News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1893-09-21

L.
Percival last August Mr.. Guthrie has
been working day and night reopening
the old matter. All the friends of the
Guthries are now more than ever conf
dent that JacksSasS - Issr innocent
that Mr.. Percival as president of the
bank had made away with those missing
funds and securities and charged it to
Jack and to his friend Harold Worden.
An effort has been made to get at Mr..
Percival's papers, all of them, but his
widow is still so broken that she cannot
be seen by any one, say her physicians.
1t is believed she knows something of
the inner history of the whole case, and
that she is striving to hide what she
knows for her children's sake. OF
course people say she has behaved very
ill-that she ought to sell and restore to
the bank real estate and property that
from time to time Mr.. Percival had set
tied upon her. But sne only goes into
Mysteries when lawyers are mentioned.
"Mr. Guthrie is now in highly nerv-
GUS and excitable state, which natural
ly reacts upon Nita l wish we could
get her away from here. He went west,
| you T6Lu6LuDeT, "u0H lie leu her W1C0
us at Pawnee. He went in the hopes of
finding some trace of Mr.. Worden, so |
learn now, and to urge the immediate
return to st. Louis of Jacks old and in
innate friend to demand justice at the
hands of the Percivals, for he was
ruined irretrievably by Percivals accu-
sation when dismissed from the bank
But he has vanished utterly, and know
that they have about given him up for
dead. A detective agency has been at
work for months, and twice of late men
have come to the house asking if it were
not possible to find somewhere picture
of Mr.. Worden; but Nita says none ex-
ist that she knows of. believe that
she burned all that she had.
| why will she not trust me and tell
me about it-she who used to have no
secret from me? We know that he was
deeply in love with her and that she was
believed to care for him, but there was
| n fearful scene between him and Mr.
| Guthrie over poor Jacks body. The
old gentleman was wild with grief, and
in his misery he upbraided Worden as
the cause of it all-accused him of be-
ing the thief and cursed him for con-
| cealing the crime at the expense of
| Jacks life and honor. Possibly he did
| believe it then, but since Percivals
death everything is changed. believe
he would give all he owns to make
amends to Worden now, and sometimes
think that that is sykaLss killing Nita."
That that is what is killing Nita,'"
read Holde:; again, this time half aloud,
as he pondered over the word. Then a
sound at the door attracted him. He
glanced up quickly. 3
''Oh, come in, sergeant. [ did not
hear you knock"
ii beg your pardon, SIR" was the an
swer, in Ellis deep voice, faint flush
rising to his pale, black bearded face.
Il knocked twice at the outer door, and
then, knowing the doctor to be here,
ventured into the hall. Am too early,
sir?''
You are just in time. Come in. Shut
that door and sit down. How's the arm
to day, Ellis?'
Obediently the tall trooper had stepped
within and closed the door, but he still
remained erect, shade of hesitation in
his manner. 1.-The ann seems doing
we'll, sir"
"And yet you yourself do not pick up
as could wish. Take that chair, Ellis
we shall not be interrupted, and want
to talk with you abou; your case. You
have won honor and troops of friends in
this campaign, and when the regiment
gets back and they find you pale and
languid, so utterly unlike yourself and
unfit to take your duties as first sergeant,
they will say | was at fault. Can't stand
that, you know, SO | have spoken to
Major Kenyon about the matter, and he
has directed that yon move out of the
hospital forthwith and under my roof.
No; keep your seat. You are to report
to me for special duty IN making up the
field papers and reports, and | shall need
you right here where | can supervise it
all and look after You
For moment the two men sat gazing
straight into each others eyes. Then
again, trembling slightly, Ellis strove to
rise.
"Dr. Holden, IL ought not to take
advantage of this. Indeed cannot"
THAT will do, sir" was the quietly
smiling reply. Orders are orders, SER
geant. and being IA patient you are
dOubly under mine. What's more, you
can ask no question until that chevron
is replaced by the shoulder strap. Ellis, |
under what name shall the officers of the |
Twelfth ask that you be made one of
their NUMBER"
Making no reply,-the sergeant bowed |
his head and covered his face with his |
hands.
Late that evening old Kenyon, drop |
ping in to see the doctor found the tall |
cavalryman seated at desk in HOlden's |
library, and as he promptly arose and |
stood erect in acknowledgement of the |
presence of the post commander, the |
major strobe straight up to him and |
held out his hand:
Sergeant, | am as proud and pleased |
as your own father could be. When
whole regiment recommends man for
u commission. as this days mail tells us,
it's worth more than all the senatorial
backing in Columbia. 1t may not fetch
it, but I'd rather have it. Now, have
you any friends to aid your
None in the world, sir"
mo relatives? No kin? Not even
congressman
Not even congressman. A sister,
perhaps; but that is all"
well, well, well! Never mind,
though, my lad; we'll see you through.
What you must do is get strong and
well. You're but the ghost of yourself,
and the doctor and | have moved you
over here as matter we owe the regi-
ment. | thought you were told to go to
bed an hour ago. Which is your room?
1.-THE doctor has given me the run of
the top floor, sir, but mine is the front
room on this side" answered Ellis
gravely.
"Well, it's time for you to turn in. so
L order it. Let me see. This Is the
twenty fifth of January. A month from
now, or two at most, hope to see you
with strap on your shoulder, and long
before that with the flush of health in
your cheek Now gooG asght to you and
pleasant dreams" AE&*>s major strobe
away.
Only an hour after suciet the silver
disk of the moon had risen cloudless and
unveiled, and now, as the bugle was
calling the belated ones back to the post
ANNgaE ENHW