The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-27
CHAPTER VI.

partment inspector. Lieutenant Blake,
TO his disgust. had been sent scouting
up the Hassyampa, where the Apaches
had been some days before. but couldn' {
be found now II being the practice OF
those nimble warriors to get far from
the scene of their deviltries without
needless delay, and the rules OF the pow
ers that were until General Crook taught
them wiser methods, was to promptly
order cavalry to the spot where the In
dians had been instead OF where they had
presumably gone. A blackboard en- route
10 Date Creek, with two OF the array
that had sat in the judgment OF Nevins.
had been held up" at night by gang
of half dozen desperadoes and the
three passengers relieved OF their valu-
bles. consisting OF one gold watch and
two OF silver one seal ring, three revol-
vers. three extra sized canteens. a two
gallon demiJohn and In the aggregate
three gallons of whisky.
The victims had submitted 10 the in
evitable. so far as their gold and silver
were concerned. but pathetically pointed
out TO the robber chief the hardship of
being bereft at one fell swoop OF the
expensive and only consolation the coun-
try afforded, and despite his wrath and
disap appointment at finding the gentlemen
had already been robbed-two OF them
having spent four nights hand running
at the post poker room--the leader was
not so destitute OF fellow feeling TO con-
denim the hapless trio 10 the loss OF even
the necessaries OF life. and mercifully
handed back half a gallon.
I'VE hope 10 catch some OF you gen
tlemen when you haven't been playing
poker. said he, striving TO sti1e his
chagrin. WHO got IL all anyhow" he
asked with an eye 10 future business.
"Ah, yes! Might have known IT," he
continued in response TO the rueful adj
IN nf nnA nf hn ,Jo.
fully smart out ft that at Cooke, won
derfully-most as smart as some of our
people at Sancho's. Well. so long, gen.
tlemen. IL any of your friends are com
ing this way, recommend our place.
won't you? We've treated you as well as
we know how. Drive on. Johnny. Nobooy
else will stop you this side OF Date. Tney
know we got here first"
Arizona was interesting region I'm
those days OF development that followed
close on the heels of the war. Hundreds
of experienced hands had been thrown
out OF employment by the return OF
peace and the territories overflowed
with outlaws, red and white, male and
female. IL was taking ones life in ones
hands 10 venture pistol shot beyond the
confines OF the military post. Ii was i'm
possible for paymasters to carry funds
without a strong escort OF cavalry. The
emily currency In the territory was that
put I'm circulation by the troops or paid
10 contractors through the quartermas-
ters department. Even Wells-Fargo
pioneer cxpressmen OF the Pacific slope
sent their messages and agents no far
ther then than the Colorado river anu
Uncle Sans mail stage was robbed SO
often that registered package had
grown TO be considered only an adver-
tisement to the covetous OF the fact that
Its contents might be OF value.
Aud so. when the record OF the court
.l,aI.~ ~,..
fetal envelope. and Lieutenant Loring.
even more grave and taciturn than usu-
al went the rounds Of the rude quarters
10 leave his card or pay his ceremonous
parting call on the officers who knew
enough 10 call on him-which in those
crude days OF the army many did not
he was asked by more than one expert
enced soldier whether he had requested
an escort in view of the fact that he was
Dureened with valuables that. though
small I'm bulk. were convertible into cash
that was anything but small in amount.
TO such queries Mr.. Lorng, who had
an odd aversion TO answering questions
as to what he was, going TO do, merely
bowed assent and changed the subject.
Lieutenant Gleason, an officer who had
recently Joined the infantry and was one
of Nevins victims, man of unusual
assurance, despite his few months OF
service, had persisted Ia his queries to
the extent OF demanding from what
quarter Loring expected 10 get an escort.
Blake being away at the Hassayampa
and no other cavalry being within 60
miles, and Gleason felt resentful. though
he deftly hid the fact, because the eng-
neer ignored the question until ii had
been thrice repeated, and then he said.
somewhat tartly. That is my affair. Mr..
Gleason"
Everybody thought that Loring was
decidedly unsociaole, and some-weAt So
far as 10 call him supercilious and haugh-
ty.
"Too blanked big 10 minglc with men
who fought all through the war while he
was a schoolboy at the Point" said Glea-
son. who had never seen skirmish.
This latter gentleman took II much
amiss that Loring had won the shoulder
straps OF first lieutenant the day ne
first donned his uniform tmany vacancies
then existing In the corps of engineers).
while Gleason and others with what he
called war records were still second lieu
tenants. Officers of the caliber OF Turn
bull and Starke saw much to respect in
the grave. silent, thoughtful young of
ficer. but the juniors-the captains and
lieutenants-though they had marked the
ease and ability with which Lorng han
died what was probably his first case as
Judge advocate. nevertheless agreed that
he was "offish" toward the general run
OF "the line" held himself aloof as though
| lie COnSlueTeu nlnlStn VI superior CldNs
didn't drink. smoke, swear or play cards
and was therefore destitute Of most ele-
ments OF soldier companlonship as then
and there defined. IL was resented too.
by almost everybody that Loring would
not say when and how he expected TO
leave Camp Cooke: He had come on
sancho's famous roam. but had returned
that animal by special courier without
delay
starke and Turnbull were Informed
but at Lorings request saw ~ 10 hold
their tongues. No one should know, he
had said 10 them. II he was to be re-
sponsible for those valuables. II might
leak out. and the veteran officers saw the
point The juniors could not well ask
them (the veterans) but they could and
dld ask Loring and held II up against
him In days 20 come that he declined %
be confidential.
There was n man at Cooke who could
have told them Joring showed wisdom
In his observance of caution. and that
man was Nevins who had been sent for