Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-09-22

| plIme 1aVOrlte OF nerS, mad IN some
way managed to fall under the ban
OF his extreme displeasure.
At the Office were presently assem-
bled the colonel, the adjutant, the
quartermaster, the post surgeon, and
to them came Paymaster Scott. At
the 'store" were gathered half the
commissioned officers. At Sumter's
there kept coming and going a success
sion of sympathetic callers, who left
even more mystified than when they
arrived. Miriam had had a fright in
the dark on their return home and
screamed. No. Sumter thought Mrs.
Sumter would need no help, yet he
was SO much obliged to the several
who asked if they couldn't ''do some
thing"
Another house was virtually closed
to question. To the disappointment of
many and the disapprobation of few,
Bob Lanier had closeted himself with
his classmate and most intimate
friend, DAD Ennis; then, after brief
colloquy with Barker, the adjutant
had caused a big card to be tackled
on his door wherein was crayoned in
bold black letters BUSY" But at
quarter past u the assistant sur
geon, DR.. Schuchardt, called, as was
known, for the second time and en-
tered without ceremony. When the
officer Of the day came tramping along
the board walk at 1890 and turned in
81 hn 70 hn c,+r will
the hilt of his saber. Ennis came to
the door, but came with gloomy brow.
II am ordered by Colonel Button to
ask certain questions of Lieutenant
Lanier," said the official
"How's that, doc?" called Ennis
over his massive shoulder. "Can your
patient see the officer of the day?'
"Not yet, with my consent" came
the stout answer.
"Shout your questions, captain"
sang out the patient, with much too
little humility of manner, yet Lanier
knew Curbit we'll and knew his mis-
sion to be unwelcOme.
"Is Trooper Rawdon in hiding any
where about your quarters?"
Gle is not, if I know it."
"Have you seen him-tonightw
An instant's pause then, II don't
know whether I have or not"
"You don't know?" exclaimed Curbit,
puzzled and beginning to bristle.
II don't know" repeated Lanier.
Suppose the colonel tells me to ex-
plain that" began Curbit, but DR..
Schuchardt set his foot down summari-
ly.
"Here," said he, "this things got to
stop. Lanier's in highly nervous and
excited state He doesn't know whom
he has seen since he got home in ar
rest
"Well, the old man wants to see that
young Rawdon forthwith, for many
people believe he's skipped"
"You can track anything but ghost
in this new fallen snow"
Curbit lowered his voice. '"That's ex-
actly the trouble, doctor. Go to the
back of the quarters and see for your
self. His trail starts and ends here"
In all it's history Fort Gushing had
never known such a day of bewilder-
ment as that which followed Guard
mounting was held as usual at a. M,
and Colonel Button, awaiting in his
office the coming of the old and the
new officers Of the day, directed his ad-
jutant to drop his own work at their
entrance and give attention to what
took place.
All eyes were on the two burly cap
tains who entered at $50, fur capped,
fur gloved, in huge overcoats and arc
tics. The wind had begun to whine
and stir.
blizzard coming" said Scott as he
glanced at the sullen skies.
81 report as old officer of the day,
SIR said Curbit, with brief salute,
rendering the guard report book.
The colonel went straight to bust
ness.
''No sign of Trooper Rawdon?'
'No, sir"
Ellis horse and kit all right?'
Cali right, SIR
''Police notified to watch all trains
and stages?
| Yes, sir.
There was impressive silence in the
Office
Eight men had gone with Sergeant
Stowell as escort to the paymaster
when, nearly four weeks earlier, he
had set forth on his trip. Then the lit
tie iron safe was full of money. Seven
men had come back with him, when,
as the safe was we'll nigh empty the
paymaster said he hardly needed an
escort Of the eight who started, four
were "casuals'' who belonged to COM
panies stationed at Fort Frayne, well
up in the Indian country, and there
they remained when the duty was
over Of the seven who came with
Stowel1, three belonged atFort Frayne,
a corporal and two men of Captain
Raymond's troop, and they came forti-
fed with the orders of their post COM
mander, copy of which was now in
Barker'S hands.