Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-03-12

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mo. except just for a moment in the
Shenandoah valley during the war. He
was commanding his regiment then
Eyes, and lived to be shot down in
cold blood by lot Of ambuscading
Apaches nearly a quarter Of a century
after, and-nothing but captain of cav
airy"
He had some little property here in
town at one time, said Kenyon. 'sThat
was nearly ten years ago though, and it
went at sacrifice, I'm told. Perhaps it
was while be was local taxpayer that
he got to know your Hebrew friend Of
today"
He never told me what he knew of
him, beyond the mere fact that he was
dishonest and born mischief maker.
But the moment he took that case up
for me Schonberg dropped it. For some
reason the Jew was afraid Of the old
man, as every one called Rawlins. 4"
Hearn was turning over in his hand
as he spoke a package of folded papers
held together by elastic snaps. Remov-
ing the upper band, he began looking
over the docketing at the top Of each
paper.
'Rawlins himself indorsed this par
ticular packet for me and showed me
how it should be done, Z he said. "Tve
often thought that if we could drop out
little slice of the mathematical course
at the Point, and have some coaching in
this sort of thing, how much better
fitted we should be for the every day
duties of life. Now, l. Why, this
is odd. certainly had those papers in
this very packet not three weeks ago. I
saw them the day moved in here.
remember overhauling this very desk at
the time.
Nervously he ran through the package
again, his fingers rapidly turning the
folded pages, his face paling with sud
den apprehension.
''There was a letter here from Capt.
Rawlins, two receipts of Schonberg's
and the letter from Mrs. Braine, all
bundled up together, and the indorse-
ment of each in Rawlins' handwriting.
Then he threw down the packet and
began pulling out the papers in other
pigeonholes, Kenyon and Lane standing
silently by. In vain he searched. Not
vestige Of the desired proofs could be
found. It was with a white face and
eyes that were full of trouble that he
turned upon his seniors:
MY God! those papers are goner'
1'Look in your trunk, man, " said Lane
kindly; don't give up YETI while Ken
yon himself began a search ON his own
account in the now disordered desk.
''Was this always kept locked when
you went out, Hearnm asked the major.
Surely such important papers ought not
to be left lying around loose"
Locked? Yes. At least 1 never was
away for any time without locking it.
Sometimes. just going out to receive
reports at roll call, 1 would not lock up;
for who would want to rob = poor fell
low of papers of no value to any one but
the owner?
The major looked grave. Lanes face
was full of anxiety, which lie hardly
knew how to conceal. Both well knew
the almost universally careless habits of
the bachelor officers in garrison. Their
doors are never locked their rooms are
empty half the time. and their pocket
books empty ordinarily as their rooms;
their books, papers, desks, even trunks,
almost always lying unguarded about
the premises. Servants and orderlies
move from house to house unquestioned,
and the rear doors are unfastened day
and night ''Wc have nothing worth
stealing, is the general theory, so why
bother about locking an empty stable?"
'.Who is your servantg' asked Ken
yon brusquely.
'Our black boy, Jake. He has taken
care Of my rooms and traps for three
years. and works for Wallace and Mar
tin, too. He's as honest a nigger as ever
lived; has been with the regiment longer
than I have
''Yes; Jake isn't half bad boy. But
was there no one else who had tie run
Of the premises?-
'sNot a soul. Jake himself is rarely
here except when at work"
There was a moments silence. The
major presently sanntered over and tried
the door leading to the dining room.
Here is the key if you want to go in
there said Hearn II have kept all
the rooms locked since Blauvelt left ex-
cept this one and my bedroom upstairs.
The back door is locked. too. Jake al
ways comes in the front way / don't
suppose any one has come through the
kitchen since the day the captains fam
lily left"
Didn't Welsh have 70 come here for
his traps.T asked Lane
Eyes; but he was under guard at the
time-had a sentinel over hin-and both
Jake and I were here. He took nothing
out of this house but his own personal be-
longings, and never entered this room at
all that day. | couldn't help it, but after
seeing him with Schonberg today the
first explanation of my loss that occur
red to me moment ago was-W Welsh.
Yet how could lie have been the MANI"
There was another moment of silence.
Lane stood thoughtfully examining the
lock Of the desk, then strolled into the
hall and tried the key Of the front door.
AS he stood there under the swinging
lamp the clinl1 Of an infantry sword was
heard at the gate and the voice Of Capt.
Brodie.
stWhat are you Youngsters doing at
this hour Of the peaceful night? Come
out here and worship nature and visit
sentries for me. OH beg your pardon,
Lane: thought it must be some of the
boys
'sMaj. Kenyon and havc been keep
ing Hearn awake" was the answer.
''We are just going
Hello, Brodie,' quoth the major, as
he, too, came forth. Have You been to
see how Brent isg'
''Delirious, I'm told. Only the doctor
and steward are with him. was just
waiting for 70 o'clock to go down and
stir up the sentries. There ought to be
none but calvalry officers Of the day at
this post, by Jovel so that they could
ride around among those outside SEN
tries. It's too far for Christian to
walk twice in twenty-four hours. Thank
God, there's The call now
AT the first words from the lips of the
sentry at the guard house the lamps at
the two western gates were promptly
extinguished, and then the forms of two
men could be discerned fitting from
post to post, extinguishing each lamp in
turn. Soon the entire quadrangle was
wrapped in total darkness, and the silent
stars cleaned all the more brilliantly in