Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-06-14


Lascelles would certainly challenge
Waring to instant and mortal COMBAT
If Waring had used the wagon as al
leged2 Jefrers must know about It
and could and should tell If required,
but Cram simply could not and would
not ask the groom to detail the move
ments of the gentleman. Had not
Warning sent word he would be home
In two hours and would come to see his
battery commander at once? Did not
that mean he would explain fully?
Cram gulped down the query that rose
to his lips.
"An right, then, Pierce; we'll take
these over to Mrs Cram and have q
bite ready for Warning on his return"
said the stort-hearted fellow, and, in
refusing to question his servant,
missed the chance of averting catas-
trophe.
And so they bore the beautiful clus-
ter of violets, with its mute pledge of
fidelity and full explanation, to his re-
joicing Nell, and the trio sat and
chatted, and one or two visitors came
in for awhile and then scurried home
as the rain began to plash on the win
dows, and the bugles and drums and
flies sounded far away at tattoo and
more than usually weird and mournful
at taps, and finally ten-thirty came, by
which time it had been raining tor.
rents, and the wind was flashing the
roaring river into foam, and the trees
were bowling low before their master
and the levee road was a quagmire, and
Cram felt convinced no cab could bring
his subaltern home. Yet in his uer-
vousness and anxiety he pulled on his
boots, threw his gum coat over his uni
form, tiptoed in to bend over Nell's
sleeping form and whisper, should she
wake, that he was going only to the
sally-port or perhaps over to Warnings
quarters, but she slept peacefully and
never stirred, so noiselessly he slipped
out on the gallery and down the stairs
and stalked boldly out into the raging
storm, guided by the dim light burn
Ing in Warnings room. Ananias was
sleeping curled up on a rug in front of
the open fireplace, and Cram stirred
him up with his foot. The negro rolled
lazily over, with stretch and yawn.
Ibid Mr. Warning take any arms with
him?" queried the captain.
ANY whut, suh2" responded Ana
half awake.
"Any pistol or knife?"
Lord, sub, no. Mr.. Warning don't
never carry anything O. dat sort"
A student lamp was burning low on
the center table. There lay among the
books and papers a couple of letters,
evidently received that day and still
unopened. There lay Warnings cigar
case, pretty trife given him by some
far-away friend, with three or four
fragrant Havanas temptingly visible.
There lay a late magazine, it's pages
still uncut. Cram looked at the dainty
wall clock, ticking merrily away over
the mantle. Eleven-thirty-fve! Well,
he was too anxious to sleep anyhow,
why not wait a few minutes? Warning
might come, probably would come. If
no cab could make its way down by the
levee road, there were the late cars
from town. They had to make the ef-
fort anyhow Cram stepped to the
sideboard, mixed mild toddy, slipped it
rehectively, then lighted a cigar and
threw himself into the easy-chair
Ananias, meantime, was up and astir
Seeing that Cram was looking about in
search of paper-cutter, the boy
stepped forward and bent over the
table.
"De lieutenant always uses dis, sub"
said he, lifting first one paper, then
another, searching under each. Don't
seem to be yer now, sub. You've seen
it, dough, captain-that cross-handled
dagger wild the straight blade"
Yes, know. Where is it?" asked
ram. ''Thatl do"
faint yer, sub, now. Can't find it
yer, nohow."
well, then, Mr.. Waring probably
took knife, after ALL"
mo, sub, | don't t'ink so. never
knowed him to use it befo' away from
dc room"
Anybody else been here9" said
Cram.
"Oh! dey was all in yer, sub, dis aft
ernoon, but Mr.. Doyle he was sent for,
sub, and had to CO."
A step and the rattle of sword were
heard on the gallery without. The
door opened, and in came Merton of the
infantry, officer of the day.
"Hello, Waringl" he began. "Oh, it's
you, is it, captain2 Isn't Warning back?
saw the light, and came up to chin
with him a moment. Beastly night,
isn't it?"
"Waring isn't back yet. look for
him by the eleven-thirtY car" answered
the captain.
"Why, that's in. No Warning there
but a half dozen poor devils hall
drowned and more'n half drunk, one OF
your men among 'em. We had to put him
into the guard-house to keep him from
numbering Dawson, The headquarters
clerk. There's been some kind of 9
row."
Sorry to hear that. Who is the
man?"
"Kane. He said Dawson was lying
about his officer. and he wouldn't stand
It."
"Kane!" exclaimed Cram, rising
''why, he's one of our best, never
heard of his being riotous before"
Hes riotous enough tonight. He
wanted to lick all six of our fellows
and If hadn't got there when I die
they would probably have kicked hin
into a pulp. All were drunk; Kane
too, should say; and as for Dawson
he was just limp"
would you mind going down and
letting me talk with Kane? I nevel
knew him to be troublesome before