The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-21

no deep cares to keep him tossing on q
restless pillow.
To Chester, however, sleep was i'm
possible. He tramped the piazza full |
hour before he felt placid enough to go
and inspect his guard The sentries
were calling 8 o'clock and the wind had !
died away as he started on his round.
Dark as was the night, he carried no
lantern. The main garrison was well
lighted by lamps, and the road circling
the old fort was broad, smooth and bor-
dered by stone coping wall where it
skirted the precipitous descent into the
river bottom. As he passed down the
plank walk west Of the quadrangle,
wherein lay the old barracks and the
stone quarters of the commanding Off
Ger and the low one storied row of bach
elor dens, he could not help noting the
silence and peace of the night.
Not light was visible at any window
as he strobe down the line. The chal-
lenge Of the sentry at the old stone tow
er sounded unnecessarily sharp and loud,
and his response Of "Ofilcer Of the day.
was lower than usual, as though robuk-
ing the unseemly outory. The guard
came scrambling out and formed hur-
riedly to receive him, but the captains
inspection was Of the bricfest kind.
Barely glancing along the prison corridor
to see that the bars were i'll place, he
turned back into the night and made
for the line Of posts along tho river bank.
The sentry at the high bridge across the
gorge and the next one, well around to
the southeast flank, were successively
visited and briefly questioned as to their
instructions, and then the captain plod
ded sturdily OH until he came to the
sharp bend around tho outcrmost angle
of the fort and found himself passing
behind the quarters Of the commanding
officer, substantial two storicd stone
house, with mansard roof and dormer
windows
The road in the rear was some 10 feet
below the level Of the parade inside the
quadrangle, and consequently, as the
house faced the parade, what was the
ground floor from that front became
the second story at the rear. The
kitchen, stOrcroom and servants rooms
were on this lower stage and opened
upon tho road, an outer stairway ran up
TO the center door at the back, but at
tho east and west fianks of the house
tho stone walls stood without port or
window except those above the caves
the dormers. Light and air in abun-
dance strCamed through thu broad VCne-
tian windows north and south when
/ light and air We're needed This night,
as usual, all was tightly closed below,
all darkness aloft as he glanced up at
the dormors high above his head. As he
did so his foot struck {, sudden and
sturdy obstacle. lie stumbled and pitch
ed heavily forward and found himself
sprawling at full length upon q ladder
lying on the ground almost in the mid
die OF the roadway.
OH tho2c painters!" he growled
between his set teeth. "They leave their
internal mantraps around in the very
hope Of catching me- believe. Now,
who but painter would have left Il
ladder in such place as this?"
Rising ruefully and rubbing bruised
knee with his hand, he limped painful
ly ahead few steps until he came to
the side wall OF the colonel's house.
Here plank walk passed from the road
way along the western wall until almost
on line with the front piazza, where
by flight of steps it was carried up to
the level Of the parade. Here he paused
moment to dust off his clothes and
rearrange his belt and sword He stood
leaning against the wall and facing the
gray stone gable end of the row of old
fashioned quarters that bounded the
parade upon the southwest. All was
still darkness and silence.
"Confound this swordW he muttered
again. "The thing made rattle and
racket enough to wake tho dead. Won
der if l disturbed anybody at the colo
ncl'S?''
As though in answer to his sugges-
tion there suddenly appeared, high Oh
the blank wall before him, the rehec-
ton of faint light Had little night
lamp been turned on in the front room
Of the upper story? The gleam came
from the north window on the side. He
saw plainly the shadow of tho pretty
lace curtains looped loosely back. Then
the shade was gently raised, and there
was for an instant the silhouette of q
slender hand and wrist and tho shadow
of lace borderod sleeve. Then the light
receded, as though carried back across
the room, waned, as though slowly ex
tirguishod, and the last shadows showed
the curtains still looped back, the roll
ing shade still raised.
81 thought so" he growled. "Onc
tumble like that is enough to wake the
seven sleepors, let alone lovesick girI
who is probably dreaming over Jer
rold's parting words. She is spirited
and blue blooded enough to have more
sense, too, that superb brunette. All,
Miss Alice, l wonder if you think thai
fellows love worth having? 1t is two
hours since he left you-more than thai
and here you are awake yet-canno
sleep, want more air and have to come
and raise your shade. No such warn
night either. These were his refec
lions as he picked up his offending
sword and moro slowly and cautiously
now groped his way along the western
terrace He passed the row of bachelor
quarters and was well out beyond til,
limits Of the fort before he came upol
the next sentry-No. 5-and recognized
in the sharp "Who comes there?" anc
the stern rattle Of the bayonet as i
dropped to the charge the well known
challenge Of Private Leary, one of tho
Oldest and most reliable soldiers in tn,
regiment.
"All right on your post, Leary?" h,
asked after having given the counter
sign.