The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-31
CHAPTER XIV.

Tuesday and the day Of the long pro-
jected german had come, and if ever a
lot Of garrison people were wishing
themselves we'll out of furry it was
the social circle at Sibley. Invitations
had been sent to all the prominent peo-
pie in town who had shown any interest
In the garrison since the regiments ar
rival beautiful favors had been pro-
cured; an elaborate supper had been pre-
pared, the ladies contributing their
efforts to the salads and other solids,
the officers wisely combining their dona-
tions to the wines 1t was rumored
that, new and original figures We're to
be danced, and much had been said
about this feature in town, and much
speculation had been INDUCED in, but
the Beaubien residence had been closed
until the previous day. Nina was away
with her mother and beyond reach of
question, and Mr.. Jerrold had not
shown his face in town since her de-
parture.
Nor was he accessible when visitors
inquired at the fort. They had never
known such mysterious army people in
their lives. What on earth could induce
them to be SO close mouthed about
mere german? One might suppose they
had something worth concealing, and
presently it became noised abroad that
there was genuine cause for perplexity,
and possibly worse.
To begin with, every one at Sibley
now knew something Of the night ad-
venture at the colonel's, and as no one
could give the true statement Of the
case the stories in circulation were
gorgeous embellishments Of the actual
facts. 1t would be useless, even if ad-
yisable, to attempt to reproduce these
wild theories, but never was army gar
rison 50 tumultuously stirred by the
whirlwind Of rumor. 1t was no longer
denied for an instant that the absence of
the colonel and his household was the
direct result Of that nights discoveries,
and when, to Mrs Hoyt's inexpressible
relief, there came a prettily worded note
from Alice on Monday evening inform
ing her that neither the colonel nor her
mother felt we'll enough to return to
Silbey for the german, and that she her
self preferred not to leave her mother
nt time when she needed her care,
Mrs. Hoyt and her intimates, with
whom she instantly conferred, decided
that there could hD no doubt whatever
that the colonel knew Of the affair, had
forbidden their return and was only
waiting for further evidence to decide
what was to be done with his erring STEP
daughter. Women talked with bated
breath Of the latest stories in circula-
tion, Of Chester's moody silence and
preoccupation, Of Jerrold's ostracism
and of Frank Armitage's sudden return.
On Monday morning the captain had
quietly appeared in uniform at the Of
fce and it was known that he had re-
linquished the remainder of his leave of
absence and resumed command of his
company. There were men in the garri-
son who we'll knew that it was because
of the mystery overhanging the colonel s
household that Armitage had so sudden
ly returned They asked no questions
and sought no explanation. All men
marked, however, that Jerrold was not
ut the office on Monday, and many curl
ously looked at the morning report in
the adjutant's Office. No, he was not in
arrest Neither was he on sick report.
Hs was marked present for duty, and
YET he was not at the customary assem-
bly, Of all the commissioned officers at
headquarters More mystery, and most
exasperating, too, it was known that
Armitago and Jerrold had held brief
talk in the latter's quarters soon after
Sundays evening parade and that the
former had been REINFORCED for time
by Captain Chester, with whom he was
afterward closeted. Officers who heard
that no had suddenly returned and was
at Chester's went speedily to the latter's s
quarters--at least two OF three did-and
were met by servant at the door, who
said that the gentlemen had just gone
out the back way. And, sure enough,
neither Chester nor Armitage came
homo until long after taps, and then
the colonePs cook told several people
that the two gentlemen had spent over
an hour up stairs in the colonel's and
Miss Alice's room and "was foo]in
around the house till near 10 O'Clock. {"
Another thing that added to the flame
Of speculation and curiosity was this.
Two Of the ladies, returning from n
moonlit stroll OH the terrace just after
tattoo, came through the narrow pas
sageway on the west side Of the colonel's s
qnarters, and there, at the foot Of the
little fight Of stops leading up to tho
parade, they came suddenly upon Cap
tain Chester, who was evidently only
moderately pleased osee them and nerv-
ously anxious to expedite their onward
movement. With the perversity of both
sexes, however, they stopped to chat
aud inquire what he was doing there,
and in the midst of it all faint light
cleaned on tho opposite wall, and the
reflection Of the curtains in Alice Rem
WICK WINDOW was distinctly visible.
Then q sturdy masculine shadow ap-
peared, and there was rustling above,
and then, with exasperating, mysterious
and epjgrammatic terseness, deep voice
propounded the utterly senseless ques-
finn:
'How's that?'
To which, in great embarrassment,
Chester replied:
Hold on minute. I'm talking
with some interested spectators
Whereat the shadow of the big man
shot out Of sight, and the ladies found
that it was useless to remain-there
would be no further developments SO
long as they did-and SO they came
away, with many a lingering backward
look. "But the idea of asking such q
fool question as 'How's that?' Why
DOtlldn't tha man eav what ha 1naautpD