The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-12-17

Office at the moment. ''The captains
hot about that business of last night,
and like as not there's the BLACKBOARD.
Now, what on earth does he want to be
playin Peepin Tom about the officers
quarters?"
"No good, Of course, but we can prove
nothing, as you say, except that he was
out Of quarters and wasn't at Bunko
Jim's after l 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
a 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 Sc
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 green's into the hall and
bare, stripped branches out Once or
vice, 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 babe 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
~ detailable for any such fatigu. 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
him and got sullen reply. Not
a minute after, although strict orders
had been given against smoking, be-
cause of the fiimsy nature of the struc-
ture and the large quantity Of inf1am-
mable material scattered about, he pre-
cipitated an excitement. Right in the
entrance Of the hall big square box
had just been placed by two of the men,
and Crow Knife was carefully removing
the lid, when Graice, lurching in from
the dressing room with bundle of
green's, stumbled against the edge Of
the case, and, dropping his burden with
, savage curse, he drew back his heav-
lily booted foot as though to let drive a
furious kick.
Instantly the Indian interposed.
Don't kickv' he said. "Hold your
hoof there!" shouted Rorke, and others
Of the men joined in their cry of warn
ing. Wonderingly he looked about him
on the quickly gathered group, swaying
q bit unsteadily even now.
"Why not?" he scowlingly, sullenly,
thickly asked. "What harms there
kicking rattlebox that almost broken
my shin? What's the matter with you
fellows, anyhow?'
''It isn't the box, ye goneril, it's
what's inside of it'll That's Colonel Far
rar's picture! Gods praise to him for
the finest soldier that liver rode at the
head of the Twelfth.
"That Colonel Farrar's picture?''
muttered the man in strange, half
awed, half defiant manner. "Well,
swear, that SHAT S queer. And then,
in some odd, nervous abstraction, he
whipped out cigar, and the next thing
they knew, had lighted it at the stove
and tossed the flaming paper among the
sweepings on the floor. Instantly there
was a rush, a trampling Of feet and just
as Rorke wrathfully had collared the
stupefed man Lieutenant Farrar burst
in upon the scene, stamping out the few
remaining sparks and then turning an
grily upon the group.
"Who dropped that fire? Who, L
say?'' he repeated, for, in soldier ST.;
lence, the men had stood at attention,
but, true to soldier ethics, would tell MOI
tales. "Don't let that happen again, i
corporal" he went on sternly. ''You
know well enough what fire would
mean hereabouts, with the cannon pow
der stored in the tower yonder. Remem-
Der the orders-the guardhouse for the
R,.c% ,,,o,, foo1ir~ Nth fi,ro 10 ~, h