Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-12-10
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else have you to ask or sayY'
Listen one minute" pleaded the
prisoner. "They'd kill me here II they
could get me, quick enough-1ndianso or
troopers either. must be helped away.
I know your secret. You love my wife.
Help me out Of this-here-this night
and neither she nor you will ever
"Silence, you houndl Stink back to
your blanket where you belong. Ithank
God my friend, your father, never
lived to know the depths Of your dis
grace! Not word" he forbade, with
uplifted hand, as the miserable fellow
strove once more to make himself heard.
"For the sake Of the name to which
you have brought only shame you shall
be protected against Indian vengeance,
but who shall defend you against your
self1 I will hear no more from you.
Tomorrow you may see your colonel, II
that will do you any good, but II you
have one atom of decency left, tell no
man living that you are Royle Farrar."
and with that raging at heart, yet cold
and stern. the officer, needless Of further
frantic pleas, turned and left the spot
But at the porch the captain turned
again. Wind and snow were driving
across his path. The sentries at the
front and flank Of the guardhouse, muf-
fled to their very eyes, staggered against
the force of the gale It seemed cruelty
to keep honest men on post night 20
wild as that for no other reason than to
protect the life of man 80 criminal.
The members Of the guard, who had re-
sumed their lounge around the redhot
stove the moment the captain disappear
cd, once more sprang to attention az he
re-entered and called tho sergeant to
him.
II am tempted to ask the officer Of
the day to relieve those sentries and let
No / come up into the hallway" said
he. II believe that, with the watch we
have on the Indians, there is no possi-
bility Of an outbreak on their par"
"There isn't, sir. )" was tho sergeant's
prompt reply. but every man in the
garrison knows by this time that it was
tho captain that blackguard aimed to
kill, and it is not the Indians alone that
would do him il they could. find that
whenever have had to leave the guard
house some Of the men have talked
loud for him to hear. swearing that he
would be taken out and hanged at day
break. Others want to tempt him to try
to escape, 80 that they can pursue him
over to town and hammer him into
Jelly there. The tower is tho only place
where he can be unmolested, sir.
couldn't guarantee his safety from some
kind of assault, even if had him right
here in the guardroom.
And Just then corporal came from
the little office.
Sergeant, it's 1926. Shall ! form
my relief"
The sergeant nodded assent. "I'll In
spect 1t in the guardroom, said he,
and as Leale turned shortly away. in
tending to go in search of the officer Of
tho day and the sergeant opened the
door to let him out, Graice could be
heard on the upper floor, savagely kick
ing again at his bars
"That man has more gall than any
man I ever met, sir" said Grafton.
"He's kicking because we refused to
send to the barracks for his share Of the
Christmas cigars. "
Ibid you search him before he was
sent up there?" asked Leale. "Has he
matches or tobacco''
Nothing l could find, sir, but other
and sharper men have been confined
there, and I'm told that somewhere un-
der the floor or inside the walls they've
hidden things, and he's hand in glove
with all the toughs Of the garrison.
Every we'll. I'll notify Captain Far
WE'LL" said Leale briefly, land he will
attend to it," and he left the building
on this quest just as the second relief
came tramping out into the storm. leav-
ing the guardhouse, Its few minor pris.
oners on the lower floor and that one
execrated criminal, his old colonel g first
born and once beloved SOD, cursing at
his captors in the tower. all to the care
Of the members Of a single relief, and
the sentry on No. set up his watch
cry against the howl Of the wind, and no
one q dozen yards away could have
heard, nor did it pass around the chain
of sentries nor was there other attempt
to call off the hour that memorable
night. For long days after men recalled
the fact that the last hour called from
under the old guardhouse porch was
half past 10 O'Clock.
Meantime. having had two dances
with his now pleading and repentant
sweetheart and having been cajoled into
at least partial forgiveness, Will Farrar
had sought his colonel to say that he
really ought now to return to his guard.
at least for a little time, but Fenton.
conscious Of the shadow that had over.
spread the garrison earlier in the even
ing, seemed bent on being joviality
itself
He bade the boy return to his i'm
mediate commanding officer and obtain
her consent before again coming to him.
and Kitty fatty refused. She was dano-
ing with Martin at the moment aud
that left Will to his own devices. and,
after q fond word or two from his
mother, he had stepped back Of the seat
occupied by her little circle Of chosen
friends and was standing watching the
animated scene before him. Close at
hand, not dozen feet away, stood Hell
en- Daunton, partially screened from OBJ
servation of the dancers II was at TIL"
moment that Leale again came striding
in, glanced quickly around until he
caught Wills eye, and the young ofsoes
promptly Joined him.