Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-11-15

scowl Oh his brow was glowering at
Chester.
"Since when has it been the duty OF
the officer of the day to come around
and hunt up officers who don't happen
to be out at reveille?' he asked.
''It is not your absence from reveille
I want explained, Mr.. JerTold," was
the cold and deliberative answer. 81
wanted you at $3.50 this morning, and
you were not and had rot been here.
An unmistakable start and shock; a
quick, nervous, hunted glance around the
room so cold and pallid in the early
light of the August morning; clutch
of Jerrold's slim, brown hand at the
barred throat But he rallied gamely,
strobe step forward and looked his
superior full in the face. Sloat marked
the effort with which he cleared away
the luskiness that seemed to clog his
larynx, but admired the spunk with
which the young officer returned the
seniors shot:
what is your authority here, 1would
like to know? What business has the
officer Of the day to want me or any other
man not on guard? Captain Chester,
you seem to forget that am no longer
your second lieutenant and that I am
company commander like yourself
Do you come by Colonel Maynard 8
order to search my quarters and question
me? If so, say so at once. If not, get
out" And Jerrold's face was grow
ing back with wrath, and his big, lus-
trous eyes were wide awake now and
fairly swapping.
Chester leaned upon the table and de-
liberated a moment. He stood there
coldly, distrustfully eying the excited
lieutenant, then turned to Sloat:
81 will be responsible for the roll call
of Company B this morning, Sloat. I
have matter of grave Importance to
bring up to this-this gentleman, and
it is of private nature. Will You let
me see him alone?"
"Sloat, said Jerrold, don't GO yet.
want you to stay. These are my quar-
ters, and I recognize your right to come
here in search of me, since was not at
reveille, but I want witness here to
bear me out. I'm too amazed yet, too
confounded by this intrusion of Captain
Chester, to grasp the situation. | never
heard Of such a thing as this. Explain
it if you can"
"Mr. Jerrold, what l have to ask or
say to you concerns you alone 1t is
not an official matter. 1t is as man to
man l want to see you, alone and at
once. Now will You let Major Sloat re-.
tire?"
Silence for a moment. The angry
flush ON Jerrold's face died away, and
in it's place an ashen pallor was spread
ing from throat to brow. His lips were
twitching ominously. Sloat looked in
CONSERVATION at the sudden change,
"Shall l go?" he finally asked
Jerrold looked long, fixedly, search
ingly in the set face of the officer Of the
day, breathing hard and heavily. What
he saw there Sloat could not imagine
At last his hand dropped by his side.
He made a little motion with it-a
slight wave toward the door-and again
dropped it nervously. His lips seemed
to frame the word Co." but he never
glanced at the man whom moment
before he so masterfully babe to stay,
and Sloat, sorely puzzled, left the room.
Not until his footsteps had died out
of hearing did Chester speak:
"How soon can you leave the post?"
81 don't understand you.
"How soon can you pack up what
you need to take and-get away?"
"Get away where? What on earth
do you meant"
"You must know what / meanl You
must know that after last nights work
you quit the service at once and for
ever. :"
II don't know anything Of the kind,
and I 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
you?" asked Chester.
"When-where?" gulped Jerrold.
when seized you and you struck
meP'
II never struck you don't know
what you mean.
my God, man, let us end this use
less fencing. The evidence l have OF
your last nights scoundrelism would
break the strongest record. For the
regiments sake-for the colonel's saFe
let Us have no public scandal It's
awful enough as the thing stands.
Write your resignation, give it to ME
and leave-befors breakfast, if you
can.
"I've done nothing to resign for.
You know perfectly wcll I haven't" "
"Do you mean that such a crime
that woman's ruin and disgrace-isn't t
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 hcavel- Jerrold, are you dead
to all sense Of decency?"
Captain Chester, won't be bullied
this way. may not be immaculate, but
no man on earth shall talk to me like
this! II deny your insinuation. I've done
nothing to warrant your words, even If
If you did come sneaking around here