The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1894-05-31
W ARINGS PERIL.
BIZ Capt. Charles R. King.
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yround about the sheds and stables
Drills for the IL 4ntI.y were necessarily
several -entries even being
taaen IF their posts The men clus-
tered ia the .gu.-G-rDoms and listened
with more OF les credulity TO the the
orles and coufTIaatory statements Of
fact a. related by the imaginative or
loquaciOus Of their number. I he ma
iority Of the officers gathered under
the flaring lamp-lights at the suffers
store and occupied themselves pretty
much as did their interiors in grade,
though poker and punch-apccialtits of
Mr. Finkbcin, the sutler-Ient addi-
tional color to the stories in circuia-
ton.
From this congress the better ele-
ment of the commissioned force was
absent. the names, uationalities and
idionatic PECULIAR ties OF speech Of the
Individual members being Identical II
most instances with those Of their
comrades in arms in the ranks. "Brax"
had summoned Minor. Lawrence. Kin
sey and Dryden TO hear what the post
surgeon had to say on his return, but
cautioned them to keep quiet. As
result Of this precaution, the mystery
of the situation became rcdOubled by
one o'clock, and was intensified by two,
when II was announced that Private
Dawson had attempted to break away
out of the hospital after a visit from
the same doctor in his professional ca
pacity. People were tempted out on
their galleries in the driving storm,
and colored servants fitted from
kitchen to kitchen to gather or dis
pcnse new rumors, but nobody knew
what to make of it when, soon after
two, an orderly rode in from town
dripping with mud ard wet, delivered
note to the colonel and took one
from him to Mr.. Ferry, now sole repre-
sentative Of the officers of Battery Ak"
present for duty. Ferry in return sent
the bedraggled horseman on to the
battery quarters with an order to the
first sergeant, and in about fifteen
minutes q sergeant and two men,
mounted and each leading spare
horse, appeared under Ferry's gallery,
and that officer proceeded to occupy
one of the vacant saddles and, fol-
lowed by his party, went gathering
out Of the sally-port and splashing
over to the levee. Stable call sounded
as usual at four o'clock, and, for the
first time in the record of that disci-
plined organization since the devas-
tating hand of yellow Jack was laid
upon it the previous year, no officer ap-
peared to supervise the grooming and
feeding. Two of them were at the
post, however. Mr.. Doyle, in arrest
On charge of absence without leave,
was escorted to his quarters about
four-ffteen, and was promptly visited
by sympathizing and inquisitive com
rades from the Hotel Finkbein, while
Mr.. Ferry, who had effected the ar
rest, was detained making his report
to the post commander. Night came
on apace, the wind began to die away
with the going down of the sun, the
rain ceased to fall, pallid moon be-
gan peering at odd intervals through
riffs In the cloudy veil, when Cram
rode FLASHING back into barracks, worn
with anxiety and care, at eleven
o'clock, and stopping only for mo-
ment to take his wife in his arms and
kiss her anxious face and shake his
head In response to her eager query
for news of Waring, he hurried down
stairs again and over to Doyle's quar-
tiers. All was darkness there, but he
never hesitated. Tramping loudly over
the gallery, he banged at the door,
then, turning the knob, intending to
burst right in, as was the way in the
rough old days, was surprised to find
the bolt set.
Doyle, open. 1 want to see you at
once"
All silence within.
"Doyle, open, or, if you are too
drunk to get up, III kick in the door"
A groan, whispered colloquy, then
the rattle of bolts and chain. The
door opened about an inch. and an oily
Irish voice inquired:
"Hwat's wanted, capt'in?''
"You here?" exclaimed Cram, in dis
gust. what business have you in this
garrison? If the colonel knew it you d
be driven out at the point of the bay
onet."
"Sure, where should wife be but at
her husbands side whin he's sick and
sufferin'? Didn't they root him out of
bed and comfort this day and ride him
down like a felon in all the storm?
Sure it was the doughboys' orders,
sir. told Doyle the capt'in never
would have"
"Oh, be quiet; must see Doyle, and
at once"
''Sure, he's not able, capt'in. You
know how it is wild him; he's that sinsi-
tive he couldn't bear to talk of the dis
grace he's bringing on the capt'in and
the batthery, and I knowed he'd been
dhrinkin', sir, and I came back to look
for him, but he'd got started, capt'n
and it's
''Stop this talk! He wasn't drinking
at all until you came back here to
hound him. Open that door, or file OF
guard will"
''Och! thin wait till I'm dressed, for
dacency's sake, capt'in. Sure III thry
and wake him"
And then more whispering, the click
of glass, maudlin protestation in
Doyle's thick tones. Cram banged al
the door and demanded instant ODE
dience. Admitted at last, he strobe tc
the side of an ord mary hospital cot
over which the mosquito bar was now
ostentatiously drawn, and upon which
was stretched the bulky frame of the
big Irishman. his red, blear-eyed,
bloated face half covered in his arms
The close air rocked with the fumes OF
whisky. In her distress lest Jim should
take too much, the claimant of his
name and protection had evidently
been sequestrating a large share TO.
herself.
How on earth did you get heref
Your house was flooded all day.
angrily asked Cram.
''Sure we made raft, Silhouette
and me-and poled over to the levee,
and | walked every fut of the way
down to follow M husband. as !
svore / would whin we was married.
I'd a come in Anatole's boat, sir, bu,
twas gone-gone since last night
Did ye know that, capt'in?"
A groan and feverish toss from the
occupant OF the narrow bed inter
rupted her.