Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-11-07


him before?''
II had seen him, but I cannot say that
had ever known him..
s'Mr. Brewster burst in Captain
Rolfe at this juncture, before he could
be checked, do you mean to tell me
you were not well acquainted with this
SO called Ellis long before you met him
in the Hills?''
Captain Rolfe,' was the instant an
swer, and the flush leaped to Brewster's
cheeks, an angry light to his eyes, Il
mean to tell you nothing whatever. !
am answering Colonel Farquhar."
Permit ME to conduct this matter,
Captain Rolfe,' said Farquhar. stretch
ing forth restraining hand and check
ing the captain as he rose with another
question on his lips. Rolfe with almost
any other man might possibly have per-
sisted. He knew Farquhar, however,
and knew that however gentle and
courteous might be his manner he could
come down hard upon those who crossed
him. So, with evident effort, he held
his tongue. but remained standing. ssBe
good enough to resume your seat, cap
tain,' continued the colonel, all grave
politeness; and Rolfe slowly and reluct-
antly subsidized.
s.You went to Helena once some five
years ago as witness before a court, and
the train was held up by road agents,
Mr.. Brewster. Did you not meet this
man about that timer
eyes, colonel, I saw him, but did
not know him from ADAM
You conversed with him, did you
not. and were at the same hotel at Hele-
ia with him.
L did; yes. sir; and I was at the same
hotel for thirty-six hours. But he was
total stranger to me. His dress was
that of a gel. ieman, SO was his manner,
and almost every body in our car got to
talking with him. He was the only one
who really saw the train robbers-it
was all done SO quickly, while we were
in our berths; but he had got aboard at
some station just before the thing &C.
cured
Ibid you not know when he enlisted
that he gave an assumed name?"
mo, colonel, [ did not. For all /
know Ellis is his own name"
ssYet you knew him as Ralph Enroll
at Helena, burst in Rolfe again.
captain Rolfe,' said the colonel,
with marked emphasis, IT will ask you
to withdraw; but, except by DR.. Hoi-
den's permission, you will not speak OF
this matter to Major Berrien. I desire
to see Mr.. Brewster for myself. No,
Holden, you remain.
There was no help for it now, Rolfe
had to go; and go he did, without
word. Teen Farquhar, in his courteous.
tones. repeated his question and received
prompt reply:
tie certainly gave his name as Enroll
in Helena and as Ellis when he enlisted,
colonel, lat which is right or that
either il + lave no means of know
ing
.sWe,l told that he gave you
much of - - cry and that you lent
him mo-. y III )eadwood"
Il did LEM him, though at the time !
thought | was giving him, twenty dol
lars to pay pressing debts which he had
to settle before he could leave there and
come to us. lie was destitute and starv-
ing. He did tell me something of his
past, but whether it was true or not
cannot say. The more I see of him the
more I believe it; believe he was gen
tleman born and bred, and that he had
had hard luck, lost home and friends
and fortune: that he took to the west
and mining; that he made and lost al
ternately; that now he is reaping some
reward for his labor. What I know is
that he is a tiptop soldier, of whom the
whole regiment has reason to be proud,
even though I don't know what may he
his own name"
Holden was listening eagerly to every
word
s'May ask a question, colonel?"
Certainly, DOCTOR"
brewster, did he ever tell you where
his home was-where his relatives now
live?'
ssYes-LoUisville; and Ihave packet
which, should he be killed or mortally
wounded, [ have promised to unwrap
and express 20 the address written with
in. Go not now even know what it is. /"
ssWell, did he never speak of having
lived in ST. Louis-having had friends
there?''
ssNever so much as mentioned the
place, DOCTOR
For a moment there was silence,
broken only by the dismal moan of the
rising gale, the flap of canvas, and the
creak of straining guyropes. Farquhar
was still thinking deeply. At last he
looked up.
Captain Rolfe has lodged with me
very serious charges against Ellis, and
bases them on the report of professional
detectives. As you know, gave Ellis
permission to ride over to the railway