The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1882-11-09

4 moment thc JUNIOR oAlpcf bsa NonLANeH y
1 mingle with and disappear in the crowd
: Ba, by the stern. asionishea gaze whicl
$ had me. his eye for that brief instant
he knew that he had been identi
a fed, aud that the Colonel fully remember
8 ed whore he ought to have bccn.
= II he still ventured TO retain any hop,
. that the recognition had not been complete
such hope was promptly dispellcd by tn
order, which presently rang ont 10 omin
k Gus tones from the Colonel's well.knowi
Q voice OF thunder.
a Driyeio the Royal Bank instantly il sal,
Z with awful distinctness. And go as fast A
e you can.
Captain Kendall had managed to slip un
I observed through the doorway, and he nov
g stood in the street.
!, What was TO be done? The carriages
/, that were in waiting there were all priyat,
ones, The hackney coaches were far dowr
. the file, and even had be been lucky
enough TO secure one in hme the rattle o.
) the wheels at that dead hour Of the night
speeding in the same direction as the
Colonels carriage, or indeed the very fact
Of vehicle stopping before the bank,
would have convicted him at once. There
was not moment to be lost,
AT tiis crisis fortunately his wits did
not forsake him. A sudden inspiration
presented itself to his mind, and his de.
olson was taken in a twinkling. Favored
by the opportune darkness, he crept
round to the back of the Colonel's carriage,
and inst as it was starting, he sprang nimb-
ly 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
delinquent officer. Neither master or man
guessed that their hot haste was bearing
back the truant to his post. Within the
carriage sat the Colonel stiff and erect,
as became worthy 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 step, desperate
ly concerting his measures.
Impudence? stand my friend through
this scrape. he mentally calculated. Per.
haps all this is not lost yet. When the
carriage turned into 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 he hurriedly let himself iu,
he passed swiftly through the court, and
came up with the sentinel inside the gate
while the carriage was taking the longer
curve which led up to the 'front.' How he
blessed the chance impulse which had in.
duced him to take that key!
The Colone's there he said breathlessly
Don't be too quick in undoing the chain.
Give me as long as you can. And ! say,
D,oAs~.., - a1l-h +~-;e..ai,, r,rn,'e tho
word, you know If you can.
Ayl ay? sir, mnttered the old sentinel
as he sliufiled slowly along. He was very
partial to the young man, and net SO much
SO to the Colonel.
The Captain passed hurriedly within.
Just then the bell Of the great gate rang
ont long, resounding peal.
The sentinel clanked the chain noisly as
he hooked and unlocked it, fumbled with
the key in the lock, and made such judic-
ious delays as enabled the officer on guard
to compose himself in attendance at his
post, before the heavy doors turned on
their hinges to admit the Colonel.
Where is Captain Kendall? he asked, as
he alighted, in stentorian tones, which vi
brated strangely through the silence, with
a sort Of angry expectant note to triumph
On guard, sir, answered the soldier
curtly.
What? cried the Colonel, in the sbrillest
of accents. He was too utterly taken
aback to say another word. The sentinel,
adopting his usual stolid demeanor, took
no notice Of his evident astonishment
Captain Kendall heard the inquiry from
within and came forward. depressing
any inward tremor he might feel, he re-
sovled to put bold face on the matter.
Here sir, do you require me? he asked
coolly.
The Colonel stared at him. His face,
with its expression of mingled sterness
and entire bewilderment would have been
no mean study for a painter.
He could hardly heieve his eyes. Keen
ly scrutinizing the younger man. who did
no quail before his gaze, he said stifliy. af
ter pause Of some seconds:
/ certainly thought sir, saw you at the
ball in D street Just now.
Me, sir? replied the other audaciously. .
Why, I'm on guard, sir.
1t is very singular, resumed the Colonel, |
without relaxing his scrutiny and sligtly
raising his voice. Icould have sworn that
saw you there.
Very singular indeed, sir, retorted the
gaining boldness from the
,ery extremity OF the strait to which be
ound himself reduced; since q man can't
,e in two places a. once, and you have 4
oundime here. A case Of mistaken iden. /
ity perhaps. sir.
The two men stood still eyeing each v
,.her, one keenly eager to detect, and the i
,ther as eagerly seeking to avoid detect. 1
on. The Colonel was completely baiiled.
rhe man was there before him tina. was GER a
ain; but how, having left him, as he felt
ure he had done, among the guests at the
,all, he came to be there now. was iner.