The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-02-02

4
nanny was frightened to see the
front gate open. the deep water in the
streets, and the muddy footprints on
the veranda. She called Alphonse, who
| found that his master must have come
in during the night, after all, for the
| lamp was taken from the hall table,
the library door was closed and
locked, so was the front door, also
barred within, which it had not been
when he went to bed He tapped at
the library, got no answer. SO tiptoed
to his masters bedroom; it was empty
and undisturbed- Neither had madame
nor Mile. Mn Min been to their
rooms. Then he was troubled. and
then the soldiers came and called him
out into the rain They could tell the
rest.
Grams story is already told, and he
could add nothing. The officials tried
to draw the batteryman out as to the
relations existing between Lieut..
| Waring and madame, but got badly
''bluffed.'' Cram said he had never
seen anything in the faintest degree
worthy of comment. Had he heard
anything? Yes, but nothing worthy
of consideration. much less of repeti-
ton Had he not loaned Mr.. Warning
his team and carriage to drive madame
TO town that morning? No. How did
he get it then? Took it, Was Mr.
Waring in the habit of helping him
self to the property of his brother
officers? Yes. whenever he felt like it.
for they never objected. The legal
official thought such spirit of cam
araderie in the light artillery must
make life at the barracks something
almost poetic. to which Cram re-
sponded: ''Oh. at times absolutely
idyllic.' And the tilt ended with the
civil functionary ruffied. and this was
bad for the battery. Cram never had
any policy whatsoever
Lieut.. Doyle was the next witness
summoned. and a more God-forsaken-
looking fellow never sat in a shell
jacket. Still in arrest. physically, at
the beck of old Braxton, and similarly
hampered. intellectually. at the will of
bold John Barleycorn. Mr.. Doyle
came before the civil authorities only
upon formal subpoena served at post
headquarters. The post surgeon had
Strengthened him up during the day,
but was utterly perplexed at his condi-
ton Mrs. Doyle's appearance in the
neighborhood some weeks before had
been the signal for series of sprees
two occasions so FRUSTRATED him that
DR.. Potts. an acting assistant surgeon,
had been called III 10 prescribe for
him. and. thanks to the vigorous con-
stitution of his patient. had pulled
him out in few hours. But this time
pills the Less" had found Doyle in
state bordering on terror. even when
assured that the quantity of his pota-
tons had rot warranted an approach
to tremens. The post surgeon had
been called in too. and pills the Pitt
less as he was termed. thanks to his
unfailing prescription of quinine and
blue mass il the shape and size OF
buckshot, having no previous acquaint-
ance, in Doyle, with these attacks.
pooh-poohed the case. administered
brornides and admonition in due pro-
portion, and went off about more i'm
portant business. Dr.. Potts. however,
stood by his big patient. wondering
what should cause him to start in such
terror at every step upon the stair
without. and striving to bring sleep to
ewes that had not closed the livelong
night nor all the balmy. beautiful day.
Once he asked if Doyle wished him to
send for his wife. and was startled at
the vehenency of the reply: For
Doyle had hidden his face and turned
away. Potts got him to eat something
towards noon. and Doyle begged for
more drink. but was refused. He was
sober, yet shattered. when Mr.. Drake
suddenly appeared just about stable
call and babe him repair at once to the
presence of the commanding officer.
Then Potts had to give him drink, or
he would never have got there. With
the aid of a servant he was dressed,
and. accompanied by the doctor.
reached the Office. Braxton looked
him over coldly.
Mr.. Doyle" said he. tho civil au-
thorities have made requisition for"
But he had got no further when Doyle
staggered, and but for the doctors
help might have fallen.
For Gods sake. colonel, it isn't
true, Sure know nothing of it at all
at all. sir. Indade. indade. was blind
dhrunk. colonel Sure they'd swear a
mans life away. sir, Just because he I
was the one-he was the one that"
BE silent. sir, You are not accused. /
that know of. 1t is IS witness you
are needed. Is lie in condition to tes- 1
tify. doctor?-
He is well enough. sir. to tell what !
he knows. but he claims to know moth
ing" And this. too, Doyle eagerly Sec
olded. but was sent along in the am
bulancc. with the doctor to keep him
out of mischief. and parting shot to
the effect that when the coroner was
through with him the post commander
would take hold again. so the colonel
depressed more than the cocktail slim
1lated. and. Is luck would have it. al
most the first person to meet him in
side the gloomy inclosure was his wife,
and her few whispered words only
added to his misery.
The water still lay in pools about the
premises and the police had allowed
of his reighbors to stream in
md stare at the white walls and
shaded windows. but only a favored
few penetrated the hallway and rooms
where the investigation was being
held Doyle shook like one with the
PALSY as he assembled the little fight
If steps and passed into the open door