Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-11-22


come Just in time for breakfast. Mrs
Maynard won't be down. She slept
badly last night and is sleeping now.
What was the firing last night? I did
not hear it at the time, but the orderly
and old Maria, the cook, were discuss
ing it as I was shaving"
''It is that I came to see you about,
colonel. I am the man to hold respon-
sible."
"No prisoners got away hope?"
"No, sir. Nothing, I fear, that would
seem to Justify my action. ordered
No. 8 to fire."
"Why, what on earth could have hap
pened around there-almost back OF
us?" said the colonel in surprise.
"I do not know what had happened
or what was going to happen. And
Chester paused moment and glanced
toward the door, through which Miss
Renwick had retired as soon as the colo
mel arrived. The old soldier seemed
to understand the glance. "She would
not listen," he said proudly.
"I knew" explained Chester. 81
think it b"st that no one but you should
hear anything of the matter for the
present until I have investigated fur
ther. 1t was nearly half past this
morning as I got around here on 5's
post, inspecting sentinels, and came
suddenly in the darkness upon a man
carrying ladder OIL his shoulder. I Or
dered him to halt The reply was vio-
lent blow, and the ladder and were
dropped at the same instant, while the
man sprang into space and darted off
in the direction of No. 5. fol-
lowed quick as could, heard the chal-
lenge and the cries of halt and shouted
to Leary to fire. He did, but missed his
aim in the haste and darkness and the
man got safely away. Of course there
is much talk and speculation about it
around the post this morning, for sew
eral people heard the shots besides the
guard, and, although I told Leary and
others to say nothing, I know it is al
ready generally known. "
"Oh, we'll, come in to breakfast,
said the colonel "We'll talk it over
there"
"Pardon me, sir, cannot. I must
get back home before guard mount, and
Rollins is probably waiting to see me
now. IL could not discuss it at the
table, for there are some singular fea-
lures about the matter"
"Why, in Gods name, what?" asked
the colonel, with q sudden and deep
anxiety.
"Well, sir, an officer of the garrison
is placed in compromising position by
this affair and cannot or will not ex-
plain.'
"Who?''
"Mr. Jerrold, sir"
"Jerroldl Why, I got note from him
not 10 minutes ago saying he had an
engagement in town and asking per-
mission to go before guard mounting, if
Mr.. Hall was ready. Hall wanted to go
with him, Jerrold wrote, but Hall has
not applied for permission to leave the
post"
"It is Jerrold who is compromised,
colonel. I may be all wrong in my sus-
picions, all wrong in reporting the mat
ter to you at all, but in my perplexity
and distress I see no other way. Frank
ly, the moment caught sight of the man
he looked like Jerrold, and two minutes
after the shots wereSfred I inspected
Jerrold's quarters. He was not there,
though the lamps were burning very
low in the bedroom, and his bed had
not been occupied at all. When you
see Leary, sir, he will tell you that he
also thought it must be Mr.. Jerrold. "
"The young scapegrace! Been off to
town, suppose"
Colonel said Chester quickly,
"you-not I-must decide that. went
to his quarters after reveille, and he
was then there and resented my visit
and questions, admitted that he had
been out during the night, but refused
to make any statement to me-.
"Well, Chester, will haul him up
after breakfast. Possibly he had been
up to the rife camp or had driven to
town after the doctors party. Of course
that must be stopped, but I'm glad you
missed him. 1t Of course staggers a
mans Judgment to be knocked down,
but if you had killed him it might have
been as serious for you as this knock
down blow will be for him. That is the
worst phase of the matter. What could
he have been thinking Of? He must
have been either drunk or mad, and he
rarely drank. Oh, dear, dear, dear, but
that's very bad-very bad-striking the
officer of the day! Why, Chester, that's
the worst thing that's happened in the
regiment since I took command Of it.
It's about the worst thing that could
have happened to u.s. Of course he must
60 in arrest. I'll see the adjutant right
after breakfast. I'll be over early,
Chester" And with grave and wor
riel face the colonel babe him adieu.
As he turned away Chester heard him
saying again to himself, about the
worst thing he could have done-the
worst thing lie could have done!" And
the captains heart sank within him.
What would the colonel say when he
knew how far, far worse was the foul
wrong Mr.. Jerrold had done to him and
his?
TO BE CONTINUED.