The record-union., 1891-06-20
should be wise to grant it; as it is I can
not. You have bitterly disappointed

not. You have bitterly disappointed
''Pshaw -, cried Helmsdorf, throwing
the letter on the floor, never mind the
sermonizing part. The main thing is, he
refuses TO help. Now, what are you
going to do?"
did not answer. My mind was full of
the blackest despair.
''You gave a check for your mess bill
to Holmes, didn't you?" asked Helms
dorf slowly.
1 nodded.
"And another to the Quartermaster,
who cashed it,; didn't your"
I did not answer.
"And one or two besides to other fell
lows, 1 think Have they been honored,
do you suppose?"
1 laughed--a bitter, joyless laugh-in
answer to the cold, sardonic smile on
Helmsdorf's face.
Claude, "these checks will be returned,
protested, by the mail due to-day or to-
morrow"
I groaned, rs the horror of shame so
near at hand oppressed my mind.
Garrison Orders, Gibraltar, 10Th of
june" murmured Helmsdorf, as if quot
ing to himself.
"A general court martial will assemble
at
1 sprang up, with an oath. "What do
mean mean b by playing the fool with me ?
"Gently, gently, old boyp' said Helms
dorf, raising his hand deprecatingly.
There will be two prisoners tried at that
court martial that is, II there are any ~
what do You mean?" / asked, look
ing earnestly at him.
Helmsdorf laughed.
1--WE have been through all sorts of
troubles together before nowy" he said,
''and / shan't desert you in this. L am in
the same sort OF fix as you are; the charge
will run much the same-that is, if there
is charged" he added in the same slow
tones.
81 don't know what you mean, Claudep'
1 said at length.
Helmsdorf laughed again.
MY dear boy, you know I have been
acting Paymaster for Dolby while he was
on leave"
"Yes!'' said.
''Weli Dolbyps leave is up, and he is
due back by the mail expected to-day
the mail which brings your checks back,
in fact"
''Yesp' L said again.
''He will loolI in the treasury chest for
el50 which ought to be there"
L looked fixedEY at Helmsdorf.
'WelH He won't find them"
There was q long silence.
At first a horror of what he had done
made me feel sick, but with a rush the
reflection came upon me with awful
force that I was no less thief than he!
What are you going to dor" asked
Helmsdorf at len 9Th.
[ did not answer. A sullen despair
was filling my heart.
II have made up mindp' went on
Helmsdorf
looked up inq Jriringly.
Helmsdorf poiIeted TO nay pistol case
I III, L. Il. L.
started, as / seeIned to see the ernbodi-
ment of dark ideas which had of late fit
ted like baleful shadows over my mind.
He proceeded quietly:
''They shall not have more than one
prisoner to try-'
They shall not have anyr' I broke in
| fercely.
Helmsdorf laughed loudly-a wild, dis
cordant laugh.
What! VIII ycu come too, Ned?"
"Ay, let us go together! l care for
nothing, then! You are the only being
in this accursed w brld for whom I care
snap of the fingerSi"
He seized my hand with grasp of iron
and wrung it.
We've been through all sorts of things
together, old fellow; we won't part now!
| We don't leave n1uch. There are too
many blanks in tn g lottery of this world
to make it worth living in. Life is a
Dead-sea Apple at least! Shall we stay
to face the shame, the disgrace the pity,
| the? Harkv'
The boom of gan came sullenIy over
the quiet harbor.
| The mail was in.
l uttered an oathsand strobe toward the
pistol case. HelmsdQrf stopped me.
STEADY, old fellow" said he. Lets
go to work quietly. Look herer'
He led me by the' arm to the window,
W nA ont ~ !
''See! There is old pensioner Williams
lighting the lamps. Hes very method
ical old chap, and wtMl be ten minutes at
| least lighting them round the court |
know his habits perfectly; he will light
all round the court first, and last of all he
will light the two lamps on that post in
the center of the yard.''
Now, Ned, old fellow, listen to me- I
shall go to my room and get my pistol
ready. / shall write few lines to say it
is nobody's fault but my own, and to tell
Dolby am sorry l let him in. By that
time the lamps will be nearly all lighted.
| shall watch old Williams, and when he
| lights the right hand lamp of those two
in the center 1 shall go. When he lights
the left hand lamp you will come too.
/ We might have a betro he added with
ghastly merriment, (which lamp he will
| light first'
There was pause.
Is tIlaC Sacred!'> asked HelmSdOrf.
Oh, the black despair in my young
heart!
Yes" l answered, calmly, and we
shook hands once more. We felt we
should not meet on earth again.
You remember the story of Clives''
cried Helmsdorf whose spirits seemed
wildly excited. Glow he snapped pis-
tol twice at his head, and when it failed
to go off the second time he took it as a
sign from heaven that he was preserved
for something famousi Perhaps some
| thing of the kind may happen to one OF
us!''
His manner changed suddenly. He
seized me by the shoulder and looked
| straight into my eyes. l have never for
gotten his look, and never shall. 1t comes
| to my recollections over the mists OF
| years with the reality of life.