Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-12
lit their pipes and sat down together at

lit their pipes and sat down together at a
short distance from the fire.
81 have been wanting to speak to you,
lad, for the last day or two. There is a
story gaining ground through the troop that,
whether it is true or whether it is false, you
ought to know"
"I guessed as much, Menzies," Ronald
said. 81 think / know what the story is,
and who is the man that spread it. 1t is
that I bore another name in England. :"
''Yes, that's partly it, lad
"What name?''
81 hear that you are rightly Captain
Mervyn."
/ eyes, that's it, Menzies, and that was
tried and acquitted of murder in England. -
That's the story, my lad. OF course, it
makes no difference to US who you are, or
what they may say you have done. We
who know you would not believe you have
committed murder, much less the murder
of a woman, if all the iuries in England said
You had. Still thought would let you
know that the story is going about, so that
you might not be taken aback if Won heard
it suddenly. OF course, it's no disgrace to
be tried for murder if you are found inno-
cent; il only shows that some fools have
made mistake, and been proved to be
wrong. Still, as it has been talked about,
you ought to know it. There is lot of
feeling in the regiment about it now. and
the fellow that told the story has had a
rough time OF 1t, and there's many a one
would put a bullet into him If they had a
chance. What they say ia whether you are
Captain Mervyn or motifs nothing to any,
body but yourself. If you were tried and
acquitted for this affair it ought to have
dropped and nothing more been said about
it, and they hold that anyhow man be-
longing to the corps ought to have held his
tongue about anything he knew against an
other who is such a credit to us"
The man might have held his tongue.
perhaps" Ronald said, quietly; "but
never expected that he would do so. The
fellow comes from my neighborhood, and
bore bad character. A fellow who shot
gamekeeper would be sure to tell ANYTHING
he knew to the disadvantage of anyone of
superior rank to,himself Well, Sergeant,
you can only tell anyone who asks you
about it that you have questioned me, and
that / admitted at once that the story was
true-that was Captain Mervyn, and that
was tried for murder and acquitted. Some
day hope that my innocence may be more
thoroughly proved than it was on the day I
was acquitted. I dare say he has told you
the whole of the facts, and admit them
freely"
well, lad, am glad you have spoken.
OF course it will make no difference, except,
perhaps, to a few men who would be better !
out of the corps than in 1t; and they know |
too we'll what the temper of the men is to
venture to show it. can understand now
why you didn't take a commission. have |
often wondered over it, for it seemed to me |
that it was just the thing you would have |
liked. But see that till this thing was |
cleared up you naturally wouldn't ike it. |
Well, / am heartily sorry for the business,
il you don't mind my saying SO. have |
always been sure that you had been an |
officer before you Joined us. and wondered |
how it was that you left the army. You
must have had a sore time Of it. / am |
sorry for you from my heart"
Ronald sat quiet for some time thinking |
after Sergeant Menzies left him, then rose |
and walked towards the fire where the Off |
GERS were sitting.
Scan speak with you few minutes,
Captain Twentyman ?'' he said. The officer
at once rose.
Anything wrong in the troop, Ser
geant?"
"No, sir; there is nothing the motter with
the troop, it is some business of my own.
May ask If you have heard anything
about me, Captain Twentyman
'"Heard anything; in what way do you
mean, Sergeant 2"
"WelI. sir, as TO my private history"