Warren sheaf., 1903-10-29

A faithful, loyal, devoted old seryitor
was McGann, yet Webb, as we have
seen, had ever to watch his whisky
carefully, lest the Irishman should
see it, and seeing taste, and tasting
fall. The store had orders from Mrs.
McGann, countersigned by Webb, to
the effect that her husband was never
to have drop. Flint was teetotaler
himself, and noted without shadow
OF disapprobatio that the decanters'
on the sideboard were both empty the
very day he took possession, also that
the cupboard was securely locked.
Mrs. McGann was sure her iege got
no liquor there nor at the store, and
his confused statement that it was
given him by "fellers at the stables"
was treated with scorn. McGann then
was still under martial surveillance
and official displeasure the day after
Mrs. McGann's revelations, with un-
explained iniquities to answer for
when his head had cleared and his
legs resumed their functions. But by
that time other matters were brought
to light that laid still further accusa-
ton at his door. With the consent
of DR.. Waller, Lieut.. Field had been
allowed to send an attendant for his
desk. There were letters, he said, he
greatly wished to see and answer,
and Mrs. Ray had been so kind as to
offer to act as his amanuensis. The
attendant went with the key and
came back with scared face. Some
body, he said, had been there before
him.
They did not tell Field this at the
time. The doctor went at once with
the messenger, and in five minutes
had taken in the situation. Fields
rooms had been entered and probably
robbed. There was only one other
occupant of the desolate set that so
recently had rung to the music of
so many glad young voices. Of the
garrison proper at Frayne all the
cavalry officers except Wilkins were
away at the front; all the infantry
officers, five in number, were also up
along the Big Horn. The four who
had come with Flint we're strangers
to the post, but Heron, who had
been a classmate of Ross at the Point,
moved into his room and took the
responsibility of introducing the con-
tract doctor, who had come with
them, into the quarters at the front
of the house on the second floor.
These rooms had been left open and
unlocked. There was nothing, said
the lawful occupant, worth stealing,
which was probably true; but Field
had bolted, inside, the door of HIS
sleeping room; locked the hall door
of his living room and taken the key
with him when he rode with Ray.
The doctor looked over the rooms
moment; then sent for Wilkins, the
post quartermaster, who came in
huff at being disturbed at lunch.
Field had been rather peculiar about
his belongings. His uniforms always
hung on certain pegs in the plain
his bureau were generally arranged
like the clothes press of cadet days,
as though for inspection, but now
coats, blouses, dressingsack and
smoking jacket hung with pockets
turned inside out or flung about the
bed and floor. Trousers had been
treated with like contempt. The bu-
reau looked like what sailors used to
call "hurrah's nest," and q writing
desk, brass-bound and Of solid make,
that stood on a table by a front win
dow, had been forcibly wrenched open
and it's contents were tossed about
the floor. A larger desk-a wooden
field desk-stood upon trestle across
the room, and this, too, had been ran
sacked. just what was missing only
one man could tell. Just how they en-
tered was patent to alNthrough a
| glazed window between the bedroom
and the now unused dining-room be-
yond. Just who were the house.
breakers no man present could say;
but Mistress McGann that afternoon
communicated her suspicion to her
sore-headed spouse, and did 1t boldly
and with the aid of q broomstick.
Its all alOng," she said, "av your
shtoopin' to dhrink wild them low
lived salvages at Hays. Now, what
dye know about this?"
But McGann swore piously he knew
nothing, barrin' that Pete and Cra-
paud had some good liquor one night
dear knows when it was, an he'd
helped 'em dhrink her health
when twas gone, and more was want
ed, sure Pete said he'd taken demi-
john to the ieutenant's, with Mr..
Hays compliments, the day before he
left for the front, and sure be
couldn't have drunk all av it, and II
the back dure was open Pete would
inquire anyhow" .....u ~
That was all Michael remembered
or felt warranted in revealing, for
stoutly he declared his and their in
nocence of having burglariously en-
tered any premises, let alone the
leutenant's. "Sure they'd bite their
own. noses off fur him. said Nike,
which impossible feat attested the full,
measure of haf-breed devotion. Mis-
tress McGann decided to make further
investigation before saying anything
| to ANYBODY: but before the dawn OF