The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-01-12

him fair warning to quit or I'd hit him,
but he kept on
"Ye-es? And what did he say?"
"He said-I wouldn't believe it, sir
that Mr.. DOYLE was that drunk that
him and some other fellers had lifted
him out of the mud and put him to bed
up there at-up there at the house, sir,
back of Anatole's place. think the
captain knows"
'Ah, you should have steered clear
of such company, Kane. Did this hap
pen at Anatole's saloon?"
Eyes, sir, and them fellers was max
ing so much noise that the dago turned
them all out and shut up the shop at
eleven o'clock, and that's what made
them follow me home in the car and
abuse me all the way. l couldn't
stand it, sir"
''You would only have laughed at
them If your better judgment hadn't
been ruined by liquor. Sorry for you,
Kane, but you've been drinking just
enough to be nuisance, and must stay
where you are for the night. They'll
be sorry for what they said in the
morning. Did you lock up the others,
Mr.. Merton?" he asked, as they turned
away.
"All but Dawson, sir. l took him
over to the hospital and put sentry
over him. That fellow looks to be
verging on jimjams, and wouldn't be
surprised if he'd been talking as Kane
saws" Merton might have added.
and it's probably true" but courtesy
to his battery friend forbade. Cram
did add mentally something to the
same effect, but loyalty to his arm of
the service kept him silent. At the
flagstaff the two officers stopped.
Merton, oblige me by saying moth
ing as to the alleged language about
Doyle, will you?''
Certainly. captain Good night"
Then. as the officer OF the days Ian
tern fiiclzered away in one direction.
Cram turned in the other, and pres
emily went climbing up the stairs to
the gallery leading to the quarters of
his senior first lieutenant. Adm light
was shining through the shutters
Cram knocked at the door: no answer.
Opening it, he glanced in. The room
was unoccupied- \ cheap marine
clock. ticking between the north win
dows and the wash-stand. indicated
midnight. and the battery commander
turned away in vexatiOn of spirit.
Lieut.. Doyle had no authority to be
absent from the post.
1t was dark and storming furiously
when the bugles OF the battery sounded
the reveille. and by the light of the
swinging lanterns the men marched
away in their canvass stable rig, look
ing like a column of ghosts. Yet.
despite the gale and the torrents of
rain. Pierce was in TO wise surprised
to find Cram at his elbow when the
horses were led ont TO water.
Groom indoors this morning, Mr.
Pierce. Is Waring homer
" No. sir; Ananias told me when he
brought me up my coffee
Hold the morning report. then.
until l come to the Office. l fear we
have both first lieutenants to report
absent to-day. You and may have to
go to town; so get your breakfast
early. We will ride. / doubt If even an
ambulance could get through Tell
me, Pierce, have you spoken to Naring
about-about that matter we were
discussing? Has he ever given YOU
any idea that he had received warning
of anv kind from old Lascelles-or any
OF his friends?"
No. sir. I've had no chance to
speak. to be sure. and. so far as could
observe. he and Mr.. Lascelles seemed
on very excellent terms only few
days ago"
We'll. wish had spoken myself,
said Cram. and turned away.
That morning, with two first lieu
tenants absent without leave. the re-
port of Light Battery ~ went into
the adjutants Office just as its COM
mander and his junior subaltern went