Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-02-04

pcarance, ana NOu may be assured Z! ~
they kept their own counsel. jealous Of
their comrades honor and mindful Of
their Colonel, whose heart they knew
would be broken " his boy fell into dis
grace, 80 Il was generally accepted that
he had ridden further than was prudent
and had fallen into the tolls Of the en-
envy But the Major and Frank had
drawn the worst conclusions, especially
when the latter learned from the pick
cts the direction the absentee had taken
when he started on the journey from
which he had never returned. Besant
hoped against hope, but Hopkins vowed
that he had cold himself body and soul
for pretty face, and had gone over 10
the enemy.
"lIe always had prcposterous ideas
OF Southern chivalry,' the Major said,
"and It only wanted the witchery OF
this woman 81 tip the scale OF his un-
balanced mind and land him headlonR
In ruin supposition the younger man
had not the courage 20 controvert
II can readily DC imagined, then, how
his heart beat with renewed hope when
on the afternoon Of the Sd. while
fearful storm was raging which will
never be forgotten by those who
shivercd meath its blasts, an old colored
man crcpt into camp, anNiously In
quiring for him. lie bore letter
written on a crumplcd leaf Of paper
and inclosed in an empty rife cartridge
shell, which the wary messenger had
carried In his mouth for security's sake
and which he gravely assured Frank he
| tyntt11 hutsn usssu11n,,s.I 10 4
caught by the enemy.
Hastily unfolding IL, Besant read the
pencilcd lines:
"FnIESD FRANZ. bave been for some
weeks q prisoner This morning they moved
me from Murfroesboru to a mill four miles
down the river from your camp. We are only
under Il guard Of eight men and q sergeant,
besides some invallds, who won't count in a
serimmagc, You and dozen boys Of tho
Fourth might readily effect rescue II you
think me worth tho rish Bragg has given or.
dcrs Tor a retreat NJ daybrcak, so II you don't
hurry Il viii be all up with your unfortunate
friend CHARLIE FULTON"
Rcwarding the faithful negro beyond
his widest expectations Frank hurried
20 the Major with his glad tidings, but
TO his surprise his senior cvinced no
especial signs of qualification.
"Nou are a little too sanguinc, Frank,
my boy" he said, gravcly, "but though
we are relieved OF the pain Of believing
the young man Is voluntarily absent
from our ranks, the onus yet remains
ON him TO prove how innocently he fell
into captivity. You see now the Colonel
Is wounded, the command of the rcgi-
mcnt dcvolvcs on me for the time being,
and considering the responsibilities "
my position, l do not for the life of me
see how, II you brought him back,
knowing what do know, have any
other alternative than 90 place him
under arrest and court-martlnl him."
"Oh, sir, surely you would not pro-
coed 10 such extreme measures"
~ am afraid | should, Frank. and. II
] did, il would 60 far to kill his poor
father, who now lies in very critical
condition. ! guess we had better let
this young fellow paddle his own canoe
for timc--n dose Of Libby prison will
go long way 20 amclioratc his high
flown sentiments on Southern chivalry."
Tint Is not spoken like Major Hop
lIins.'
"Nor Is 1t spoken by Major Hopkins,
but by the acting-Colonel Of n regiment,
whose fair fame shall never be stained
while | command. II my own dead
son were here alive to-day, and he had
done what Charles Fulton has, | would
order him under arrest without an in
stant's hesitation
Frank was awcd 20 silence by the
| Majors curncstncSs.
you sce, llcinnt," the older man
continued, ~ um In possession Of facts
concerning which you know nothing"
\ 'pnrl, Of Intelligence flashed in
| Franks brain.
And your informant, sir, was James
Lawson?' he asked eagerly.
II so, what thcn?'
only, sir, that you are condemning
man Of honor ON the word of as base
scoundrcl rs ever lied 10 forward his
miserable ends" was the hot reply.
THAT may be, but even an inveteratc
liar may speak the truth, II il suits his
purpose
Granted, Major; but arc you quite
sure that the truth did suit his purpose
in this instancc?"
For reply the Major took from his
pocket-boolS Il torn piece Of paper, on
which was some writing in pencil, and
handed it to his subordinate, with the
remark;
II am committing no breach OF conf
dence in showing you this. Do you
recognize the hand that penned this
treachcrous scrawl?"
Frank read the lines eagerly; they
contained brief but succinct descrip-
tion Of Bucll's position at Nashville,
were addressed to Miss Lascclles, and
were signed, your devoted friend,
CT"
Franks eyes blazed with triumph.
DO I recognize the handwriting,
Major?" he cried cXcitcdly. Indeed,
do! | see james Lawson's car-marks
on every up-strolsc and down-strolse of
this villainous composition. Why, the
pitiful rascal has not even taken the
trouble 60 disguise the characters"
"You are sure Of this?'
"Wcll, you shall judge for yourself,
SIR" Frank declared, taking n letter
from his pocket which contained an
inclosurc. Here is note Lawson
wrote TO a lady friend Of mine at Mtl-
tonburg, containing such libelous ac-
count of my conduct that in sheer dis
gust she sent II TO me, ms she says, TO
put me ON my guard against the fell
lows vindictivcness."
II was u study TO watch the Majors
face as he compared the two docu-
ments.
Turning to an orderly he said, stern
": Go to company Il and tell the Off.