Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-03-31
A Debtors ManeuyerS
[Original.1

Il
on recruiting service, where friends
and debts increased in arithmetical
progression. l was so we'll treated by
the former that found life we'll worth
living-that is, a short life, for my
debts were continually growing till l
found it 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 a legal looking
individual came to the post and asked
for me. He made his inquiries Of one of
my brother officers, who, knowing of
my embarraSSments, sent him to the
quarters Of the major commanding,
then came to mine and warned me to
look out for danger. The major sent
me an order to join my troop, from
which 1 was, like Sheridan at Cedar
Creek, twenty miles away.
Well, before the man-Mr. Delaney
he called himself-cOuld get at me /
was mounted on a 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 a little sooner. When l joined,
my captain gave me sergeant and ten
men and sent me back to guard a
ranch, the owner of which had sent to
him for protection,
We had gone back five or six miles
when suddenly a party of Indians came
up over a rise on the ground not hun
dred yards in advance of u.s. What
especially arrested our attention was
the figure of a white man riding be-
tween the two foremost files. The In
dams turned tail. We gave chase and
were not long in Overhauling them.
/ questioned the white man, and he
told me that he was riding to join the
troops l had just left when the Indians
swOOped down upon him and took him
prisoner. l 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
(myselD l turned away and affected
to busy myself with the men and the
captured Indians. l determined not to
give him a chance to serve his papers
on me and kept out of his way. had
no use for the Indians who had cap
tured him and turned them loose. De
laney came to me and told me it was
very important that he see Lieutenant
Luce at once, so he must get on TO the
troop, whereupOn to show my good
will l sent a couple of men with him
that he might have no further trouble.
/ also sent a note to the captain eX-
planning the circumstances and sug
costing 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
a 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 a hasty meal
l reported to the major, who, though
he Outwardly did not make light of the
matter, set about devising a new plan
to get nae 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.
II was two hours before the orderly
came for me, and | went to headquar-
tiers. The major was just delivering
the dispatch to me when the door open
ed, and in 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 a chair, he'll 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
him that / had letter for him from
his aunt, who is expected to live but
short time, but the Indians light
ed their pipes with it. l was only par
TALLY informed Of its contents, but |
was given to understand that his aunt
would leave him her property on GER
tain conditions, but What the condi-
tons are 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 nv saber
and handing him the hilt, will you
oblige me by turning fool killer and
cleaving my skull?"
Well, to make a short story of it,
got leave and left at once for the
east. On reaching the Mississippi riv-
er took up a paper and saw a notice
Of my aunts death Her fortune was
estimated ~ 500 D0a ~ = !.