Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-24

1 managed at considerable Inconvenience to
mvself to send you the sum you asked for.
At the same time / warned you that you
must not expect me to help you again. 1
am a poor man, as you we'll know, and such
money as have L need for myself, your
mother and your sister. You cannot expect
that am going to cause them discomfort In
order to supply you with luxuries. Your
being placed in the army CONTRARY to nv
jucgment) cost me larger sum of money
than felt justified in spending. 1 gave
you an allowance which 1 had, and still
have, good reason to believe sufficient for
young officers of your standing, even with
out stinting themselves extraordinarily.
"You exceeded this allowance very con-
siderably year ago and wrote to me tor as
sistance, which gave. You now write to
me for far largef sum.
'I regret that must refuse your request.
Were 1 richer, do not know that should
be wise to grant it; as it is, L cannot You
have bitterly disappointed"
'PshawH cried Helmsdorf, throwing the
letter on the floor, "never mind the sermon
izing 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 blacklist despair.
'You gave a cneck for your mess bill to
holmes, didn't you?" asked Helmsdorf,
slowly.
1 nodded.
"And another to the quartermaster who
cashed it; didn't your"
did not answer.
"And one or two besides other fellows,
think. Have they been honored, do you
suppose?"
1 laughed-a bitter, joyless laugh in an
swer to the cold, sardonic smile on Helms
DORIS face.
Gas far as I can calculate went on
Claude, ''these checks will be returned pro-
tested by the mail due to-day or to- morrow"
L groaned, as the horror OF the shame 50
near at hand oppressed my mind.
"Garrison Orders, Gibraltar, 10Th june"
murmured Helmsdorf, as if quoting to him
SELF
"a general cOurt-martial will assemble
sprang up with an oath. "What do you
mean By PLAYING the fool with me? By-P'
"Gently, gently. old boyT said Helmsdorf,
raising his hand deprecstingly. There
will be two prisoners tried at that court
martial; that is if there are anyP'
"What do you mean?" / asked, looking
earnestly at him.
Helmsdorf laughed.
I'VE have been through all sorts of
troubles together before DowP' he said, "and
shan't desert you in this. I am in the
same sort of fix as you are; the charge will
run much the ssme-that is, if there Is .
charge" he added in the same slow tones
81 don't know what you mean, Claudel"
said at3ength.
Helmsdort laughed again.
''My dear boy, you know have been act
ing paymaster for Dolby while he was on
leave"
''Yesp' I said.
"Welll Dolby's leave is up, and he 10
due back by the mail expected to-day; the
mail which brings your checks back, in
fact"
"Yesl' said again.
she will look in the treasury chest for
e150 which ought to be there"
looked fxedly at Helmsdorf.
"Welli He won't find theml''
There was a long silence.
At first a horror OF what he had done
made me feel sick, but with rush the re-
Election came upon me with awful force that
was no less thief than hei'
"What are you going to do?'' asked
Helmsdori at length.
did not answer. A sullen despair was
filling my heart.
II have made up my mindr' went on
Helmsdorf.
looked up inquiringly.
Helmsdorf pointed to my pistol-case,
which lay on a table near the wall.
started, as seemed to see the embodiment
of dark ideas which had of late fitted like
baleful shadows over my mind. He pro-
ceeded quietly.
''Tbey shall not have more than one
prisoner to try"
''They shall not have anyr" I broke in
fercely.
Helmsdorf laughed loudly-a wild, dis
cosdant laugh.
"Whatl Will you come, too, Ned?"
LAY, let us 60 together! I care for
nothing thsnl You are the only being IL