St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-11-17

something impelled him to look up, and
what was his dismay, when he found
himself face to face with-the colonel !
There was a crowd of departing
guests in the hall, and as they gath
cred and jOstled each other, the two
men who had been thus unexpectedly
brought together were again borne
apart. The recognition was but instan-
taneOus therefore, and in another mo-
ment the junior officer had cOntrived
to mingle with and disappear in the
crowd. But by the stern, astOnished
gaze which had met his eye for that
brief instant, he knew that he had
been identified, and that the colonel
fully remembered where he ought to
have been.
If he still ventured to retain any
hope that the recognition had not been
complete, such hope was promptly dis
PEELED by the order which presently
rang out in OminOus tones from the
colonel's well-knOwn voice of thunder ::
"Drive to the Royal bank instantlyn
it said with awful distinctness, "and go
us fast as you can"
Capt. Kendall had managed to slip
unObserved through the doorway and
he now stood in the street.
What was to be done The carriages
that were in waiting there were all
private ones. The hackney coaches
were far down the file, and even had
he been lucky enough to secure one in
time, the rattle of the wheels at that
dead hour of night, speeding in the
same direction as the cOlonefs car
riage, or indeed the very fact of vehi-
Gle stopping before the bank, would
have convicted him at once. There
was not moment to be lost.
At this crisis fortunately his wits did
not forsake him. A sudden inspiration
presented itself to his mind, and his
decision was taken in II twinkling.
Favored by the Opportune darkness,
he crept round to the back of the colo
nel's carriage, and just as it was start
ing, he sprang up nimbly on the step
behind. The coachman whipped up
his horses and ratified his wheels
through the still streets of the sleeping
city, clearing the distance in double
quick time, in order to forestall the re-
turn of the delinquent officer. Neither
master nor man guessed that their hot
haste was bearing back the truant to
his post. Within the carriage the colo
mel sat stiff and erect, as became wor-
thy disciplinarian, wholly intent on the
conviction of his peccant junior, in
whose impending discontinue he could
not help feeling grim and right
eous satisfaction. At the back the cap
tain sat crOuching on the steps, desper-
ately cOncerting his measures.
''Impudence stand my friend
through this scrape," he mentally eiac-
ulated. "Perhaps all is not lost yet
When the carriage turned into -
street and the bank appeared in view
he jumped lightly down, and under the
friendly cover of night ran to the small
wicket gate in the lane. Most luckily
he had taken the key with him, and
hurriedly letting himself in, he passed
swiftly through the court, and came uI
with the sentinel inside the great gate
while the carriage was taking a longer
curve which led up to the front. How
he blessed the chance impulse whicl
had induced him to take that key
"The cOlOnePs there" he said breath
lessly. "DOn't be too quick in undOinl
the chain. Give me as long as yoI
can. And say, DickensOn," he added
anxiOusly, ''mum's the word yOu know
if you can"
"Ayl ay! sir" muttered the old sen
tinel, us he shuffied slowly along. II,
was very partial to the young man
and not so much so to the colonel.
The captain passed hurriedly within
Just then the bell of the great gat,
rang out a long, resounding peal.
The sentinel clank ed the chain nois
| lily as he hooked and unlocked it
fumbled with the key in the lock, an'
made such ridiculous delays as enabled
the officer on guard to compose himsel
in attendance at his post before th'
heavy doors turned on their hinges t,
admit the colonel.
"Where is Capt. Kendall ?" he asked
as he alighted, in stentOrian tone
which vibrated strangely through tn
silence, with a snort of angry, expec
tant note of triumph.
"On guard, sirm answered the sol
dier curtly.
"What ?" cried the colonel, in til
shrillest of accents. He was too utter
ly taken aback to say another word
The sentinel, adopting his usual stOli
demeanOr, took no notice of his eviden
astOnishment. Capt. Kendall heard til
enquiry from within and came for
ward. Repl Messing any inward tremOr
he might feel, he resolved to put Dol
face on the matter.
"Here, sir; do you require me ?
he asked cOOlly.
The colonel stared at him. His fac,
| 70, SNf
ness and entire bewilderment, wOul
have been no mean study for a painter
He could hardly believe his eye
Keenly scrutinizing the younger MAJ
who did not quail before his gaze. Il
said stiffly, after a pause of some SEE
onds:
81 certainly thought, sir, l saw yo
ut the ball in D street just now"
"Me, sir ?" replied the other audat
iously. "Why, | am on guard, sir"
at is very singular" resumed I'll
colonel, without relaxing his scrutin
and slightly raising his voice. 81 coul
have sworn that saw you there"
every singular indeed, sir" retorte
the delinquent, gaining boldness frol
the very extremity of the strait (
. which he found himself reduced
''since man can't be in two places
once, and you have found me here.
case of mistaken identity perhaps, sir
5 The two men stood still cycling eac
} other, one keenly eager to detect, IL
other as eagerly seeking to avoid d.
1 lection. The colonel was complete
4 batfied. The man was there befol
t him-that was certain; but how, ha,
ing left him, as he felt sure he Ia
= done, among the guests at the ball,
2 came to be there now, was inexplicabl
+ Not having wings wherewith 10 fly, no
D on earth had the fellow got ther,
4 Could he have been mistaken, he wo
t dered for a moment. But no, he kne
/ he had not
= He shifted the form of his interrOg