The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-09-19
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n1m. Nevertheless, they who publicly do so lay themselves liable to the i'm 1 pntation of sympathizing with the ac-
 cused at the expense of the accuser. And so resolved Colonel Button,
 brave soldier. a gentleman at heart, a kind if crotchety commander and 1 1enient man rather than a disciplinar- ian. A vain man was Button, and dearly he loved the adulatiou of his
 comrades, high or low. Veteran Irish sergeants knew well how to reach the soft side oz 1.-the old man. Astute troop commanders, like Snaf1e, saved them ltselves many a deserved wigging by judicious use of blarney. Sterling, | straightforward men, like Major Stan
 nard, like Sumter, Raymond and Tru- scott. of his caprains-men who could not fawn and would not fatter-Were
 never Buttons intimates. Button believed it of Sumter that he
 and his on the way to the railway Eta-
 tion went in and condoled with Bob Lanier and doubtless vituperated him, the commander, when in point of fact no one of their number had seen or spoken with Bob.
 Then came the storm and then Sun day and Monday in which no man went either way between the fort and EOWAs AId luCA d Iu41O HI W A1CA tAC gale went down and the garrison dug itself out
 It was barely o'clock. Guard mounting, the first held since Satur- day, was just over The morning re- ports, the first rendered since Satur-
 day. were just in, and the staff and company officers for the first time since Saturday were beginning to gath CT at headquarters and to compare notes. All had much to tell. Stan nard's wood pile, Suaff1e's storm shed and Bankers COW had blown away. Somebody had just reported Sumter's north dormer window torn out by the roots" which moved Button to say to Sumter, who had returned:
 .T hope your quarters sustained no damage in your absence" "
 'T do not know. sir. came direct to the office to report"
 ssAh, true Your household started before the storm
 .tOnly started. sir. They went no farther than the surgeons quarters, where we learned the train was six hours late. I d-business-in in town, and went on. They remained
 sePhen the ladies have not gone east ?, I carly Saturday morning. The road is blocked. !
 s.The paymaster tool He went in right after luncheon
 tsI cannot say. sir"
 The captain withdrew.
 "Can have sergeant and twenty | men at once, sir, armed and mounted?'' | cried Quartermaster Horton, hurryins l in. 'aThe, Ambulance with the pay l master never reached town.
 "Order them ont at once. Mir. Bar | ker,' was Rutton's instant answer, turning to his adiumnt. who went out | like shot. s'What time did they start?'
 About 2! Saturday afternoon. It was blowing gale then and the snow | so thick we lost sight of them within | 2 hundred yards. Major Scott declined an escort; said he and the clerk and the two men inside were more than enough. He had only $3.OoO left and thought that too little to tempt any body
 The silence in the office was oppres- sfve.
 HOW did you learn they hadn't reached townr demanded Button
 Sergeant Fitzroy just came out. i He'd been in there with Sergeant StoweH to help find Rawdon. he said Major Scott had section engaged in the Pullman for Omaha, and Fitzroy says he never claimed it-says he searched every stable for the ambu- lance. but there was no sign of it, and he says there was gang of half dozen toughs that had been hanging about town for week, and they've cleared out I'd like to 20 an6 eet { into riding rig. sir''
 8zssGo. and I'll have troop out after you if need be- Then. turning to his adJurant. Barker. have Sergeant Fitzroy sent for at once.