The Florida agriculturist., 1889-12-04

and were not llCClo TAKEN dOdCA ny U1s
evident embarrassment and ominous 81.
lence of the three infantrymen, when
the colonel turned suddenly on Belknap
with the question
''By the way, captain, I had no time
to ask Lawrence, and it really did moi
occur to me until after he had gone, but
what did he mean by saying that DR..
Ouin could tell us something about the
people at Dunraven?'
Belknap turned red and looked un.
comfortably at his two comrades, az
though appealing to them for aid. The
Younger officers, however, would say
nothing at all, and the colonel promptly
saw that he had stumbled on some piece
on garrison gossip.
''Never mind" he said, with a kindly
laugh II don't want to drag any stories
out by the roots. The doctor can doubt.
less explain it all in good season.
"Well, Col. Brainard," answered Bel
KNAPP, bulkily, Ito tell the truth, really
don't know anything about it, and !
don't know any one who does, though
have heard some woman talk about the
post. The relations between DR.. Quin
and some of the officers of the Eleventh
were rather strained, and he is a some
what reserved and secretive man. The
stories were set afoat here last fall, and
we had to hear more or less of them un-
til the Eleventh went away this spring.
We know only that DIR. Quin has been
to Dunraven and the rest of us haven't.
Possibly some of the Eleventh were
piqued because they had no such luck,
or perhaps their ladies did not like it be-
cause Quin wouldn't tell them anything
about what he saw At all events, he
refused to talk on the subject at all. and
allowed people to draw their own con-
clusions.
He probably told his post com
mander," suggested Lieut.. Farnham,
who, as acting adjutant of the post an0
an aspirant for the adjutancy of the
regiment, thought it good opportunity
of putting in word as indicative of
what he considered the bounden duty OF
an officer under like circumstances.
"Well, no, fancy not, replied Bel
KNAPP. About the only thing we really
do know is that, in a somewhat angry
interview last fall, Col Stratton forbade
DIR. Quin's leaving the post or going to
Dunraven without his express permis-
sion. happened to be in the Office at
the time" .~ ~
"Was it before or after that he was
said to go there so often?' asked Farm
ham.
"Well, both," answered Bel KNAPP, re-
luctantly ''But understand me, Mr..
Farnham, know nothing whatever OF
the matter"
II should not suppose that Col. Strait
ton would care to restrict his post sur
geon from going thither if they needed
his professional services" said Col. Brai-
nard, pleasantly
"That was the point at issue, appar-
emily" answered Belknap. ''Col Strait
ton said that it was not on professional
grounds that he went,and thereby seemed
to widen the breach between them. DIR.
Quin would not speak to the colonel after
that, except when duty required it.
The conversation changed here, and
little more was said; but Col Brainard
could not help thinking of matter that
he carefully kept to himself. 1t was not
his custom to require his officers to ask
permission to leave the garrison for ride
or hunt when they were to be absent
from no duty. and only by day Here it
was midnight, as he thought it over, and
the doctor had not returned, neither had