Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-11-19
CHAPTER VII.

FrRyne was merry with the music OF
Christmas preparation. Ever since re-
veille the men had been busily at work,
and while most Of them were engaged
in the decoration Of their barracks
messrooms and the little chapel, Terry
Rorke, with a good sized squad, was
still putting the finishing touches on
the assembly hall. An odd thing had
happened that morning No one had
ever known that fellow Graice to offer
to do stroke Of work Of any kind, espe.
cially where Rorke had anything to do
with the matter. yet here he came, right
after reveille, to tell that very man that
if it was all the same to him he'd take
the place Of Higgins, who had been put
on guard, and would help at the assem-.
bly, room.
There's no whisky to be had there,
Graice, If that's what you want, and
ye look more n like 1t. Answer me this,
now. Where'd ye been whin ye came
runnin in at O'Clock this mornin?'
ION a still hunt, corporal" answer
ed Graice, with q lcer. "It's to keep
away from whisky this day I'm ready
to work with you. I'm supernumerary
of the guard.
"You were drinkin last night, and
you've had yer eye opener and brain
cloudier this mornin, bad scran to ye.
There's an internal revenue tax on the
breath Of ye that would make an ex-
ciseman jealous. But, God be good to
us, av it's to kape mischief away from
the garrison this day III go ye. G'wan
now, but whist, ye've no liquor about
ye, Graice?'
Devil drop outside Of my skin,
corporal" "
"Then. kapo out of reach Of it and
out Of the way of the ladies, lest the
sight Of yer ugly mug would throw
them into fits. G'wan," and Graice
went. WAS it ye, ye black throated
devil, that gave that sweet lady her
fright last night?' he continued reflect
lively. There's no provin it beyond the
boot tracks, and they'd fit worse look
in feet than yours. It's the wan mark
of the gentleman that's left to ye. Yes,
sergeant, III kape me eye on him, he
continued, in response to suggestion
lIOlu tllc hCLlOI uUaCOLululSSlO1tl OlIlCcI
of the troop, who came forth from the
Office at the moment. THE captains
hot about that business of last night.
and like as not there's the blackguard.
Now, what on earth does he want to be
playin Peepin Tom about the officers
quarters?"
good, of course, but we can prove
nothing, as you say. except that he was
ont Of quarters and wasn't at Bunko
Jim's after / O'Clock. He was here and
in bed when inspected.
Very little was known about this
episode. Mrs. Daunton had quickly re-
vived under the ministration Of Ellis
and Mr. Ormsby, and, half laughing,
half crying, had declared that just as
she reached the window the blind
swung slowly back and the moonlight
fell full on the head and shoulders of
man with fur cap, black beard and
soldiers overcoat She could describe
no other features. He saw her at the
same instant. Each recoiled, but in her
excited, nervous state it was too much Of
shock. Ellis, who at first had been
prone to attribute Helen's prostration to
the interview with Ormsby, recalled the
prowler she herself had seen and could
not but corroborate Mrs. Daunton's
story Jack had rushed out, only to find
boot tracks in the snow and an un-
fastened blind, but no other sign Of
man. Mrs. Farrar was kept in total ig-
norance of the affair, and only Leale
and Will at first were taken into the se-
cret, though the captain at once went
to consult his trusty noncommissioned
officers. All the same, though Helen
laughed at her weakness when morning.
came, she and Ellis, parting for the
night with but few words and each feel.
ing conscious Of the gulf between them,
passed restless and disquieting night.
Just what mischief that fellow Graice
was meditating puzzled not little the
honest pate of Terry Rorke. For time
the man worked busily, silently, lug
ging bundles of greens into the hall and
bare. stripped branches ont. Once or
twice, in answer to chatting remarks OF
the other men, he had retaliated. Once
again, colliding with Grow Knife at the
door, he had muttered an angry curse
and bade the redskin keep out Of his
way unless he coveted trouble. The In
dams eyes flashed vengefully, but he
spoke no word.
1t was just after guard mounting that
Graice had offered his services, when,
as supernumerary, he really did not
have to work at all and was not proper
ly detailable for any such fatigue duty.
By 10 o'clock, however, it was apparent
to more than one present that he was
drinking more liquor and had it con-
cealed probably somewhere about the
premises or in his overcoat Rorke
warned him and got sullen reply. Not
a minute after, although strict orders
had been given against smoking, be-
cause of the flimsy nature Of the struc-
ture and the large quantity Of inflam-
mable material scattered about, he pre-
cipitated an excitement. Right in the
entrance Of the hall a big square box
had just been placed by two of the men,
and Grow Knife was carefully removing
the lid, when Graice, lurching in from
the dressing room with bundle of
greens, stumbled against the edge Of
the case, and, dropping his burden with
savage curse, he drew back his heav-
;1y boofoI foot n, fbouyb fo 1ot 1,.iyp a