The Washington times., 1895-01-13
GLHRENGE.
IBY BRET HARTE.l
Author OF "The Luck OF Roaring Camp"
Two Men OF Sandy Bar,"&c
Copyright. 1891, by Bret HaIte.l
PART uI--cHaPrER !


diverged from the Capitol like the rays of
another sur were fierce and glittering. The
sterile distances between glowed more cruelty
than ever, and pedestrians. keeping in the
scant shade. hesi; aied on the curbstones be-
fore plupgng into the Sahara-like waste of
crossings. The city seemed deserted. Even
the vast army of contractors. spectators,
place hunters, and lobbyists, which hung on
the heels OF the other army and had turned
this pacific camp OF the nation into a battle
field OF igDoble conflict and contention more
disastrous than the one TO the Souih-had
skunk into their holes in hotel back bedrooms,
in shady barrooms or in the negro quarters
of Georgetown. as If tine majestic. white
robbed goddess enthroncd upon the dome of
the Capitol had at last descended among
them and smIting 10 right and lett with
the fiat and flash OF her insuiIerable sword
Into tins stilling atmosphere OF greed and
corruption Clarence Brant stepped from the
shadow OF the Mar Department. For tho
lust three weeks he had haunted its ante
rooms aud audience chambers, in the vain
hope OF righting himself before his superiors.
who were content. without formulating
charges against him. to keep him in this dis
grace OF inaction and the an xiety oil suspense
Unabieto ascertain the details OF the accusa-
iion. and conscious OF his own secret, he WIS
drharrcd the last resort of demanding 4
court-ma tial which he knew could only ex-
oner;lte him by the exposure OF the guilt of
his wife whom he Sill hoped had safely
escaped His division commander, in active
operations n the field, had no :iue to help
him al Washington. Eitowed aside by
greedy contractors, forestaled 10y selfish
politicians, aad d.s1aining the ordinary
methods OF influence. be had no friend 10
turn TO- In mis- few years o. campaigning he
bad lost his instinct OF diplomacy without
acquiring soldiers blunincss.
The nearly level rays of the sun forced i'm
at last to turn aside into one OF the oprnings
OF large buildng-a famous earayansary OF
tha: hctel-haunted Captal-and be presently
found himself In the luxurious BARRON,
fragrant with mint and cool with Ice Slabs
piled symmetricaly on its marble counters.
A few groups OF men were seeking GOODNESS
al small tables. with glasses be.ore them AMI
pal IA leaf fans IN their hands. but larger
and noisier assembage was collected before
the bar. where Il man. colar.ess, and in shirt
sleeves with his ba 10 the counter, was
pretentiOusiy addressing them. Brant. who
had mooiily dropped into chair IN the
corner after ordering cooling drink rs an
excuse for his temporary refuge from the sti
fling street. half regretted his enforced
participation in their conyiyiality. But n
sudden lowering OF the speakers voice into
note OF gloomy Significance seemed familiar
10 m. lie glanced at him quickly from the
shadow OF his corner. lie was not mistaken
il was jim Hookeri
For the first time in his life. Brant wished
to e, ade MIN. Ia the days of his own pros
peri;y his heart had always gone ont toward
this old companion of his boybooi; in his
present humiliation his presence jarred upon
HIN. He would have slipped away. but TO DO
so he would have had to pass before the
counter again, and Hooker. with the sal!-
consciousness os n slory-tee-. had an eye on
his audience. Brant with palm leaf fRn
before hls face was obliged 10 listen.
Yes gentlemen. said Hooker. examining
his glass dramatically. when Il maus ieen
coOpcd np IN rebel prison. with death line
be.o-e him that hos obliged to cross every
time Lc wants a square drink It seems sort OF
like a dream OF his hoyhood 10 toe siandin
here comI'ble before his liquor. alongside a
white men once more. And when he knows
hes lin put 10 a that trouble jest 10 save the
reputation or another man, an the secrets
OF a few high and mighty ones. Il nj most
enough 10 make his liquor 20 agin bimi' He
stopped theatrieaiy. seemed T. choke emo
tiOualiy over his brandy smash. bot with q
pause OF dramatic determination. anaily
dRshel il down. NO. gentlemen he con-
tipuei gloomily. 4 don't say what I'm back
IN Washington for-l don say what I've hin
sayin' to myself when I've lin piekirg the
wecyils outer MY hiscai;s in Libby rison
but ef you don't see some pretty big men IN
the War Department obliged 10 climb down
in the neNt few days my name amt Jim
Hooker. of Hooker. Meeciiam * Co. army
beef contractors ana the man who saved the
fight nj Gray Oaks.
The smile Of satisfaction that went around
his audience an audience quick 10 size the
weakness OF any performance might have
started vanity less ohlivious than Hookers.
but il only aroused Brnnt's INDICATION and
pity, and made his position stili more intol-
nut ufa1ft
ing thin stream OF tobacco Juice against the
spiitooD. remained an instant gloomiiy silent.
Tel us about the fight again, said a
smiling auditor.
Hooker looked around the room with
certain dark suspciousness. and then in an
affected lower voice. which his theatrical AK
perience made perfectly audible. went on: 1T
aini much 10 speak OF, and if it wasn't for
the principle OF the thing ] wouldn't be
talkin'. A nan who's seen Injine lGhtin'
don't 20 much on this West Point fghtin by
rule cf-three-but that amt here or there.
Well. I'd hin q scoutin'-just to help the boys
along. aud was sittn' in my wagon about
daybreak. when along comes a brgadier
general. and he looks into the wagon Hap. i
oughter 10 tell you first, gentlemen. TINT
every mint he was expeetin' an attack-but
he didn't let on = hint of il 10 me. How are
you. Jim2 SAYS he. How arp you generaiy'
says l. Would you mind lending me your
coat and hat? says be. I've got a little game
here with our pickc.s. and don I want TO be
recognized. Anything 10 opiige. general
says l. and with that strips or my coat and
hat, an he pesls and puts them on. Nearly
the same figure. jim he says lookin'
AT me; suppose you just Try on my things
and see With that he hands me his coat
fall uniform with the little gold cords and
laces and the epaulets with a star. and / puts
il oa-quite innocent like. And then Ire says.
handin' NE mis- sword and belt Same inches
round the waiss. too. / reckon. and l puts
that on. too. You may as we'll keep 'em on
till I como back SAYS be. for its mighty
damp and malarious at this time around the
swamp And with that he lites out. Well,
gentlemen. hadn't sat here five minutes be-
fore bang bang rattle, rRttlei kershiZ and |
hear yell. ] steps out OF the wagon every
things quite dark but the rattle goes on.
Then along trots an orderly len lin n horse.
Mount. General. he says. We're attacked
the rear guards on u.s."
He paused. looked around his audience.
and then Ia a lower voice said darkly: Il
amt fool. gentlemen. and ia that minute
mans brain works at high pressure. and
saw 1t all. | saw the little game OF the briga-
dier-to skunk away in nv clothes and leave
me 10 be captured in his. But ain I dog
neither. and | mounted that horse, gentle.
men. and lit out 10 where the men were
formin / didn't dare TO speak lest they
should know me- but waved my sword and
10y CAD. they followed me- And ihe next
minute we was in the thick of IT, | had my
hat as full or holes "a that ice strainer. had
a dozen bullets through my coat, the fringe OF
my epaulets were shot away; bat ! kept the
bows dt their work, and we stopped EN-
Stopped 'enl. gentlemen, until we heard the
bugles OF the rest OF our division. that all this
fiuap ha henn railing that blasted rear guard