The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-10-06

colonel. whirling his chair to the right
about and addressing the paymaster.
.is how or why those men should be
down here"
at seems simple" answered Scott
placidly, he being entirely 1ndepend-
ent of the post commander. prom
Frayne had to go to the environments
I'D along the Big Horn, and we doubled
the size of the escort accordingly.
When we got back there these. three
were permitted to come all the way,
whether to buy Christmas things for
the Frayne folk or for affairs of their
own 1 didn't inquire
"To whom did you assign them for
rations and quarters?" demanded the
colonel of Barker.
Captain Snaffle, sir, c troop"
care they there-the others, at
least?''
Corporal Watts and Trooper Ames
are there. sir. Trooper RawdOn, as
you know. is not. He has not been
seen about the quarters since some
time last evening"
Again pause. Then presently,
You arrested Kelly. l see, the man
who was on No. 81
"Yes. sir. Both DR.. Schuchardt
and the steward said his sickness was
due to drink. | believe be was doped."
THAT he could get whisky any
where along back of the officers quar-
ters." said the colonel refectively as
we'll as rejecting. lis not improbable.
That it should have been doped. judg-
ing from the way one or two have
misbehaved. is not impossible. The
| usual orders for the present. captain"
said he to the new incumbent. And
you are relieved. Captain Curbit," to
the old. But l shall need to see you
| later, so do not leave the post
1.-THE man that leaves the post this
day." said Major Scott. with a squint
| through the upper and unincumbered
panes of the nearest window. may
need a seven days leave"
And that. colonel" said quiet
| voice at the commanders elbow. lis
what applied for earlier Pardon me.
sir. but need to know your decision"
It was Captain Sumter who spoke
and the colonel flushed promptly at
| sound Of his voice.
Il had intended sending for you,
SUMTER" said he. but these rather en-
| crossing matters had to be taken up
first. I-have your application" he
| continued. 1T is an awkward time.
and these are awkward circumstances.
1t will leave your troop without an
| officer"
MIR. Lanier will be here. colonel"
Here. but in close arrest" frowned
the colonel. land you haven't had a
first lieutenant since l have been in
command"
MY misfortune. sir. but hardly my
fault" answered Captain Sumter terse-
ly. yet respectfully. General Sheri-
dan selects his aids-de-camp where he
will. and last month you thought it a
compliment to the regiment and to my
troop. Our guest, Miss Arnold. is in
TO condition to travel alone" added
Captain Sumter gravely. MY wife
and desire to accompany her to Chi
cago."
| The colonel bit his lip and bowed.
90! see.' said he. Miss Arnold was
very much shaken by what happened
after she got home?"
Rather by what happened before
{ she got home." was the calm yet sug-
! gestive reply
Captain SUMTER" said he. flushing
angrily. for no one of his officers held
he in higher esteem. your attitude is
that of opposition. if not of rebuke. to
the official acts of the post COM
mander"
Then let me disclaim at once the
| faintest disrespect. Colonel Button. but
as Mr.. Laniers troop commander
and personal friend. beg leave to say
that. so far as l know. his offense is
one which his comrades have often
committed without rebuke"
(Which simply goes to show, sir" re-
| sponded the colonel. with glittering
eyes. that you do not know the twen-
tieth part of his offense."
IF that be true, Colonel Button. of
course / cannot think of going.
| "tuulu w NY dppIiSdI1oh. Iahu, tui IL
ing slowly, he left the Office.
Instead of carrying three enlisted
men present as casually at post" the
return" of Troop c had but two.
Trooper Rawdon. whose horse, horse
equipments and field kit were safely
stored in the troop stables since noon
the previous day, was himself account
ed for nowhere. In view of the fact
that he had not been seen and could
not be found there was nothing re-
markable about that With the morn
ing report book. however. there was
handed in copy of an order duly
submitted by Corporal Watts to Snaf-
f1e's first sergeant. and by him to his
captain. which read in part as follows:
! 3. On arriving with his detachment at
Fort Gushing and in compliance with the
! Geographic instructions from department
| headquarters Trooper G. P. Rawdon.
| Troop L. til cavalry, is granted thirty
| days. furlough, at the expiration of which
| he will report to the commanding officer
of Fort Cushing for transportation to his
proper station.
Just as the paymaster predicted. the
! Nintry storm broke with the early