The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1894-12-21


"You must know what I meant You
must know that after last nights work
yOu quit the service at once and for,
ever.
Il don't know anything Of the kind.
and / defy you to prove the faintest
thing. But Jerrold's fingers were
twitching, and his eyes had lost their
light.
DO you suppose I did not recognize
your" asked Chester.
"When-Where?" gulped Jerrold,
"When seized you and you struck
meF'
81 never struck you don't know
what you mean.
my God, man, let US end this use
less fencing. The evidence I have of
your last nights scoundrelism would
break the strongest record. For the
regiments sake-for the coloneIs sake
let US have NC public scandal It's
awful enough as the thing stands.
Write your resignation, give it to ME
and leave-befOr5 breakfast, if you
can. "
I've done nothing to resign for.
You know perfectly well I haven't"
do you mean that such a crime
that woman s ruin and disgrace-isn' 7
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, I won't be buliied
this way. I may not be immaculate, but
no man on earth shall talk to me like
thisl Ideny your insinuation. I've done
nothing to warrant your words, even if
If you did come sneaking around here
last night and find me absent You
can't prove a thing. YOU
What When I saw you-almost
caught you'll By heaven, I wish the
sentry had killed you then and therel ]
never dreamed of such hardihoOd."
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? 'Pon. my soul,
Ireokon you're crazy. Captain Chester. "
And color was gradually coming back
to JerTold's face and confidence to his
tone.
Enough of this, Mr.. Jerrold Know
ing what you and I both know, do you
refuse to hand me your resignation"
"Of course I do. "
"DO you mean TO deny to me where ]
saw you last night?''
81 deny your right to question me.
deny anything-everything. 1 believe
you simply thought you had a cIew and
could make me tell Suppose Twas out
last night I don't believe you know the
faintest thing about it, "
DO you want me torepnrt tho whole
thing to the colonel?"
"Of course Idon't Naturally I want
him to know nothing about my being
out Of quarters, and it's a thing that nc
officer would think Of reporting another
for. You'll only win the contempt Of
every gentleman in the regiment if you
do it. What good will it do you? Keep
me from going to town for few days,
suppose, What earthly business is it
Of yours anyway"
''JeITold, l can stand this no longer.
ought to shoot you in your tracks, /
believe. You've brought ruin and mis-
cry to the home of my warmest friend
and dishonor TO the whole service, and
you talk of two OF three days stoppage
from going to town. If / can't bring
you to your senses. by God, the colonel
shall!' And he wheeled and left the
room.
For a moment Jerrold stood stunned
and silent 1t was useless to attempt
reply. The captain was far down the
walk when he sprang to the door TO call
him again. Then, hurrying back to the
bedroom, he hastily dressed, muttering
anG-ily and anxiously to himself as he
di r. He was thinking deeply, too,
al. , movement betrayed nervous
ness I'D trouble. Returning TO the
front door, he gazed out upon the pa
rade, then took his forage cap and
walked rapidly down toward the adju-
tant's Office The orderly bugler was
tilted up in chair, leaning half asleep
against the whitewashed front, but his
was a weasel nap, for he sprang up and
Ealuted as the young officer approached.
Where did Major Sloa5 go. order
ly2' was the hurried question.
'Over toward the stables, sir. Him
and Captain Chester was here together,
and they're just gone -