The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-07-25

stoop TO his shoulders and rather urea,
anxious eyes, who listened nervously to
the shouts from ''the pit" and scanned
eagerly the little Geographic slips thrust
into his hand by scurrying messenger
boys, was introduced as Mr.. Vincent,
and Mr.. Vincent inquired if Noel knew
Lieut.-or. rather, Capt.-Lane.
"Know Fred Lane? He is the best
friend have in the world" was the en-
thusiastic answer. "and one of the best
men that ever lived"
''Ah! I'm glad to know you-glad to
know what you say. The captain is a
constant visitor at our house, great
friend of ouss in fact All! excuse me a
moment" And Mr.. Vincent seized a
certain well known broker by the arm
and murmured some eager inquiries in
his ear, to which the other listened with
ill-disguised Impotence.
Withers and, of course, "the captain,
were the center of cordial-not to say
obsequious-group so long as they re-
manned upon the floor, and the secretary
presently came to them with the COM
pliments of the president and card adj
hitting Capt. Gordon Noel to the floor
of the chamber at any time during bust
ness hours, which that officer most grace
fully acknowledged, and then went on
replying to the questions of his new
friends about the strange regions through
which he had secuted and fought, and
the characteristics of the Indian tribes
with whom he had been brought in con-
tact. And by the time Cousin Amos de-
clarcd they must go up to the club for
luncheon everybody was much impress
ed by the hearty, jovial manner Of the
dashing cavalryman, and there were re-
peated hand shakes, promises to call,
and prophecies Of a delightful sojourn in
their midst as he took his leave.
"Has Capt. Lane come in yet to
lunch?" inquired Mr.. Withers Of the
hveried attendant at "The Queen City,
as his cousin inscribed his name and
regiment in the visitors book, as intro
duced by ga. w." in ponderous strokes
Of the pen.
mo, sir. It's considerably past the
time the gentleman generally comes
don't think he'll be in today, SIR"
'Then we won't wait, Gordon. Well
order for two. What wine do you like?'
" \ n
Over at the dingy recruiting office
Capt. Lane had forgotten about lunch.
con. There were evidences of careless.
ness on the part of the clerk who had
made out his great batch of papers, and
the further he looked the more he found.
The orderly had beer sent for Taintor,
and had returned with the information
that he was not at his desk. Sergt.
Burns, when called upon to explain how
it happened that he allowed him to
slip away, promptly replied that it was
half-past IL when he came out Of the
captains Office and said that tho captain
would want him all the afternoon, so he
had best go and ges his dinner now.
Half-past IL came, and he did not re-
turn. The sergeant went after him, and
came back in fifteen minutes with a wor-
ried look about his face to say that
Taintor had not been to dinner at all,
and that the door Of the little room he
occupied was locked. He had not been
in the house since that morning.
"Pm afraid, sir, he's drinkin' again, "
said Burns; "but he's so sly about it
never can tell until he is far gone"
"You so out yourself, and send two of
the men, and make inquiries at all his
customary haunts," ordered Lane. 81
will stay here and go through all these
papers. None are right so far. He never
failed me before; and / do not under
stand it at all"
But when night came Taintor was
still missing-had not been seen nor
heard of-and Capt. Lane had written a
hurried note to the lady of his love to
say that strange and most untoward
case of desertion had just occurred which
necessitated spending some time with
the chief Of police at once. He begged
her to make his excuses to her good mo-
Their for his inability to come to dinner.
Later in the evening he hoped to see her.
''P. S.-GordorNoel, who is to relieve
me, has arrived. l have only three or
four days more"
Gordon Noel' said Miss Vincent,
pensively where have l heard of Cor
don Noel"