or no
he had not enemies. Hogan was just saying the lieutenant told him not to
sit up for him when they became aware of someone approaching, heard the
rattle of a sword, and saw the officer of the guard barely forty yards
away, whereat Hogan skipped for the stables. Then came the next
important point in O'Shea's statement. Just as the tail lights of the
big train disappeared behind the ridge he heard the sudden single blast
of the whistle sounding the old-time signal "down-brakes," noted the
instant change from the loud, pulsing exhaust to the scream of escaping
steam, heard even the squeal and grind of the tightly clamped wheels as
the Flyer slowed down to a standstill. He was wondering what had
happened when the third relief came round and Private Schmitz took his
place on post, as subsequently he replaced O'Shea on the stand.

Schmitz was an honest Teuton, but by no means brilliant. Schmitz told a
straightforward tale, and one that had strange and significant bearing
on the case that became presently of paramount interest at Minneconjou.
Schmitz said that he heard the train going on westward after the relief
had disappeared, and that, just after the call of 11:30, he walked way
up to the far end of his post, the west end, came slowly back, and when
about in rear of Lieutenant Ray's quarters he heard a sort of cough down
the slope toward the stables and saw a dark form approaching. He
challenged in low tone, as he had been taught. The answer was, "Officer
of the post," and before he could think how to say, "Advance and be
recognized," the officer said, "Lieutenant Ray, sentry," and went on
without stopping. When asked to describe the officer, Schmitz said the
moon was then "owudt" and it was pretty dark, but it was a "leetle,
schmall yentleman. He walk and talk and look yust like Lieutenant Ray
effrey day does." Questioned as to the dress, he said the lieutenant
wore his "kempyne hat bulled down ofer his eyes--his blue blouse mid
shoulder straps, poots unt bants." He added that, though the officer
hadn't come nearer him than fifteen feet, if it wasn't Lieutenant Ray,
who was it? Schmitz stood pat on this proposition, and that was all that
could be elicited from him, except that the Herr Lieutenant had gone
through the back gate to his quarters.

About the same hour the telephone in the quartermaster's office, the
only telephone the United States would permit or, at least, pay for at
the post, set up a sharp ringing,