Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-09-19


from 1.-THE pit" and scanned eagerly the
little Geographic slips thrust into his hand
by scurrying messenger boys, was intro.
duced rs Mr.. Vincent and Mr.. Vincent in.
uuired if Noel knew l.ieut-or, rather,
Capt-Lane.
"Know Fred Lane? lie il the best friend
l have in the world" was the enthusiastic
answer, land one of the best men that ever
lived"
"Ahl Pm glad to know you-glad to
know what you say. Tho captain is Il con
slant visitor at our house. great friend of
ours in fact All! excuse me a moment"
And Mr. Vincent seized n certain well
known broker by the arm and murmured
some eager inquiries in his ear, to which
the other listened with ill-disguised impa-
tience
Withers and, OF course, "the captain"
were the center of a cordal-not to say ob.
sequious-group so long as they remained
upon the floor, and the secretary presently
came to them with the compliments of the
president and a card admitting Capt. Cor
don Noel to the floor of the chamber at any
time during business hours, which that
officer most gracefully 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-
clared they must 20 to the club for luncheon
everybody was much impressed by the
hearty, iovial manner Of the dashng cav
alryinan, and there were repeated hand
shakes, promises to call, and prophecies OF
a delightful sojourn in their midst as lie
took his leave.
HAS Capt. Lane come in yet to lunch@
inquired Mr.. Withers of the liveried at
tcndant at The Queen City, as his cousin
inscribed his name and regiment in the
visitors book a. introduced 10y "a. W"
in pouderOus strokes OF the pen.
"No, sir. It's considerably past the time
the gentleman generally comes. l don't
think he'll be in today, sir"
Then we won't wait Gordon Wen
order for two. What wine do you like"
Over at the diuGy recruiting office Capt.
Lane had forgotten about luncheon. There
were evidences of carelessRess 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 been
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 chat he allowed him to
slip away, promptly replied that it was half
past II when he came out Of the captains
Office and said that the captain would want
him all the afternoon, so lie had best 10
and get his dinner now. Half past Il came,
and he did not return. The sergeant went
after him, and came back in fifteen minutes
with worried look about his face to say
that Taiutor had not been 10 dinner at all,
and that the door OF the little room he oc-
c1pied was locked. lie had not been in the
house since that morning.
"lm afraid sir, he's drinkin' again, ~
said Burns, but he's SO sly about it new
er can tell until he is far gone.
you go out Yourself and send two Of
the men, aud make inquiries at ali his GUS
tomary hauuts,' ordered Lane IL viii
stay here and 20 through all these papers.
None are right so far. lie never failed lne
before; and do not understand il ut ALL
But when night came IGlntor was still
missing not been seen or heard Of
and Capt Lane had written AurIicd note
to The lady o. his love to say that a strange
and most UuloWard case of descrtion had
just occurred which neceSsitated hie spend
ing some kline with the chief of police at
once. He begged her TO nuke his excuses
to her good mother for his inability TO
come 20 dinner. Later in the evening he
hoped TO see her.
"P. S--Gordon Noel. who is to relieve
me, has arrived. have only three or four
days more.
Gordon Noel" said Miss Vincent pen
sively. Where have l heard of Gordon
No4l:N