable and con-
trite man-contrite, that is to say, as
NIL IN f6a 80 l..
country, for Hogan was pottle deep
in his distress.
Although vouched for as perfectly
sober from the Hibernian point of
view, he well knew that he had taken
so much that fatal Thursday even
ing as to be fearful of meeting his
master, and so had kept out of the
way until full time for him to be
gone to dinner. Then, working his
way homeward in the darkness of
the night, he had marveled much at
| finding the back door open, rejoiced
at sight of the demijohn and dis
order in the little dining-room, argu-
ing therefrom that the lieutenant
had had some jovial callers and
therefore hadn't missed him.
Hogan drank, in his masters price
less old Blue Grass Bourbon, to the
health of the party, and then, stun
bling into the bedroom and lighting
the lamp, came upon sight that
filed him with dismay-the beautiful
desk burst open, drawers and letters
and papers scattered about in utter
confusion-and in his excitement and
terror he had gone on the run to the
adjutant's quarters, told that official
of his discovery, and then learned OF
the wholesale Jail delivery that oc-
Cured at retreat.
He wrung his hands and wept as he
listended to his young master'swrath
fulrebuke and the recital of his losses
He hung meekly about the house al
night long, but, unable to bear the
sight of poor Rays mingled anger
and distress, he had fed with the
coming of che day and gone to tell
his woes to his friend of the Harp.
Afternoon of Saturday came, and
still Ray sat there nerveless.
He knew that any moment now
sister. He had cleared up the litter
left by the robbers, put his desk in
order. and Hogan had done his best
with the sideboard in the other room
Sympathetic souls among his broth
er officers had been in from time tc
time consoling him with theories that
the thief could not escape-would
surely be recaptured and the money
recovered. But on the other hand he
was visited by the returned troopers
in quest of their money, and was
compelled to tell them of the rob
berry and to ask them to wait unit
Monday, when he would be able tc
pay them.
Luckier than others who have beer
overtaken in the army by somewha'
similar misfortune. Ray knew that hi
had only to acquaint his parents will
the extent of his loss, and, ever
though the sum was great, it woul'