The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-04-25

deeply over, as il they had once done
duty for the representative Of 9 cav
alier, completed his extraordinary
equipment. The group were 50 alb
sorbed in him that they did not perceive;
the approach of their chief and his
orderly, and Drant, with sign to. the.
!. latter, halted only q few PAGES from tho.
central figure. His speech was asingu-
lar mingling ef high-hown and exalted
epithets and inexact pronunciation,
with occasional lapses ofwestern slang.
well, l amt purtendin' to any
stratutegical smartness, and didn't
eradicate at West Point as one Of
these Apochryphal engineers; / don't
do much talking about flank move
ments or 'recognizances in force or
'Ehellon' skirmishing,' but when it
comes down to square Injin fghtin'.
I reckon I kin have my say. There are
men who don't know the army con
tractor" he added, darkly, "who mebbe
have heard of Red Jim I don't men
tion names, gentlemen, but only the
other day man that you all know says
to me: If 1 only knew what you do
about scoutin' I wouldn't be wanting
for information as do amt going
to say who it was, or break any con-
fidence between gentlemen-by saying
how many stars he had on his shout
der strap, but he was a man who knew
what he was saying. And say ag'in,
gentlemen, that the curse of the north
ern army is the want of proper scoutin'.
What was it caused Bulls run? Want
O. scoutin'. What was it rolled up
Pope? Want O. scoutin'. What killed
Baker at Balls Bluff? Want O. scoutin'.
What caused the slaughter at the Will
deruess? Want O. scoutin'. Injin
scoutin'! Why, only the other day,
gentlemen, l was approached to know
what I'd take to organize a scoutin'
force. And what did say? NO, gen
eral, it amt because represent one
of the largest army beef contracts in
the country says ] it amt because
! belong, SO to speak, to the "Sinews
of War;" but because I'd want about
10000 trained Injins from the reserva-
tions! And the regular West Point
heightened, scientific inkybus that
weighs so heavily on our army don't
see it-and won't have it! Then Sher-
man, he seq to me-
But here roar of laughter interrupt
ed him, and in cross fire of sarcastic
interrogations that Ecgan, Brant saw
with relief a chance of escape. For in
the voice, manner and, above all, the
characteristic temperament of the
stranger. he had recognized his old
playmate and the husband of Susy--
the redoubtable jim Hooker! There
was no mistaking that gloomy audacity
that mysterious signiticance-tha
magnificent lying. But even at that
moment Clarence Brant's heart had
gone out-with all his old loyalty of
fee]ing-toward his old companion. He
knew that public recognition of him
then and there would plunge Hooker
into confusion. He felt keenly the
ironical plaudits and laughter of his
officers over the manifest weakness and
vanity of the ex-teamster, ex-rancher,
ex-actor and husband of his girl sweet
heart, and would have spared him the
knowledge that he had overheard it.
Turning hastily to the orderly he babe
him bring the stranger to his headquar-
tiers, and rode away unperceiyed.
He had heard enough, however, to ac-
count for his presence there, and the
singular chance that had brought them
again together. He was evidently one
OF those large civil contractors of sup
plies whom the government was
obliged to employ, who visited the
camp, half officially, and whom the
army alternately depended upon and
abused. Brant had dealt with his ,lll-
derlings in the com1nissariat, and even
now remembered that he had heard he
was coming, but had overlooked the
significance of his name. But how he
came to leave his theatrical profession,
how he had attained a position which
implied command Of considerable
capital-for many of the contractors
had already amassed large fortunes
and what had become Of Susy and her
ambitions in this radical change of
circumstances, were things to be
learned. In his own changed condi-
tons he had seldom thought of her; it
was with a strange feeling Of irrita-
ton and half responsibility that he
now recalled his last interview with
her and the emotion to which he had
snccumbe0.
He had not long to wait. He had
scarcely regained the quarters at his
own private Office before he heard the
step Of the orderly upon the veranda
aud the trailing clank of Hooker's
saber. He did not know, however, that
Hooker. without recognizing his name,
had received the message as personal
tribute, and had left his sarcastic COM
panions triumphantly, with the air Of
going TO confidential interview to
which his. well-known military con-
nection had entitled him. 1t was
with d bearing of gloomy Importance,
and his Characteristic sullen sidelong
glance that he entered the apartment,
and did not look UP until Brant had
signaled the orderly to withdraw and
closed the door behind him. And then
lie recognized: his old boyish compan-
ion--the p1ofessed favorite of fortune!
II For d moment he gasped with aston
ishmei1t. For a moment gloomy i'm
credulity, suspicion, delight, pride, adj
1niration, even affection, struggled for
mastery in his sullen staring eyes. and
open, twitching mouth. For here
was Clarence Brant, handsomer than