The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-03-09


courage civility with his own people; but
there are two sides to every story, and I
asked their adjutant last fall, when
there was some talk of his company's
being sent here, what Haynes status
was, and he told me. There isn't a
squarer man or sounder soldier in the
army than the adjutant of the Riflers;
and he said that it was Haynes stubborn
pride that more than anything else stood
in the way of his restoration to social
standing. He had made it q rule that
every one who was not for him was
against him, and refused to admit any
man to his society who would not first
come to him of his own volition and saw
he believed him utterly innocent. AS
that involved the necessity of their look
ing upon Rayner as either periured or
grossly and persistently mistaken, no
one felt called upon to do it. Guilty or
innocent, he has lived the life of a
Pariah ever since"
81 wanted to open out to him, today"
said Capt. Gregg, "but the moment I
began to speak of his great kindness to
Dur men he froze as stiff as Mulligan's
Ear. What was the use? 1 simply
couldn't thaw an icicle. What made
him SO effective in getting the frost out
of them was his capacity for absorbing
1t into his own system"
"Well, here, gentlemen" said Buxton,
impatiently, "we've got to face this thing
sooner or later, and may as well do it
now. / know Rayner and like him, and
don't believe he's the kind of man to
wilfully wrong another. 1 don't know
Mr.. Hayne, and Mr.. Hayne apparently
don't want to know me. / think that
where man has been convicted of dis
acknowledgement conduct and is
cut by his whole regiment it is our bust
ness to back the regiment, not the man.
Now the question is, where shall we
draw the line in this case? It's none of
our funeral, as Blake says, but ordinarily
it would be our duty to call upon this
officer. Shall we do it, now that he is
in Coventry, or shall we leave him to his
own devices?"
'Fll answer for myself, Buxton" said
Blake, 'tand you can do as you please.
Except that one thing, and the not I'M
usual frivolties of youngster that oc-
Cured previous to this trial, understand
that his character has been above re-
'proach. So far as can learn, he is a far
more reputable character than I am, and
a better officer than most of us. Growl
all you want 20, comrades mine; its a
way we have in the army and 1 like it.
So long as l include myself in these NAL
odorous comparisons, you needn't swear.
1t is my conviction that the Rif1ers
wouldn't say he was guilty today if they
hadn't said SO five years ago. 1t is my
information that he has paid every cent
of the damages, whether he caused them
or not, and it is my intention to go and
call upon Mr.. Hayne as soon as he's set
tied. 1 don't propose to influence any
man in his action; and excuse me, Bux.
ton, think you did"
The captain looked wrathful. Blake
was an oddity of whom he rather stood
in awe, for there was no installing the
popularity and respect in which he was
held in his own regiment. The til was
somewhat remarkable for being emphati
cally an ''outspoken crowd" and for sons
years, thanks to leaven of strong and
truthful men in whom this trait was pro
nounced and sustained, it had grown to
be the custom of all but few of the off.
GERS to discuss openly and fully all mat
tiers of regimental policy and utterly tc
discountenance covert action of any kind
Blake was thoroughly popular and gen.
orally respected, despite tendency to
rant and rattle onmost occasions Never
theless, there were signs of dissent as to
the line of action he proposed, though ii
were only for his own guidance
"And how do you suppose Rayner and
the Rifiers generally will regard your
calling on their black Sheep" asked Bux-
ton, after a pause.
81 don't KNOW" said Blake, more seri.
ously, and with tone of concern. 81
those fellows thorough gentlemen and
good friends. This will test the question
thoroughly. 1 believe most of them, ex-
cept, of course, Rayner, would do the
same were they in my place. At all
events, mean to see"
"What are you going to do, Gregg
asked ''the mole, " wheeling suddenly on
his brother troop commander.
81 don't know" said Gregg, doubt
fully. 81 think I'll ask the colonel"
sWhat do you suppose he means to
do?"
81 don't know again; but I'll bet we
all know as soon as he makes up his
mind; and he is making up his mind
now-or he's made it up, for there goes
Mr.. Hayne, and here comes the orderly.
Something's up already.
Every head was turned to the door
way as the orderly's step was heard in
the outer hall, and every voice stilled to
hear the message, it was so unusual for
the commanding officer to send for one
of his subordinates after the morning
meeting. The soldier tapped at the
panel, and at the prompt "Come in
pushed it partly open and stood with one
white gloved hand resting on the knob,
the other raised to his cap visor in salute.
"Lieut. Blake?" he asked, as he glanced
around.
"What is it?" asked Blake, stepping
quickly from the window.
"The commanding officers compli-
ments, sir, and could he see the lieuten-
ant one minute before the court meets?''
Coming at once," said Blake, as he
pushed his way through the chairs, and
the orderly faced about and disappeared.
"Tn bet it's about Hayne." was the