The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-12-18

grra.ulate him, went blitheiy and hTlskly
10 answer the colonel's summons. War
ren had given him ..the tip as TO the
letter being prepared for Farquhar's sig
nature. It was a JOY TO know that his
name was TO be sent forward with the
praise Of his soldierly and Eonored chief.
Il was almost rapture TO conjecture what
Wiuifred Berrien would think Of him
when she heard that his vigilance and
dash had saved her fathers life.
lie looked therefore the very picture
OF slalwar1, soldierly, brave eyed man
hood as he stepped quickly into the col
oueI's tent and stood erect before the 81
lent trio there assembled. He came with
a heart beating high with anticipation;
bat one glance At Roife's somber and
half avertcd face, the first words in Far
qahar's grave, though courteous tones,
bauished all pleasurabie thought and
put him on his guard.
'.Mr. Brewster, If | remember Alright,
It was you who presented Sergeant Ellis
for enlistment when we were IL the
Hills. Am I right
Yes, sir"
sYou knew him before his joining Us,
lid you not:'
- short time, sir; yes
Where had you known him and how
long:7
.'At Deadwood. sir; l met him there
On two occasions before lie decided Ia
enlist"
Two occasions? and how long be
fore ne came to US:
Perhaps a week, SIR
"And you had never known him or Of
him before
Il had seen him, but l cannot say that
had ever known him
Mr.. Brewster" burst in Captain
Rolfe at this junctuTe, before lie could
be checked, do yCa mean to tell me-
You were not well acquainted with this
50 called Ellis long before you met him
in tie Hills:7
Captain Rolfe, y7;s Tie instant an
swer, and the flush leaped TO Brewster
cheeks, an angry hsh5 TO his eyes, Il
nean 10 tell YOU nothing Whatever. ]
am answering Colonel Farouhar."
Permit ne to conduct this matter,
Captain Rolfe,- said Farquhar. stretch
ing forth a restraining hand and check
ing the captain as he rose with another
question Oh his lips. Rolfe with almost
any other man might possibly have per.
sisted. He knew Farquhar, however,
and knew that however gentle and
courteous might be his manner he could
come down hard upon those who crossed
him. So, with evident effort, he held
his tongue. but remained standing. BE
good enough 10 resume your seat, cap
tain,- continued the colonel. all grave
politeness; and Rolfe slowly and reluct.
antly subsided.
You went 10 Helena once some five
years ago as witness before "A court, and
The train was held up by read agents
Air. Brewster. Did you rot meet TINS
man about that time:"
YES, colonel, l saw him, but did
not know him from Adam"
You conversed with him, did you
not, and were at the .iane hotel at Hele-
IA with him.
Il did; yes, sir; and / was at the same
hotel fOr thirty-six hours. But he was
a total stranger TO me. His dress was
that Of gentleman. SO was his manner,
ard almost everybody in orr car got to
talking with him. He was the only one
who really saw the train ro5bers-it
was all done SO quickly, while we were
in our barths; bat he had got aboard at
some station jEst before the thing oc-
currei."
Did You not know when he enlisted
that be gave an assumed name
No, colonel. did not. For al !
know Ellis Is his own name
Yet Yea knew him as Ralph Erroli
~ Helena burst in Rolfe again.
Captain Rolfc.~ said tie c, one,
with marked emphasis. Il ysill ask 80
- Withdrew; bat, except ly D.. Hol-
dcn's permission, yoa VIII LOT speak 81
tlis 1iat.-- 90 Aaior Ea--:ea. d,sire
g. zee Ir. Brewster l1r Iayself 10.
hoiial, yas; re..--iu.
There was 70 help for It now. Rolfe
had 10 60; and 20 he dil. without a
word Then Fsrqul,ar. "a his courteous
tones, r. tpelted llis qucs.ion Gnlrcceivcd
p7omp- reply;
"He certainly gave his name as Enroll
in Heleal and as Ellis when hc enlisted,
ooioali. but which Is right or that
either Is right l have no means Of know
ing
wei, am tod that he gave you
Iauch of his history and that yoa lent
him money II Deadwood."
i did lend him. though at the time
thought was giving him, twenty dol
lars 10 pay pressing debts which he had
10 settle before he could leave there and
coi.e 10 Us. he was destitute and stary-
iug. lie did tell me something of his
past, but whether it WIS true or not |
cannot say. the more l see Of him the
more I believe il; believe he was gen
tleman born ana bred. ard that he had
had hard luck. lost home and friends
AID fortune; that he took 70 tie west
aud mining; that he made and lost al
ternatcly; taat now he IS reaping some
reward for his labor. What know is
that lie Is q tip.op soldier. of whom the
whole regiment has reason to be proud,
even though don't know what may he
his own name
Holden was listening eagerly to every
word.
''sIav ask question. colonelg7
Certainly. doctor"
Brewster. did he ever tell you where
his home was-where his relatives now
live"
'-Yes-Louisville; ard Ihave a packet
which. should he be killed or Inortaliy
woandea, | have promised TO uRwrap
ana express to the address written with
IL 1 do E0t now even know what il Is"
"Well, did he never speak of having
lived in ST. Louis-having had friends
there
'-5'ever SO much as mentioned the
place. doctor
For a moment there was silence.
broken only by the dismal moan # the
rising gale, the flap Of canva, ..nd tho
creak Of strainins guyr0pes. Farquhar
was sun thinking deeply. A. last he
looked up.
Captain Rolfc has lodged with ne