News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1893-07-13

was unoccupied. Nita had chosen the
other because of that gallery and its
lovely view. Then there was the rear
S ope of the main roof above the gal
lery. That, thought Holden, might
have offered way Of escape, because it
was out of sight from the parade.
But Brewster and Randolph had both
essayed to reach the caves, and even
when standing on the railing could bare
ly touch them with the tips Of their
fingers. Then, again, sentry walked
along the edge of the slope leading 10
the river bottom south Of the long row
of officers quarters and close behind tho
rear fence, but he was at the eventful
moment well down the row beyond Haz-
lett's house, whereas DR. Holden's was nc
the eastern end of the line. Tho moon
shone full against the back fence, said
the sentry, and he was sure he would
have seen anybody who ran out Of tho
gate of the doctors yard, and the first
who appeared were the searching Off
GERS, Corporal Murphy with them. Sew
eral men had then come running from
the directic--, of the laundresses' quar-
ters to the west, and after them Ser
geant Ellis. Indeed, IL was Ellis who
first suggested n search Of the roof by
means of ladder. He was sergeant I'm
charge of the fire apparatus kept In
that long, low building at the east end
and had the keys Of the door.
It was by his aid that some OF the
junior officers made n thorough exam
alton Of the roof and the front porch.
No more signs there than had hitherto
been found. No, the sentry on the
south post was confident that no man
came out of Hoiden's yard until he got
to the gate, whittier he had run tho in
slant he heard the cry. He thought il
might be lamp explosion or a fire. and
he was watching with eager eyes Ho
had been on post nearly two hours when
the alarm came, and, except Corporal
Murphy and the quartermaster's men
who took the trunks, he had not seen or
heard a man about the premises. Kath-
leen, the nursemaid, and tho children
had been home all the evening, and they
had neither seen nor heard anybody
Captain Rolfe, unable 10 sleep, and
making the rounds on his own account
about one o'clock, found the sentry Of
the third relief gazing curiously in at
the open back gate, and questioned him
as to what excited his attention.
Nothing, sir" was the prompt reply
of the trooper, as he threw his carbino
to the position Of EARNS port" III was
simply wondering how any man could
have ventured in there this bright night
and expected TO get out unseen, es-
pecially early in the evening, when
men are passing TO and fro all tho
time"
what made you think any one had
been thereY" asked the captain quietly.
Everybody has heard by this time
that there was search made, and that
the young lady had seen something To
frighten her. Besides, Sergeant ElliL
spoke of it to me an hour ago."
"What was the sergeant doing on
your post at midnight"
why, sir, the captain remembers
Sergeant Ellis is in charge Of the fire.
house and sleeps there. Ho came out
little before twelve and said he'd lost
his pet pipe while he was hunting
around with Lieutenant Brewster after
ne brought the ladder, and | let him
pass in, sir. He said he'd been working
there long after taps, and it would bo
all right He found tho pipe, sir, right
at the edge of the wood pile, yonder. Ho
showed it to me as he came out"
Captain Rolfe was silent moment.
Ordinarily none of the enlisted men
had any right 70 be away from quarters
after the lights out" signal, but this
case was unusual. Furthermore, Ellis
was a man superior in intelligence, n
sergeant of more than years standing,
and one who had been selected for this
especial duty for the very reason that,
holding himself much aloof from the
average run of the rank and file, no
would be apt TO attend strictly TO his
duties as custodian of the fire house, and
no one had ever heard of his abusing
his trust. His own little room was n
model of neatness when the command
ing officer made his monthly inspection
of the garrison, and the hose carriage.
the hook and ladder truck, tho fire
buckets and other apparatus were al
ways in perfect order and readiness for
service. No one ever inspected Ellis
quarters at any other time. The guard
often noticed his light after midnight,
and he had the reputation Of being
good deal of reader and student, TAX
ing books from the post library very
often, besides owning quite n number OF
his own.
Obseryant officers who had glanced
about when making the inspection with
Colonel Farquhar noted that many OF
these were texts on mining, mining en-
gineering, mineralogy and geology, and
some had gone so far rs 10 question tho
sergeant as to whether he had ever prac-
tically essayed mining. With perfectly
respectful manner Ellis replied 10 these
occasional queries, merely saying, Eyes,
sir; but without success" Asked where
he had made his essay, his reply was
rather vague, "In several western states
and territories, sir-mainly Arizona and
Colorado" Only once had he displayed
anything like annoyance or impatienco
under such fire. He had served his
three years enlistment, was entitled TO
his discharge. yet quietly notified his
troop commander that he proposed 10 re-
enlist. In a somewhat sharp manner
that official had whirled about.
Sergeant Ellis" said he, "if / had
had your experience in mining IL seems
to me I'd find something different from
staying in the regular army"
Captain Gorham," was the unex-
pected reply, "if you had had anything
like my experience You would be very
glad of berth in the army or out OF It
preferably in"
FRO DE CONTINUED