The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-12-23

had on his shoulder strap, that the curse
Of the Northern army is the want Of
proper sccutin What was it caused
Bulls R1n-wSnt o. scotitin' What
was it rolled up Pope? Want o. scout
in What killed Baker at Balls Bluff ?
Want o. scoutin What caused the
Slaughter at the Wilderness? Want o.
scoutin- Injun scositin Why, only the
other day, gentlemen. was approached
scoutin' force. And what did I say 2
No, general, it amt because / repre-
sent one Of the largest army beef con-
tracts in the country says I, st ain't
because belong. so to speak, to the
sSinews of War, but because want
about 5000 trained Injuns from the
reservationsr And the regular West
Point, high-toned. scientific inkybsls
that weighs so heavily on our army
don't see itaTld won't have It. Then
Sherman he SEE to me-
But here a roar OF laughter interrupts
ed him, and in a cross-f1re of sarcastic
interTogations that began Brant saw
with relief 9, chance of escape. For in
the voice, manner, and, above ali, the
cTarac teristic Temperament of the
stranger he had recognized his old
playmate and the husband OF Susy-
the redoubtable Jim Hooker! There was
no MISLEADING that gloomy audacity-
that mysterious signifi cance- shat mas s.
nificent lying But even at that moment
Clarence Brant' S heart faad gone out
with all his old loyalty toward his old
coTnpanion He knew that a public rec
onition of him then and there would
plunge Hooker into confusion, he Teft
keenly the ironical plaudits and laugh
ter of his officers over the manifest
weakness and vanity Of the ex-team-
ster, ex-rancaler ex-act0r and husband
Of his girl sweetheart and would have
spared him the knowledge that he had
overheard it, Turning hastily to the
orderly he babe Hmm bring the stranger
to his headquarters and rode away I'M
perceived.
He had heard enough. however, to
recount for mis- presence there. and the
singular chance that had brought them
again together. He was evidently one
of those large civil contractors of sup
plies whom the government was OBJ
lfged to employ, who visited the. camp,
half officially, and whom the army al
te1nately depended upon and abused.
Brant had dealt with his underlings
in the commi ssariat, and even now re-
membered that he had heard he was
coming, but had overlooked the signifi-
to leave his Theatrical profession, how
he had attained a opposition which inn
piled a command of considerable Cap
ital-for many of the contractors had
already aunassed large fortunes-and
what had. become OF Susy and her am
billions in this radical change of cir
cllnstances, were things to be
learned. In his own changed
coxlitions ne had seldom
thought of her; it was a strange feeling
of Irritation and half responsibility that
he now recalled his last interview with
her and the emotion TO which he had sue
cuInbed.
scarcely regafned the quarters at his
own private office before he heard the
step of the orderly upon the veTanSa,
and the trailing clank Of Rockers sabre.
He did not know, however, that HOOKER,
without recognizing his name. had re-
ceived the message as a PERSONAL tribute
and had left his sarcastic compa MONS
tI1iumphantly, with the air OF a man go
ing TO a confidential interview to which
his weal.knowr military connection had
entitled him. 1t was with a bearing OF
gloomy Importance, and mis- character
istfc sullen sidelong glance that he en-
tered the apartment. and he did not
look up until Brant had sis-naaed the Or
derby to withdraw and close the door
behind him. And then he recognized ms
old boyish comprehensive pr0feSSed
favorite of fortune!
For a moment ne gasped with astonlSh-
Tnerlt For a moment gloomy dncredu-
lily suspicion, delight, pride, admiration,
even affection, struggled for mastery in
his slillen staring eyes and open tWitch-
ing mouth. For here was Clarence