Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-03-06

left, and not a company to oppose
them. No, sir, more than enough Of
that troop have already been sacri
ficed The rest shall stay here"
| And we'll was it, for one and all
that Old Pecksniff' held firm to his
decision. 1t was one of his lucid in
| tervalS.
Late that evening, after ten o'clock
| there came the sound of hoofbeats
on the hard road and the crack of 8
long-lashed mulewhip, and the fort
ambulance clattered up to Folsom's
gate, and the colonel himself, his ad
jutant by his side, came nervously
up the gravel walk. Folsom met them
at his door. Instinctively he felt that
something new and startling was add
ed to the catalogue of the days dis
astrous tidings. Pecksniff's face was
eloquent CT gravest concern, mingled
with irrepressible excitement
''Let me see you in private, quick,
he said 'Mr.-ah-Mr. Adjutant
will you kindly remain in the parlor,'
and, taking Folsom by the elbow
Pecksniff led impetuously into the Ii
|
a moment before, but, dreading news
of further evil, Pappoose came fut-
tering down.
$50 in and welcome the adjutant
dear" said Folsom, hurriedly. "The
colonel and I have some matters to
talk Of" Obediently, she turned at
once, and, glancing up the stairs
| noticed that Mrs. Fletcher's door
must have been suddenly opened, for
the light from her room was now
streaming on the third-foor balus-
tiers. Listening again! What could
be the secret of that woman's in
tense watchfulness? In the parlor
the young staff officer was pacing up
and down, but his face lighted at
sight Of Elinor.
do you knows there anything
new ?-anything worse?" she quickly
asked, as she gave her slim young
| hand.
"Not concerning our people," was
the significant answer. But [ fear
there's more excitement coming"
Barely waiting for Elinor to with
draw, "Pecksniff' had turned on Fol
som. "You know I opposed the send
ing of that party? YoI know it was
all ordered on Burleigh's urging and
representations. do you not?"
eyes, I heard so,' said Folsom
| ''What then?"
"You know he planned the whole
businessmen 'em around by Canyon
| Springs and the Sweetwater?"
Eyes, heard that, too" said Fol
som, still wondering.
''You know some one must have put
| that Birdsall gang on the scent, and
that Burleigh has had alleged nerve
| prostration ever since, and has been
| too i'll to see anyone or to leave his
| bed"
Eyes. so we were told"
'Weu, he's well enough to be UP
and away-God knows where, and
here is the reason-just in from the
NORTH" and. trembling with excite
ment, Pecksniff pointed to the closing
paragraph of the letter in his hand:
CORDS, seals and wrapping were intact
when handed to the quartermaster, but the
contents were nothing but worthless pa
per. IL must nave peen 50 WAen gwen -
Lieut.. Dean
Folsom's eyes were popping from
his head. He sank into a chair, gaz-
ing up in CONSERVATION.
Don't you see, mani" said Peck
sniff, 'some one in the depot is short
$4,000 or so. Some one hoped tc
cover this shortage in just this way
to send a little squad with a bogus
package, and then turn loose the big
gest gang of ruffians in, the country
They would have got it but for the
storm at Canyon Springs, and no one
would have been the wiser. They
couldn't have got it without muir
derous fight. No one would ever dare
confess his completely in it. No state
ment of theirs that there wasn't a
cent in the sack could ever be be
lieved. Some ones shortage would
be covered and his reputation saved
The plot failed, and Gods mercy was
over Deans head. He'd "a been muir
dered or ruined if the plan worked
and now Burleigh's gone!"