Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-08-12

riding boots. with the tops turned
deeply over. us If they had once done
duty for the representative of cav
;lier. completed his extraordinary
equipment. The group were SO alb
sorbed in him that they did not perceive
the approach of their chief and his
orderly. and Brant, with sign to the
latter, halted only few PAGES from the
central figure. His speech was n singu-
lar mingling of high-flown and exalted
epithets and inexact pronunciation.
with occasional lapses of western slang.
We'll. L amt purtendin' to any
stratutegical smartness, and 1 didn't
eradicate at West Point rs one of
these Apochryphal engineers; 1 don't
do much talking about flank move
ments or 'recognizances in force or
'Ehellon skirmishing.' but when IL
comes down TO square Injin fiQhtin'.
reckon 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.' 1 don't men
ton names, gentlemen, but only the
other day man that you all know saws
to me: If / only knew what YOU do
about scoutin' / wouldn't be wanting
for information as / do I amt going
TO say who it was, or break any con-
hdence between gentlemen-by saving
how many stars he had on his shout
der strap, but he was n 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 IL caused Bulls run? Want
o scoutin'. What was il rolled up
Pope? Want o scoutin'. What killed
Baker at Balls Bluff? Want o. scoutin'.
What caused the slaughter mt the Will
derness? Want o. scoutin'. Iniin
scoutin! Why. only the other day,
gentlemen. i was approached TO know
What Ia take to organize a scoutin'
force. And what did 1 say? NO, gem
eral. it amt because 1 represent one
of the largest army beef contracts in
the country says L: 1T amt because
belong. so TO speak, to the "Sinews
OF War;" but because I'd want about
10000 trained Injins from the reserva-
tons! And the regular West Point
high-toned, scientific inkybus that
weighs so heavily on our army don't
see it-and won't have 1t, Then Sher-
man, he seq TO me"
But here roar of laughter interrupt-
ed him. and in n cross-fire of sarcastic
intcrrogations that began, Brant saw
with relief n 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 Susv-
the redoubtable Jim Hooker! There
was no installing that gloomy audacitv
that mysterious significance-that
magnificent lying. But even at that
moment Clarence Brant's heart had
gone out-with all his old LOYALTY of
feeling-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.
eN-actor and husband of his girl sweet
heart, and would have spared him the
knowledge that he had overheard II
turning hastily to the orderly he babe
him bring the stranger to his headauar-
tiers, and rode away unperceived.
He had heard enough, however, TO ac-
count for his presence there. and the
singular chance that had brought them
ngain together. He was evidently one
OF those large civil contractors of s.p-
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 un-
behring's in the commissariat, 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 Snsy 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. II
was with strange feeling of irrita-
ton and half responsibility that he
''D' 'NN'iitb HIS ltiSL lHNfTNlew WIN
her and the emotion 10 which he had
succumbed.
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
and the trailing clanlC of Hooker's
saber. He did not know, however. that
Hooker, without recognizing his name.
mad received the message as n personal
tribute, and had left his sarcastic com
Panions triumphantly. with the air Of
going 10 confidential interview 20
which his well-known military CON
nection had entitled him. II was
with bearing Of gloomy Importance.
and his characteristic sullen sidelonp
glance that he entered the apartment.
and did not look up until Brnnt had
signaled the orderly 90 withdraw and
closed the door behind him. And then
le recognized his old boyish compnn-
ion-the professed favoritc Of fortune,
For moment nc gaspcd with aston
ishment. For n moment gloomy in
credulity, suspicion, delight. pride. adj
miration, even affection, struggled for
mastery in his sullen staring eyes. and
open. twitchinR mouth. For here
was Clarence Brant, handsomer than
ever. more superior than ever in the