Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-04-05

Sx
"ru kill tie first man who dares enter"
Straight as an arrow Mr.. Blake had
sped across the parade, darted through
the east gate, and, turning, had arrived
breathless at the wooden porch Of
Haynes quarters. Two bewildered look
ing members Of the guard were at the
door. Blake pushed his way through
tho little hallway and intQ the dimly
lighted parlor, where q strange scene
met his eyes; Lieut.. Hayne lay senseless
and white upon the lounge across the
room; q young and pretty woman, sin.
gularly like him in feature and in the
color Of her abundant tresses, was kncel-
ing beside him, chafing his hands. i'm
ploring him to spcak-to look at her
unmindful Of the fact that her feet wcro
bare and that only loose wrapper was
thrown over her white night dress; Capt.
Rayner was seated In q chair, dcathly
white, and striving to stanch the
blood that flowed from Q deep cash
in his temple and forehead; he seemed
still stunned as by the force Of the blow
that had felled him, and Buxton. speech.
less with amaze and heaven only knows
what other emotions, was glaring at .
tall, athletic stranger who. in stocking
feet. undershirt and trousers, held by
three frightened looking soldiers and
covered by the carbine Of fourth, was
hurling defiance and denunciation at the
commanding officer. A revolver lay
upon the floor at the feet Of corporal OF
the guard, who was groaning In pain. A
thin veilo powder smoke foated through
the room. As Blake leaped in-his cav
airy shoulder knots and helmet cords
cleaning in the light-a fash Of recog-
milton shot into the strangers eyes, and
he curbed his fearful excitement and
stopped short in his wrath.
"What DEVILS work Is this?" demanded
Blake, glaring intuitively at Buxton.
''These people resisted my guards, and
had to take the consequences, said Bux-
ton, with suriy-yet shaken-dignity.
"What were the guards doing here?
What, in Gods name, arc you doing
herei" demanded Blake, fergetful Of all
consideration Of rank and command in
the face of such evident catastrophe.
81 ordered them hereto enter and
search"
A pause.
search what? what forl"
Fora woman had reason to believe
no had brought out here from town."
"What? You internal idiot? Why,
she's his own sister, and this gentleman's
wife"
The silence, broken only by the hard
breathing Of some Of the excited men
and the moaning cry Of the woman, was
for moment intense.
"Isn't this Mr.. HurlcyY asked Blake,
suddenly, as though to make sure. and
glare AZ his superior officer. The stranger,
still held, though no longer struggling,
replied between his set teeth:
Certainly. I've told him So"
''By heaven, Buxton, is there no limit
to your asininity? What fearful work
will you do nexty"
"I'll arrest you, sir, il you speak an
other disrespectful wordp thundered
Buxton, recovering consciousness that as
commanding officer he could defend him
self against Blake's assault.
"Do 1t and be-you know what
would say il lady were not present.
Do it il you think you can stand having
this thing ventilated by the court. Pah!
can't waste words on you. Who's gone
for the doctor? Here, you men, let go
Of Mr.. Hurley now. Help me. Mr.. Hur-
ley, please. Get your wife back to her
room. Bring me some water, one Of
you" And with that he was bend
ing over Hayne and unbuttoning the ia
tigue uniform in which he was still
dressed. Another moment and the doc
tor had come in, and with him half the
young officers Of the garrison. Rayner
was led away to his own quarters. Bux-
ton, dazed and frightened now, ordered
the guards back to their post, and stood
pondering over the enormity Of his blum
der. No one spoke to him or paid the
faintest attention other than to elbow
him out Of the way occasionally. The
doctor never 30 much as noticed him.
Blake had briefly recounted the catas.
trophe TO those who first arrived, and as
! the story went from mouth TO mouth 1,
! grew no better for Buxton. Once he
turned short on Mr.. Foster, and in az.
grieved and sullen tone remarked:
II thought you fellows IN the RiAers
| said he had no relations"
1--WE weren't apt to be invited to NEE,
them IL he had; but ! don't know tina,
anybody was in position to know any
thing about it. What's that got to dc
with this affair, I'd like TO heary"
At last somebody took him home
Mrs. Waldron, meantime, had arrived
and been admitted to Mrs. Hurley'i
room. The doctor refused TO 70 to Capt
Rayner's, even when messenger came
from Mrs. Rayner herself. He referred
her to his assistant, DIR. Grimes. Hayn,
had regained consciousness. but wa
sorely shaken. He had been hoored by
a blow from the butt Of musket; bu
the report that he was shot proved hap
PLY untrue. His right hand still lay
near the hilt OF his light sword; ther'
was little question that he had raised hi
weapon against superior officer, anc
would have used ii with telling effect.
Few people slept that might along Off
GERS row. Never had Warrener hear,
Of snch excitement Buxton knew no
vhat tn do Ha Ducad tho 00nr In anov.,