Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-11-06
FROM THE RANKS.
BY CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.
Copyright, 1894, by the ]. B. Lippincott co.
CHAPTER I.


A strange thing happened at the old
fort during the, still watches Of the
night. Even now, at in the morning,
no one seemed to be in possession Of the
exact circumstances The officer Of the
day was engaged in an investigation,
and all that appeared to be generally
known was the bald statement that the
sentry on No. had fired at somebody
or other about half after 8; that he had
fired by order of the officer of the day,
who was on his post at the time, and
that now be fatty refused to talk about
the matter.
Garrison curiosity, it is perhaps need
less to say, was rather stimulated than
lulled by this announcement An un-
usual number Of officers were chatting
about headquarters when Colonel May
nard came over to his Office. Several
ladies, too, who had hitherto shown but
languid interest in the morning music
of the band, had taken the trouble to
stroll down to the old quadrangle, os-
tensibly to see guard mounting. Mrs.
Maynard was almost always on her
piazza at this time, and her lovely
daughter was almost sure to be at the
gate with two or three young fellows
lounging about her. This morning,
however, not soul appeared in front
of the colonel's quarters.
Guard mounting at the fort was not
held until 9 O'Clock, contrary to the
somewhat general custom at other posts
in our scattered army. Colonel May
nard had ideas of his own upon the SUBJ
ject, and it was his theory that every
thing worked more smoothly if he had
finished leisurely breakfast before be-
ginning Office work of any kind, and
neither the colonel nor his family cared
to breakfast before 8 o'clock. In view Of
the fact that Mrs. Maynard had borne
that name but very short time, and
that her knowledge of army life dated
only from the month Of May, the garri-
son was disposed to consider her entitled
to much latitude of choice in such mat
tiers, even while it did say that she was
old enough to be above bridelike senti-
ment The women folk at the fort were
of opinion that Mrs. Maynard was 30.
It must be conceded that she was over
40; also that this was her second entry
into the bonds of matrimony. .
That no one should now appear on the
colonel's piazza was obviously disap-
pointment to several people. In some
way or other most Of the breakfast ia
bles at the post had been enlivened by
accounts of the mysterious shooting.
The soldiers going the rounds with the
police cart" the butcher and grocer
and baker from town, the old milk woman
with her glistening cans, had all served
as snewsmongers from kitchen to kitchen,
and the story that came in with the
coffee to the lady of the house had lost
nothing in bulk or bravery. The groups
of officers chatting and smoking in front
of headquarters gained accessions every
moment, while the ladies seemed more
absorbed in chat and condolences than in
the sweet music of the band.
What fairly exasperated some men
was the fact that the old officer Of the
day was not out on the parade where he
belonged. Only the new incumbent was
standing there in statuesque pose as the
band trooped along the line, and the fact
that the colonel had sent out word that
the ceremony would procel without
Captain Chester only served to add fuel
to the fame Of popular conjecture. 1t
was known that the colonel was holding
a consultation with closed doors with the
old officer of the day, and never before
since he came to the regiment had the
colonel been known to look so pale and
strange us when he glanced out for just
one moment and called his orderly. The
soldier sprang up saluted, received his
message, and, with every eye following
him, sped off toward the old stone
guardhouse. In three minutes he was on
his way back, accompanied by cor
poral and private of the guard in full
dress uniform.
''That's Leary, the man who fired the
shot," said Captain Wilton to his senior
lieutenant, who stood by his side.
Belongs to B company, doesn't he?"
queried the subaltern. Seems to me
have heard Captain Armitage say he
was one of his best men,"
Eyes. He's been in the regiment as
long as can remember What on earth
can the colonel want him for? Near as
can learn, he only fred by Chester's
order"
'And neither of them knows what he
fred at
1t was perhaps 10 minutes before Pri-
vate Leary came forth from the door
way of the colonel's Office, nodded to
the corporal, and raising their white
gloved hands in salute to the group Of
officers the two men tossed their rifles
to the right shoulder and strobe back to
the guard.
Another moment, and the colonel
himself opened his door and appeared
in the hallway. He stopped abruptly,
turned back and spoke few words in
low tone, then hurried through the
groups at the entrance, looking at no
man, avoiding their glances and giving
faint and impatient return to the sol.
dierly salutations that greeted him.
The sweat was beaded on his forehead,
his lips were white and his face full of
trouble and dismay no man had ever
seen there before. He spoke to no one,