The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-01-04
'.lo prisoners got aWay. ! hope?ll

NO prisoners got away, hope?"
''No, sir. Nothing, I fear, that would
seem to justify my action. I ordered
No to FIRE"
why, what on cart spld have hap
pened around there sost back Of
us?' said the colonel in wise.
81 do not know what b happened
or what was going to happen. and
Chester paused a 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.
81 know" explained Chester. 81
think it best that no one but you should
hear anything Of the matter for the
present until I have investigated fur
ther. Il was nearly half past this
morning as I got around here on SIS
post, inspecting sentinels, and came
suddenly in the darkness upon a man
carrying a ladder on his shoulder. I or
dered him to halt The reply was VIC
lent blow, and the ladder and were
dropped at the same instant, while the
man sprang into space and darted of
in the direction Of No. 5. I fol-
lowed quick as I 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. F."
ooh, we'll, coma in to breakfast, "
said the colonel. well talk it over
there.
"Pardon me, sir, cannot. must
get back home before guard mount, and
Rollins is probably waiting to see me
now. II 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 a sudden and deep
anxiety.
"Well, si1, an officer Of the garrison
is placed in compromising position by
this affair and cannot Or will not ex-
plain. "
''Who?"
''Mr. Jerrold, sir. "
"Jerrold Why, 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 60
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-
pioiOns, 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 I caught sight of the man
he looked like Jerrold, and two minute;
after the shots were fired 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 ht
also thought it must be MIR. Jerrold. "
'"The young scapegracei Been off tt
town, 1 suppose. "
Colonel, said Chester quickly.
"you-not must decide that. I wenr
to his quarters after reveille, and ht
was then there and resented my visit
and questions, admitted that he hat
been out during the night, but refused
to make any statement to me. :"
''Well, Chester, I will haul him III
after breakfast. Possibly he had beer
up to the rife camp or had driven tt
town after the DOCTORS party. Of course
that must be stopped, but I'm glad YOU
missed him. 1t of course staggers {
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 tn
worst phase Of the matter. What coulC
he have been thinking Of? He mus
have been either drunk or mad, and b.
rarely drank. Oh, dear, dear, dear, bu
that's very bad-EeEy bad-striking tn
officer of the dayl Why, Chester, that
the worst thing that's happened in tn
regiment since I took command of it
It's about the worst thing that coult
have happened to US OF course he mus
/ go in arrest. I'll see the adjutant RICH
after breakfast. I'll be over early
Chester. {" And with grave and wOr
ried face the colonel babe him adieu.
As he turned away Chester heard hin
saying again to himself, about th
worst thing he could have done-th
worst thing ne could have don6I" An,
the captains heart sank within him
What would the colonel say when h
knew how far. far worse was the fou
wrong Mr.. Jerrold had done to him an
his?
CHAPTER VII
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