San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-30
An sRMY PORTIA.
By CHARLES king, o. s. A,
Author of "7he Colonel's Dau9hter, I"S
Dcserter," "From the Ranks, DE
rapen Ranch" "T'po SosdteTs.

Philadelphia, and published BY spec'ai Arrans~
mcnt with them-]
ing an officer and a gentleman and OF
conduct prejudicial to good oreer and
military discipline, Lieut.. Hears calmly
protested his entire innocence Aod the
pleas were duly recorded.
Then Col. Lawler announced that in
view of the importance and probable
length Of the case he desired the services
of a stenographer and requested the
authority of the court to call .@ne in.
The president looked perturbed; ,tenog-
raphers were expensive, and tie last
court ne was on had been rappsi over
the knuckles for employing ose, al
though the record exceeded bstndred
and fifty pages in length.
"How long will you need one, and
how, soon can. you get him here asked
Col Grace.
"Well, we can get through with the
case in very short time with -tenog-
rapher, but it will take week - least
without one" He did not say, however,
that he had one already in the rosm, in
the shape of newspaper man from
Chicago. Some of the court bexan to
consult among themselves.
"Make him write his own proceed
ings," whispered Col. Maitland 10 the
president. "By CAD, he was probably
the man that raped your court for en-
ploying one there at Omaha last month. !"
Then he scrubbed line and tossed the
scrap of paper over to Maj. Putnam on
the other side, and passed word down to
Capt. Thorp, who had been judge advo-
cate of the court in question. 1t was
evident the members thought that
here was an admirable chance to
"work" the judge advocate, a thing sell
dom enjoyed; and at last old Grace,
humming and having little, said that
the court could not see the necessity, in
view of the remarks made by division
headquarters on a recent case, and must
for the present decline the request.
Whereat Col. Lawler, in manifest i'll
humor, remarked that he could be safely
expected to say what would and what
would not be approved by the division
commander, and that, if the court would
not order it, he would get the order by
telegraph. ....... ......
"All right" said the president, land
mean time We'll proceed without one.
suppose you are ready with your first
witness. Mr.. Judge Advocate?"
eff the court insists, yes; but l prefer
to wait until hear from the telegram
which am now writing"
"We had better go right ahead" said
Col. Grace. .t. ..s.
And so, amid profound silence, the
with the eyes of the entire room upon
him, neatly dressed, clearly shaved, and
looking his very best, Trooper Welsh
was ushered in from the outer gallery,
was sworn impressively by Lawler, and
was asked for his name, rank and regi-
ment, and whether he knew the accused.
The new correspondent of The Palladium
described the hasty glance which Welsh
cast at the lieutenant as one in which
'.his glowing, dark eyes kindled with
the pent up sense of the wrongs and
humiliations heaped upon him by the
officer in question" Maj. Kenyon, sit
ting close by Mrs. Lane, looked at
Brodie with swift whispered comment
on that furtive glance. Miss Marshall
never took her eyes from the witnesses
face.
estate how long you have been in
service, and with what company you
have served"
"Tve been"-then there was sudden
f1utter of the eyelids and moments
hesitation, but only moments-''Pve
been in Troop G, Eleventh cavalry,
about eight months, stationed here at
Fort Ryan. enlisted in st. Louis year
ago."
The judge advocate was just writing
out the answer when Miss Marshall
leaned over and whispered word to
Kenyon. The major nodded appreci-
atively and looked eagerly along the
faces of the members of the court across
the table. Capt. Thorps eyes met his,
and it was Thorp who suddenly spoke:
"The witness has not answered the
question, as understand it."
"He has answered as the court under
stands it." said LAWYER sharply, land en-
tirely to my satisfaction"
"He may have answered to the salts
faction of the Judge advocate, but sug-
gest that the court can speak for itself, ="
was Thorp's cool reply. "The question
should have elected an answer as to the
entire service, possibly in other COM
mands, on the part of the witness, and
ne replies only as to G troop"
HE has given the exact information
desired, said Lawler hastily, land all
my question was intended to cover. l