Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-04-15
CHAPTER Xiv.
VOL. L..

l. Es@VSS&HHS
CHAPTER Xiv.
When he entered the anteroom he gave
Q searching look round, and, apparently
not seeing the person he wanted, sat down
and took up a paper to wait his arrival
1t was some twenty minutes later that
Barry Larron came in and took up Ms
position by the fire. =.
christmas weather with a vengeance,
he grumbled, as he rubbed his hands. III
this goes on for another week we shall be
able to eat our plum-puddings and mince-
pies without feeling the incongruity o1
the fare"
''The ground was quite white with frost
this morning." said Valentine Graeme.
A young subaltern looked up eagerly.
He was just out from England, and hav.
ing found 30 much unlike what he had
been led to expect, began to wonder
whether he had also been advised wrong
" to leave his skates at home.
Valentine, reading his unspoken
thoughts. laughed aloud.
"No, no, De We're. Put that out OF
your head once. The ice is not likely
to bear; though, by Jove, it helps US to
bear the hot weather"
IF it helped US to bear your bad jokes
with eQuanimity, it might be of even more
SERVICE" said Larron, grimly.
''It should help you to take even them
eoolly," was the quick retort. Colonel
Prinsep broke into the idle chat.
''Will it be taxing your memory too
severely, Larron." he said, putting down
his paper, eff 1 ask you to let me know
any recollections you may have OF the
seventh of November"
"The seventh of NOvember? cried ire
pressible Val. why, that was the day
Door Lynn was murdered"
"Ah, yes, to be sure! Thank you for
reminding me, Graeme. 1t was the day
Of poor Lynn's murder, Colonel"
Major Larron spoke carelessly enough,
and stroked his dark mustache with a
svagger that seemed like consummate
ease to the admiring subalterns, but not
to his interlocutor.
"It was a more personal remembrance
that I wished for" the Colonel went on.
"Do you happen to remember that you
and l were on the rifle range that day
from one o'clock till after four?
Il have the worst memory In thu
world" was the shy reply; looking, how
ever, studiously in the opposite direction.
II am afraid l must ask You to exert It
In this case," said the Colonel, firmly.
Though the matter in itself Is trivial, to
me it Is of Importance; and l think
with emphasis-''yOu can scarcely fail TO
remember that you were with me, that
day, acting as umpire in match with tile
Bengal Cavalry"
IT may have been"
"You WERE" emphatically declared Val
entine. at was l who met you both witn
the news about Lynn"
Hitherto this fact had escaped the
memory of all three. Now it required "a
them.
"Oh, yes, of course! Now recollect the
circumstance perfectly, said Larroh'
quickly
.aThen 1 am sure you will not object to
mt Il down in black and white lest you
.hould forget again. 1t is to settle some
doubt that ought never to have arisen.
All. thank you, Valentine" as the Ad-
1utant handed him a paper on which, un-
asked. he had jotted down some memo
rnnda. Then he handed it to Major Lar
ron. who hastily scrawled his name IN
attestation.
..Is that all you reQuire" he asked,
rather defiantly.
ayes. that is all. had no idea you had
such bad memory, Larron.
The Colonel spoke with an accent OF
svmpathy that deceived all his hearers,
eYcent him to whom it was addressed.
In his case conscious guilt caused him
to instantly detect the satire. When
Colonel Prinsep took up hat, and,
thrusting the paper into an inner POCKET.
went out, he followed him into the YER
anda.
"You don't think, Colonel, that inten.
tionally suppressed any knowledge pos
sessedT' he asked, doggedly.
"Oui s'excuse s'accuse. When l tai
you with having behaved dishonorably
toward me, it will be time enough to De
fend yourself.
Colonel Prinsep left and walked ON
ouickly In the direction of the Cutchery.
A. any other time he would have felt
unmitieated disgust at Major Larron
r.r6dv. hut now his mind was SO en-.
crossed with other more important mat
fers that he could even smile at the dis
comfiture which his evident knowledge
of the truth had caused.
Wh.n he reached the Cutchery, he was
told that the "burra sahib" was engaged,
hut would be at leisure presently. Then
.imost Immediately a second messenger
cama IN admit him to the Commissioner .
presence.
When he entered he saw at once that
hi. advent was embarrassing as well rs
unweIcome. Mr.. Knollys looked furried
and hot. beyond TIE heat for which the
huge fire that was burning beside him
could account.
.I have come" said the Colonel, after Q
co,d how had been accorded to him and
returned with politeness, ito discuss with
,ou .ome private information l have re-
ceived from Calcutta. 1t appears that, in
consequence Of an inquiry that is to be
mad, again as to Trooper Lynn's death.
Ali leave in the regiment Is stopped. NOW
this ia SO grave an aspersion upon myseii
and brother officers that you will under
stand that l came to you at once to put
the matter on a proper footing.
"Excuse me, sir" broke In the Deputy
Commissioner, angrily, 'if declfne to re-
COVE apy communication from you, save
in an official FORM"
.sThat you have the power to DO 30
freely admit, bnt surely in this case, con-
.;dering the friendship that has always
existed between yourself and US
Pardon me again" returned Mr.. knoI
In. With a pompous air Of regret, not IA
removed from real dignity, If, since Ger
tain facts have come to my knowiedgc
I disassociate you In my mind enure!
from q regiment that in every other cas-
have had reason to respect a. wen q
Ike"
.sWhat those facts are have Learned
<,orn AIisa Knox" was the quiet reply.
Tha Deputy Commissioners looked a.
.&ertIad a. he felt. A tete-a-tste with
1acda0x iQ aRK eese Ka4 2a1Aeea'