Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-12-18
Copyright, 1894, by the ]. B. Lippincott G.
CHAPTER Kill

for Armitage to see the features OF hlt
lieutenant, and he had his own reasons
for desiring to read them. Mr.. JerTold,
ON the other hand, seemed disposed tt
keep in the shadows as much as posi-
BILE. He made no movement to open the
shutters of the one window which ad
mitted light from the front, and walk
ed back to his bedroom door, glanced in
there, as though to see that there were
no occupants, then carefully closed it as
he returned to face his captain. He took
off his helmet and placed it on the cen.
ter table, then thrusting his thumbs in
side the handsome, gold broidered sword
belt stood in jaunty attitude, but with
a very uneasy look in his eyes, to hear
what his senior might have to say. Be-
tween the two men an invitation to sit
would have been superfuity. Neither
had ever remained long enough in the
others quarters, since the exchange Of
the first calls when Jerrold came to the
garrison, to render chair at all neces-
sary.
"Be good enough to strike a light,
Mr.. Jerrold, said Armitage presently,
seeing that his unwilling host made no
effort ON his own account.
81 purposed going out at once, cap.
tain, and presume you cannot have any
very extended remarks to make.
"You cannot see the writing1 have
to call your attention to without light
I shall detain you no longer than is nec-
essary. Had you an engagement"
Nothing Of great consequence. l
presume it will keep"
'sIt will have to. The matter have
come upon will admit no further delay.
Light your lamp, if you please. "
And Jerrold uld so, slowly and with
much reluctance. He wiped his fore
head vigorously the instant the flame
began to splutter, but as the clear,
steady light of the argand gradually
spread over the little room Armitage
could see the sweat again beading his
forehead, and the dark eyes were glanc-
ing nervously about, and the hands that
were SO firm and steady and fine the
year before and held the Springfield in
80 light yet immovable an aim were
twitching now. It was no wonder Jer-
rold's score had dropped some 30 per
cent His nerve had gone to pieces.
Armitage stood and watched him q
moment; then he slowly spoke:
IT have no desire to allude to the
subject of your conversation with Mer-
rick It was to put an end to such a
thing-not to avail myself Of any in
formation it might give-that I hur-
ried in. We will put that aside and 60
at once to the matter that brings me
back. You are aware, of course, that
your conduct has compromised wom-
ans name, and that the garrison is
talking of nothing else"
Jerrold grasped the back Of a chair
with one slender brown hand and looked
furtively about, as though for some hope
Of escape. Something like a startled
gulp seemed to work his throat muscles
an instant; then he stammered his re-
ply:
II don't know what you mean"
"You do know what I mean. Cap
tain Chester has already told you"
Captain Chester came in here and
made an unauthorized inspection of my
quarters because he heard shot fired
by sentry. was out. don't deny
that. But he proceeded to say all man
ner of insulting and unwarrantable
things and tried to force me to hand in
resignation simply because I was out
Of quarters after taps. could account
for his doing something so idiotic, but
I'm at a loss to comprehend your TAX
ing it up"
''The most serious allegation ever
made against an officer Of the regiment
is made against you, the senior lieuten-
ant of my company, and the evidence
furnished me by the colonel and by
Captain Chester is of such q character
that unless you can refute it and clear
her name you will have settlement
with me to start with, and your dis
missal from the regiment
Settlement with you? What concern
have you. in the matter3" interrupted
Jerrold
"Waste no words on that, Mr.. Jer-
rold Understand that where her name
is concerned no man on earth is more
interested than L Now answer me.
You were absent from your quarters for
some hours after the DOCTORS party.
Somebody believed to have been you was
seen and fired at for refusing to halt at
the order Of Captain Chester at $3.50 in
the morning. The ladder that usually
hung at your fence was found at the
colonel's while you were out, and that
night a woman's name was compromised
beyond repair unless you can repair it.
Unless you prove beyond peradventure
where you were both that night and last
night, prove beyond question that you
were not where you are believed to have
been, her name is stained and yours
blackened forever. There are other
things you must fully explain, but these
first"
Jerrold's face was growing gray and
sickly. He stared at the stern eyes be-
fore him and could make no answer.
His lips moved dryly, but made nc
sound.
"Come, I want to hear from you.
Where were you if not with or seek
ing her? Name your place and wit
nesses"
"By God, Captain Armitage, the
army is no longer a place for gentle
man if his every movement is to b'
spied upon like this!"
"The world is no place for a man O.
your stamp is perhaps a better way o
putting it," said Armitage, whose fin
gers were twitching convulsively, ant
whose whole frame quiYered with tn