The evening world., 1894-05-30

well-well-as Hard Cation over there
Jack Stickles turned to Lieut., Cation
as he smoke, and was about to follow his
words with another ,~jocular remark.
when he was surprised to see Cations
face suddenly grow ashen with anger. :,
The ~latter's devilish nature showed
itself the next instant In a manner that
was least expected.
Stickles?' Cation roared, angriiy. by
the eternal God, II you do, you'll have
to answer to me, do you hearY'
This precipitation OF q quarrel on the
part Of Lieut.: Cation was without the
least provocation. Every one there. with
perhaps the exception OF Cation, had
fully understood the jest contained IN
tered on the spur Of the moment. without
meditat ion.
For a moment ar ominous silence
reigned. Not a word was spoken, Al
unexpected outburst. AS for Sergt.
Sticklcs, he had been rendered speech
less with surprise.
HI was incapable at first of a proper
suited Cation? No! Had he intended
to insult him? OF course he had not!
The fiery spirit of the impetuous young
been better Il his next hot words had
With the hot blood biazing In either
diEnation burning in his aashing eyes
Sergt. lack turned on the Lieutenant.
Cation. you're a ~scoundrel!' he said,
with suppressed passion. Il apologize
to you! 1t Is you who must answer to
me, or III thrash your carcass without
mercy!" .
A round table stood between the two
officers. but that mattered not. The
the excitement of the moment would
lead him to do anything rash and III
advised. Muttering "A curse, he rushed
at Stickles and struck him full In the
face.
Col. Stroke, who. up to this time. had
been overcome with establishment at the
two men and struck Cation a savag
blow upon his arm as he was In the act
OF drawing his sword from its scabbard
to cut down Stickles. who was unarmed.
The spirit Of a fiend incarnate seemed
to have taken possession of Cation. In
his rage he had lost sight Of the fact
that he was In the presence of his supe-
ri9r officers, There n W. was m murder rd,s nnm MS
age and in the ugly flashing Of his eyes;
With an oath he whirled upon Col.
Stroke as II TO strike him, but Capt,
Haines thrust himself in front of the in
furiated man. There was a .momentary
struggle and Donald Haines hurled Cat
ton heavily against the table. The next
instant the tent was in darkness, The
lighted candle had been overturned and
extinguished.
Capt. Haines's first thought was for the
] safety Of his Colonel. In his rage he did
not know what Lieut.. Cation might do,
He heard sounds Of a struggle and sup
pressed breathing at his right and rushed
blindly in that direction.
The three men We're alone In the tent,
for In the excitement the others had
hurrierd out in search OF Q light. Jack
Stickles had been unable, after groping
about, to find the one which had beer
Overturned IN the scuffle.
| Cant. Halnps reached tbs st ruRglinC
men and Joined in the fray In order 10
save the one from doing grievous in,
jury to the other. He caught one OF the
men, whom he supposed 10 be Lieut.
Cation. bou the throat with both
hands and closed upon 1t with a mighty
loose your hold on Col. StrokeH' he
cried hoarsely. "or I'll throttle you &c
But there was no response from Cat.
ton. and still the struggle between the
three officers continued. 1t was only q
moment. yet II seemed like an eternity
to Donald Haines that he battled witt
the man in his grasp, and then It sud
terrific struggle he had struck his heat
against the corner OF the overturned
table. and the shock had rendered hin
unconscious.
The last rational thing to fash acros,
his brain was the knowledge that he wa,
choking, choking, choking to death
Hartman Cation.
The darkness was SLOWLY ~dispelled
Sergt. Stickles and the other oficeri
having returned with a light.
Donald Haines regained consciousness