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

rock; but soldiers as good as he have
been driven out Of the army for lack Of
some such friend as came to him in his
extremity"
"You would have helped him, Fred
dear, said Mrs. Lane, fondly, crossing
over to the captain and stroking the
grizzled stubble about his brows as
though it were the loveliest hair in the
world. Lane possessed himself Of the
soft white hand and threw his arm about
her shapely waist.
stI would certainly had | known, but
nine out Of ten do not happen to be able
to help, even when our inclinations
would lead. And then. however much
we believed in Hearn's story and Schon-
berg's rascality, who could prove it,"
sWho did prove it," asked Miss Mar
shall, after pause.
"Well, no one that know Of. All we
know is that Schonberg was glad to drop
the matter three years ago when Capt.
Rawlins first tackled the case Hearn
says he has never alluded to it from that
time to this until the fellows language
today; but that was only some vague
drunken threat"
s'But if, on the contrary, it should
prove that he meant to make more trou-
BILE for Mr.. Hearn, asked Miss Marshall,
sis Capt. Rawlins here?-
.By Jove!7 exclaimed the captain,
starting suddenly to his feet, his face
growing as suddenly grave and sad,
'sthat possibly explains the letter that
came to me yesterday morning I was
reading it as you came down to break
fast-a low, anonymous thing, and
burned it, Now wish 1 had kept that. .
''About Mr.. Hearn, was 1t?'' asked
Mrs. Lane anxiously.
eyes; and now can begin to under
stand it, too. Miss Marshall" said he,
turning impressively toward her, s.your
question goes to the very bottom Of this
case. The friend who blocked their
game three years ago is gone; Rawlins
was killed in the last campaign in Ari-
zona."
"Oh, Fredr' cried Mrs. Lane. "And
was there no one else who had helped
Mr.. Hearn?''
ssNo one but our old Rawlins, Mabel;
have been the most valuable here with
our new colonel, for he and Morris had
been devoted and intimate friends in war
days, and am told the colonel was deeply
cut up by the news of Rawlins death
There was something romantic about
their early friendship. Capt. Rawiins
was widower whose wife had died
xxrithfp q foxx- vaa,- ff 1,or ~, q ,,.; . ~, ,,1
| have heard that both he and Morris
when young officers were in love with
her, but that she had chosen Rawlins.n
''But, Capt. Lane, said Miss Marshall,
whose thoughts seemed less fixed upon
the romantic than upon the practical
side Of the case, "surely Mr.. Hearn has
receipts in full for this amount:"
81 so understood him, Miss Marshall;
and yet do not know the nature of the
papers to which he refers. I think he
said thathe had her letter; but that is Of
less value now
Sand why?' asked Miss Marshall
Because the widow married Schon-
berg
Then must the Jew be merciful,' I"
quoted Miss Marshall.
And for few moments not another
word was spoken. 1t was that young
lady herself who broke the silence:
perhaps you think me unduly appre-
hensive, Capt. Lane. That mans face
made powerful impression upon me
when | saw him today, and perhaps Ma
bel has told you something Of my own
experience in trying to retrieve my fa-
theirs fallen fortunes when he was too
old and broken to do anything for him
self. I learned then the worthlessness
Of spoken words, and that nothing but
written contracts and receipts were bind
ing"
She had hardly ceased speaking when
the gate was heard to swing on its rusty
hinges, a resolute step creaked across the
piazza, and somebody was fumbling at
the bell knob.
'sWho can that be at this hour Of the
night" asked Mrs. Lane, as the captain
went to the door. The bolts were drawn
back and a rush of cold night wind
swept in, causing the lamps to suddenly
flare and smoke.
sPlease, sir, is the doctor here?' a
voice was heard to ask
'tNo,n answered Lane. whats want
ed? He left here about twenty minutes
ago. Have you been to his quarters
eyes, sir; and they told me he was
here, at Capt. Lanes. Corp. Brent is
took worse, sir, and the steward thinks
the doctor ought to see him. He's wild
like and raving."
mabel dear, I'll be back in a mo-
ment, said Lane, reappearing at the
parlor door. 'sDon't wait for me: I'm
going to see if the doctor is at Hearn's.
They went away together. Corp. Brent
is reported worse
Throwing his cavalry .'circular" over
his shoulders Lane stepped forth into
the night It was moonless and pitchy
dark. The lamps around the quad
rangle were burning brightly, but hard
ly sufficed to illumine more than
small sphere in the surrounding gloom.
Across the wide valley distant ruddy
spark showed where some farm home
stead was still alive; and far away to
the westward the electric lights, swing
ing high over the thoroughfares Of the
thriving town, shone with keen, cold
luster, and were mirrored in some deep,
unruffied pool of the stream. Turning
his back on these the captain trudged
briskly down the walk, the hospital at
tendant following, ana opened the little
gate some fifty yards from his own. AS
he surmised, the doctor was here, for his
voice, and Kenyon's, too, could be heard
before Lane tapped at the door.
-sCome in" shouted Hearn in answer
to the signal, and the captain entered.
You are asked for at the hospital,
doctor. They say Brent is delirious."
At this the medical man dropped the
cigar he had but half smoked and left
the room. Lane was for going with
him, but Hearn begged him to stay:
mo time like the present, captain, and
want you to see the papers in the cele-
brated case of Braine vs. Hearn while
Maj. Kenyon is here. I'll beg Mrs.
Lanes pardon in the morning, and not
detain you more than minute.
Standing against the wall in the midst
of what had been old Blauvelt's sitting
room was a plain wooden table with a
pigeonholed desk upon it, the lid of
which, turned down, made the writing
shelf. In the pigeonholes were numer-
Gus folded papers, well filled envelopes,
packages Of tobacco, brier root pipe,
pair Of shoulderstraps, several pairs of