The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-23
CHAPTER II.

Just what an ofIicers' actual rank
might be in the days that followed close
on the hoels OF the war was a matter no
man could tell from either his dress or
address. Few indeed were they who es-
capped the deluge OF brevets that poured
over the army and soaked some men six
deep.
There were we'll authenticated cases of
well preserved persons who had never
so much as seen battle and were yet.
on one pretext or another. .brevetted away
up among the stars for faithful and
meritorious service" recruiting. muster
ing or disbursing.
We had colonels by title whose func-
tons were purely those OF the file closer.
We had generals by brevet who had
never set squadron I'm the field and didn't
know the difference between a pole yoke
and a pedometer.
Every captain, except one or two who
had lauBhinslX declined, wore the straps
OF a field offioer, some few even OF gem
erals. and SO when one heard a military
looking man addressed as colonel the
chances were ten to one that he was
drawing only the stipend of a company
ofncer. and in matters OF actual rank I'm
the army IL was money that talked
But there could be no questioning the
right of the senior or the two oficers
who had alighted at Sanoho's TO the I'll
tie of colonel Soldier stood out all over
him, even though HIS garb was conceal
ed by nondescript dustsr. His face
lined thin Tipped and resolute, was tam
ned by desert suns and winds. His hair,
once brown,was almost white. His beard,
once flowing and silky was cropped to a
gray stubble, His steely blue eyes
snapped under their heavy thatoh. His
head was carried high and well back
and his soft felt hat, wide brimmed, was
pulled down over the brows. His deep
chest, square shoulders, erect carriage
and starlight. muscular legs all told OF
days and years in the field. and every
word he uttered had about IL the crisp,
clear cut ring OF command.
IL was safe TO bet that no mere COM
pany was the extent OF this soldiers au-
thority, and Sancho. keen observer, had
put him down for a lieutenant colonel at
least. Full colonels were mostly older
men, and Arizona had but one in tine
days of the empire"
The rachmen had eagerly whispered
questions TO the loungers as to the iden-
tity OF the two arrivals but without sue
cess Both were strangers, although the
junior had been seen at the ranch once
before. the day Blake's troops was camp
ed there on the way back from the
Dragons. There was the packet left by
the orderly 10 be called for by officers
arriving on the Yuma stage, addressed
In clerkly hand, but sancho. alas. coulc
not read.
lowering as near as the gravity and
dignity OF his station would permit. ana
had heard the colonels query about
Blake. He pricked up his ears at once.
Ten!ente Blake--30 miles east on the
Maricopa road, Why, how was this?
Some one had told him Blake had been
20 the Colorado and was coming back py
this very stage. How did Blake get TO
the east OF Sancho's ranch, after having
once gone west. without Sanchos know
Ing IL?
Susplciously he watched the two sol
diers, the grizzled colonel, the slim lieu
tenant. They were talking together In
low tone; at least the colonel was talk
ing eagerly eneregetically and win
much gesticulation. The junior listened
wor1less to every word. What had he |
meant by 1.-The bird had nown?" Why
should Nevins "skip?" An unpleasant
Nevins, at least a Nevins. a captain !
whom everybody knew in fact and few
men trusted What had Nevins been uo-
ing, or rather what that he had been do |
ing was he 10 be held TO account for? |
Why should the colonel so eagerly ask |
where they could reach Blake2
Time was when Sancho hattered him |
self there was no deviltry going on IN |
except such as originated with |
the Indians. in which he had not at least |
the participation OF full knowledge, yet |
here came two officials Fastening by /
stage instead OF marching with military |
and escort and they were |!
I'm quest OF the Senior Captain Nevins, |
Of whom all men had heard and at whose |
hands many had suffered, for was not he |
a player whom the very cards seemed 10 !,
obey?
Was II not he who broke the bank at |
during the fiesta at Tue |
son but Ave months agone? Was IL not /
Ncvins whe won all the money -thase-t~e
young tenientes possessed, two boys from |
the far east Just Joining their regiments |
and haplessly falling into the hands on
this dashing. dapper, whole souled hos
pitable comrade, who made his temporary |
quarters their home until they could find |
opportunity To go forward TO the distant
posts where their respective companies |
were stationed? Was Il not Nevins who. |
right there at Sancho's ranch, finding
party OF prospectors, several ex-Confcd- |
crate soldiers among them, languidly |
stalking silver at the monte table presided
over by Sancho's own brother. had calm
Iy opened faro layout and entieed every |
man from the legitimate game and every
peso from their pockets before the two
days session was finished?
Well did Sancho recall his own wrath
and that OF his brother at this unlicensed
with their special business
and the surprising lberality. too. with
which the senior captain had silenced
their remonstrance. Rascal though he |
was Sancho had sense enough TO know
that such proceedings were not seemly I'm
4 man bearing the commission OF an
officer but Sancho little knew how many
4 congressman along at the close Of the
war. finding himself compelled TO pro-
vide some kind of living for political
heeers" or some impersonal reward for |
services rendered, had foisted his hench-
men into the army. then being enlarged |
md reorganized. and Nevins was one of |
the results Of the iniquitous system
Commissioned "a first lieutenant of a
regiment that had a proud record in tho |
regular division of the Army OF the 20. |
omac and had been hurried at the close |
,f the war TO the Pacific coast, Nevins |
had Joined at Fort Yuma and served a
lew weeks apprenticeship as file closer.
lust long enough 10 demonstrate that he |
knew nothing whatever about soldering |
Ind 10 much about poker. All HIS aenfors |