The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-10-05

in its place an ashen pallor was spread
ing from throat to brow. His lips were
twitching ominously. Sloat looked in
CONSERVATION at the sudden change.
"Shall gor" he finally asked.
Jerrold looked Ilong, fxedly, search
ingly in the set face of the officer of the
day, breathing hard and heavily. What
he saw there Sloat could not imagine.
AT last his hand dropped by his side.
He made little motion with it-a
slight wave toward the door-and again
dropped it nervously. His lips seemed
to frame the word Co." but he never
glanced at the man whom a moment
before he so masterfully babe to stay,
and Sloat, sorely puzzled, left the room
Not until his footsteps had died out
of hearing did Chester speak;
"How soon can you leave the post?'
II don't understand you. +" -"
''How soon can you pack up what
you need to take and-get away?'
"Get away where? What on earth
do you mean?"
"You must know what mean! You
must know that after last nights work
you quit the service at once and for
ever.
81 don't know anything of the kind,
and 1 defy you to prove the faintest
thing" But Jerrold's. fingers were
twitching, and his eyes had lost their
light.
'Do you suppose l did not recognize
your" asked Chester.
"When-where?" gulped Jerrold.
"When 1 seized you and you struck
me!'
81 never struck you. don't know
what you mean"
"My God, man, let us end this USE
less fencing. The evidence l have of
your last nights scoundrelism would
break the strongest record. For the
regiments sake-for the colonel's sake
let us have no public scandal It's
awful enough as the thing stands.
Write your resignation, give it to ME
and leave--befOre breakfast, if you
can. l."
"What is your authority here, would
like to know? What business has the
officer of the day to want me or any other
man not on guard? Captain Chester,
you seem to forget that am no longer
your second lieutenant and that l am
q company commander like yourself.
Do you come by Colonel Maynard
order to search my quarters and question
me? If so, say so at once. If not, get
out. " And Jerrold's face was grow
ing back with wrath, and his big, lus-
trous eyes were wide awake now and
fairly swapping.
Chester leaned upon the table and de-
liberated moment He stood there
coldly, distrustfully eying the excited
lieutenant, then turned to Sloat:
II will be responsible for the roll call
of Company B this morning, Sloat.
have a matter of grave Importance to
bring up to this--this gentleman, and
it is Of private nature. Will you let
me see him alone?'
"Sloat," said Jerrold, "don't go yet.
1 want you to stay These are my quar-
tiers, and 1 recognize your right to come
here in search of me, since / was not ut
reveille, but want witness here to
bear me out. I'm too amazed yet, too
COMPOUNDED by this intrusion of Captain
Chester, to grasp the situation. never
heard of such a thing as this. Explain
it if you cam"
Mr.. Jerrold, what l have to ask or
say to you concerns you alone. 1t is
not all official matter. 1t is as man to
man want to see you, alone and at
once. Now will you let Major Sloat re-
tirap'
1--WE done nothing to resign FOR.
You know perfectly we'll haven't"
''Do you mean that such crime
that woman's ruin and disgrace-isn' 4
enough to drive you from the service?"
asked Chester, tingling in every nerve
and longing to clinch the shapely,
swelling throat in his clutching fingers
"God of heaven, Jerrold, are you dead
to all sense of decency?"
Captain Chester, won't be bullied
this way. / may not DO immaculate, but
no man on earth shall talk to me like
this deny your insinuation. I've done
nothing to warrant your words, even il
If you did come sneaking around here
last night and find me absent You
can't prove thing. YOU
What! When 1 saw you-almoss
caught you! By heaven, wish the
sentry had killed you then and there! !
never dreamed of such hardihood. 4"
You've done nothing but dream.
By Jove, I believe you're sleep walk
ing yeti What on earth do you mean by
catching and killing me? Pom my SOUL
reckon you re crazy, Captain Chester !"
And color was gradually coming back
to Jerrold's face and confidence to his
tone.
Enough of this, Mr.. Jerrold. Know.
ing what you and both know, do you
refuse to hand me your resignation"
"Of course do.
''Do you mean to deny to me where /
saw you last night?"
II deny your right to question me-
deny anything-everything. I believe
you simply thought you had clew and
could make me tell. Suppose Twas out
last night. don't believe you know the
faintest thing about it. !"
"Do you want me to report the whole
thing to the colonel?'