Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-04-18
/ .(CHAPTER I.-Continued.)

-'bahl'. growled Mainwaring, who
had little use for Rawson or any other
officer who was away on leave when
his regiment was in the field. MRS.
Mainwaring's never met him. and if
she had would feel mighty small securi-
ty in his escort--a fellow that'll be
held up with q whole carload Of passen-
gers by only two robbers. !"
MainwRxing alluded to matter that
was q sore spot in the -th and that
never yet had been fully explained.
But Mr. Rawson, three months earlier
that summer, had unquestionably been
relieved Of his few valuables at the
point Of the pistol on the K. P. road.
The regiment meant to worry the life
out Of him when he rejoined, but didn't
like it that Mainwaring, a newcomer,
should be the first to crack the whip
Blake almost wanted to blaze up, but
thought it best perhaps to wait for Ray,
and 30 subsidized.
Ray. however, had sauntered out to
the edge Of the scanty patch of timber,
and, shading his eyes with his brown
hand. was scanning with professional
interest the long column Of dusty troop
era, two abreast, that came filing into
view around little point 500 yards
away. Well out in their front, short,
square and stocky, rode their major,
his adjutant, trumpeter and orderly jog
ging along behind. To him rode the
colonels messenger, the regimental ad.
autants and pointed out a line some dis
lance up stream. Thither the head OF
column veered, moving at steady walk.
The guidon bearer, at a signal from the
battalion adjutant,, spurred out to the
front, and, with the old silken swallow.
tail streaming in the wind, Hoped acrus.
the level to point ten yards or SO from
the bank, was halted there by the youne
officer iE person, and then, lance al
rest. he and bis horse stood motionless
Never quickening the pace, the captain
at the head of Staunard Is foremost trool
directed his march on this living guide
post. The guidon of the second troop
followed SPEEDILY by those of the thirt
and fourth in like manner, darted on
across the prairie, each in succession be
ing halted and established at half dis
tanee in rear of his predecessor on sh
line Of guides. Each troop directed it
self upon it's own color; each in success
sion formed line to the left as its lead
ing two came opposite the guidon; eacl
was aligned to the right; then, withou
loss of time, the trumpets sounded
prepare to dismount;" the brown Car
bines were jerked from their sockets an
tossed over the right shoulder as tn
odd numbered troopers rode clear of tn
rank. "Dism cunt, olamored the trum
pet, and down out of sight sank som
City odd blue flannel shirts and rust
old hats in each line. "Form rank.
And out from among the chargers por
ped the vanished riders each layin
hold Of the reins close to the bat as tn
line reformed apd the captain said hi
brief speech: Water as soon as you like
men, and Craze we'll out to the mort
until nightfall. No side lines necessar
today. Dismiss Che troop, sergeant ="
And the next thing dozen men wer
soampering like mad, lariats and pickle
pins swinging, heading for the MOI
promising patches OF grass
Each picket pin was stamped home
the lariats uncurled to their full length