Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-15
DAILY SHORT STORY
A DEBTORS MANEUVERS.

When L lett west folHl hau q ueo'
for every friend and friend for ev-
cry debt. I was ordered TO ST. Louis
on recruiting service, where frlenus
and debts increased in arithmetfcal
progression. 1 was SO well treated by
the former that / found life well worth
living-that is, a short life. for my
debts were continually growing TIL
found 1t inconvenient TO live any Ion
ger, at least in st. Louis, and L applied
for orders to the frontier. | left my
pleasant surroundings regretted both
by my friends and creditors, though for
different causes.
The Indians were giving us more or
less trouble in those days, though not
in open rebellion, and most of the men
of my post were off at one place or an
other endeavoring to keep the peace by
their presence. One day IL legal looking
individual came TO the post and asked
for me- He made his inquiries of one or
my brother officers, who, knowing or
my embarraSsmentS, sent him 10 the
quarters of the major commanding,
then came to mine and warned me 10
look out for danger. The major sent
me an order to join my troop, from
which | was, like Sheridan ut Cedar
Creek. twenty miles away.
Well, before the man Mr.. Delaney
he called himself could get mt me |
was mounted on fleet horse and show
ing heels for the front. After | had
gone Delaney WAS Informed that had
Just started to join my troop and it
was very unfortunate that he had not
arrived Il little sooner. When | Joined,
my captain gave me Il sergeant and ten
men and sent me back to guard
ranch, the owner of which had sent to
him for protection.
We had gone back five or six miles
when suddenly Il party of Indians came
up over Il rise on the ground not IL hun
dred yards in advance of us. What
especially arrested our attention was
the figure of white man riding be-
tween the two foremost files. The In
dams turned tail. We gave chase and
We're not long in overhauling them.
! questioned the white man, and he
told me that he was riding to join the
troops 1 had just left when the Indians
swooped down upon him and took him
prisoner. / asked him who he was and
what he was doing out there, and he
said his name was Delaney and he was
looking for Lieutenant Bartlett Luce
myself. | turned away and affected
to busy myself with the men and the
captured Indians. l determined not to
give him Il chance to serve his papers
on me and kept out of his way. l had
no use for the Indians who had cap
tured him and turned them loose. De
laney came to me and told me ii WAS
very important that he see Lieutenant
Luce at once, SO he must get on TO the
troop. whereupon TO show my good
will / sent couple of men with him
that he might have no further trouble.
also sent note to the captain eX-
planning the circumstances and sug-
gesting that he send the man back to
me, giving me some order in advance
that would enable me to get away be
fore he arrived.
The next morning before breakfast
q messenger came from the captain
ordering me to report to the major com
handing at the post, and before sun
rise / was speeding along, getting in
in time for late breakfast at the jun
iors' mess. | gave an account amid
roars of laughter of the hairbreadth
escape had made. After hasty meal
l reported 10 the major. who, though
he outwardly did not make light of the
matter, set about deyising a new plan
to get me out of the way before the ar
rival of my man. He ordered me TO
another detachment, but told me to
wait awhile, since he desired me TO
take some written instructions which
he would prepare.
1t was two hours before the orderly
came for me, and | went 10 headquar
tiers. The major was just delivering
the dispatch to me when the door open
ed, and i'll walked Delaney.
This gentleman" said the major,
"can take any message you have for
Lieutenant Luce. He is going where
the lieutenant is to be on duty
WELL" said poor Delaney, sinking
into Il chair, hell have to take the
message. for I'm worn out. I've been
chasing Mr.. Luce from pillar to post
and been captured by Indians. Tell
his aunt, who is expected to live but
a. SAuTl TINE, Dul tut luuldIS light |
cd their pipes with it. / was only par
tally informed of it's contents, but l |
was given to understand that his aunt |
would leave him her property on GER |
tain conditions, but what the condi |
tons are l don't know. 1t has taken so |
long that she may be dead by this time, |
and without her reply the property |
was to go to her adopted daughter
Major L said, drawing my saber |
and handing him the hilt, will you
oblige me by turning fool killer and |
my skull?"
Well, to make short story of it. /
got leave and left at once for the
east. On reaching the Mississippi riv-
er took up paper and saw notice
of my aunt's death. Her fortune was
estimated at 100000. all of which. it
was understood, would go to her adopt