New-York tribune., 1901-06-02

I.ASIlSh, ne Very we'll kneW-that wafer carrier
who earns food for himself and feed for his
horses in a Northwestern town does better than
most Of his trade. But to be able to keep a fast
trntier, and To be engaged to red haired girl
how could that he?
Late on the fourth night of his stay in town
a strange sudden thought, bright and swift as
wind blown spark of dead, gray ashes
nickeIed into his mind. He was just turning in.
but as soon as that scarlet intuition was esped
ne ceased undressing and fell to dancing the
iied River jig in his stockinged feet. Then for
several hours he lay the bed. hther and
thither dividing his swift mind. And as soon
as ule window space of his room gray with
me cold light of the false dawn. he took his
boots IN one hand and left the hotel by way OF
The window, and followed the water carts track
oui OF Maln-st-. and under the shoulder of the
wooded hill on which stood the barracks Ever
as he went the dewy, wind stirred poplar
branches on either side OF the way seemed to b,
whispering To one another, ''Mhiskey an wateri
Whiskey an water" And when he sat down in
a clump of willows halfway down the hillside
whence he could discern the water carriers
snack IN the green depths his feet the
IISt steep curve OF his daily trail and the
cleaning levels OF the river beyond ali the
awakening voices of Nature seemed to be rapeat-
liS some form or those comfortable words. For
instance, when the chickadee i'm tine green heights
above and beyond him aWoke 10 salute the first
flame of the true dawn-so soon as ther, is
touch or crimson in the east the chickadee
awakes-the burden OF his song was: .-Whiskey,
Water Whiskey an water,'
Pity wee little birds can't give evidence"
sale The sergeant, and tried TO whistle but could
not.
Ten minutes later Possen crawled out Of his
back door led his horses out Of the stable
lltched them To the water cart. and ratified down
10 the river. In another half-hour he was driving
SLOWLY uphlll within few feet OF the spy's lair.
rive minutes later he round the turn and
out of sight, whereupon the spy stood up and
stretched himself. Guess he'll take that water
TO the hotel and MclSride's livery stables" he
lhufiilufed pelslNelE 'and lac hack again soon
Tor the second. Anyhow la better stav right
mere But see-~ hiz! what wouldn't / give for a
drink and bite Saying which. he plucked a
few poplar twigs. peeled them carefully and
fell to chewing the siiYery inner bark very
tasteless form Of Vesetarianisn bur many an
oldilme hunter has lived for days that diet
Before Possen returned the police water cart
came down the hill TO the Of Dixie IL
MAS nlled and already hauled halfway UP when
Inc water man appeared for his second loa T.
This time he down at his leisure and
stopped at his shack Entering. he closed the
door alter him. stayed inside for quite ten min
ntes, and emerged holding some object in his
hand under cloth He passed round the house
OUT OF SlSht, and-Well, Helli Il the fainteSt
Kicker of light in the clouGy sky but the ser
geant did not miss il. Neither did he miss the
reply to this signal-anoiher and even fainter
thicker Tar away on the left upstream Seeing
these things. he stood for a moment stock still
in wonderment. Then he laughed noiseless
laugh, danced two or three steps OF Jig and
started to climb the hill behind him.
The superintendent was engaged in wedding
his pet onion bed, when the sergeant climbed
over the garden fence, and after glancing round
10 SEE that no civilian was within nearing
marched straight toward him across a plot of
lettuce. superintendent" whispered the
geant as he saluted I've dropped in just To ask
two questions. When does the water cart go
down, and how many times a day."
"Eh? Oh i suppose YOU mean ours" said
that amazed officer why, never more than
once. but sometimes in the morning ana some
times in the evening. You see We get plenty of
rain water up here-a little too much now and
again But what in the name Of
Excuse me- sir" interrupted the sergeant
again saluting, but I've had no breakfast vet
though I've been scouting for some hours: and
ii YCu'n allow me. I'll step over to the sergeAnts'
mess and get something eat and drink before
telling YOU
'Deri a bit Of ii. Keenan, exclaimed the
superintendent, you'll and breakfast in
my quarters. My batsman II set out a meal in
TWO minutes and, If your reports worth any
thins, I've some prime old Scotch which-Ciit UP
mani"
IL was in the intervals Of eating and drinking
that Keenan, unf0lded his tale. You see SIR
he explained ever since | snelt out that cache.
a stones throw from the Edmonton Barracks
I've always searched for liquor in places " mere
one would naturally think no smuggler-not
even that long horned prairie perambulatin' son
OF a gum Jim Baker. the frader-Would have tn.
lnpudence TO store il. Come think OF it,
when your patrols flying up and down ana
line, where could a safer hiding place be found
than SOIneW here at the bottom Of this very mill?
And what better freighter could be found To
bring the stuff into town il WAS wanted than
this same POssen, whose business takes him
down To the river every day?
HOY docs il get there? Floated down the
river, sir; n0ated airuss the line and away down
through forty miles Of this b"eyuriful countrv.
with maybe Indian here ard an Indian thee.
10 see il travelled safe and didn't hang ashore,
TWO three big logs fastened together and
he kfa la he'd N