Daily camera., 1897-01-23
Copyright ,ss4. BY J. B. LIppIueott coopsayl


B. LIppIucott Conpsny.l
Mr. Barton Potts was at the Walton
| place now. sergeant?
| "Yes, sir, answered Burns, whirling
/ about in the mud and promptly salut-
| ing.
"Then have some man let me know
| when he comes out. I wish to speak
to him. And if Riggs is sober enough
now, send hin. here"
Presently looking moist, blear-eyed,
and detected. the eN-trooper and ser
gean1 was marched up through the pat
/ tering rain. and, with the big drops
| trickling down from the visor of his
! old war-pattern forage cap, stood sui
| l,nly at tha tent of his young coui-
mander. The guarding sentry, after the
-, fashion prevailing among some OF the
regular infantry 1T the time. allowed
his rifle to toppie forward from the
Garry into the grasp of the left hand.
foot or so in front of the right breast,
and with this welI-intended effort at
the "rifle salute" of the COS. Private
| Mulligan reported
"Prisoner Riggs, sorr; to spake to
| the Lieutenant"
It was the first time Lambert had con-
| Quoted an Investigation of the kind, and
he had no precedent to guide him.
Riggs said be, murphy tells me
your going to town last night was at
the instance of some relative of Mrs.
Walton's, who asked you to do them
service. Was that true?"
''lt was, sir"
"Then he will doubtless be glad to
least explain your conduct in the early
evening. Your later conduct only a
! court-martia. can properly consider.
! Where is this gentleman?"
..1,h". ~ don't IL know, no n.,n.,r sir,r '
"I-can't tell sir"
/ "You know it, do you not?"
| 81 suppose / do, sir. butt can't tell
it,
"In the event of your trial he is The
only man who can help you, and the re-
port | have to make of your miscon-
| duct is most serious. Drunkenness
only aggravates housebrenking and at
tempted ronherv. as we'll as assault
81 broke no houses, sir. and attempted
no robbery. AS for assault. the ady her
self will say | meant no harm
''But your own comrade admits he
! found You in the cellar entrance at the
foot of the steps, on premises you were
| forbidden TO enter. to all appearance
stealing wine, and he was striving 20
; get you away when the noise brought
| Mrs. Walton upon you. The case is
| fragrant"
Riggs threw his hands forward in a
despairing gesture. droDDed them again
by his side. and stood silent.
''Do. you mean you nave nothing to
say for yourself ?-that you cannot dis
prove the charges ~
81 have plenty to say for myself, sir.
but nobody to say anything Tor me-
The worst anyone can ever prove OF me
is that I've been q, drinking man. I'm
no thief; I'm no burglar; and I'd burn
| l. .
woman. old or young. | never knew
what was Going, if grabbed the lady
bv the throat. But I'd be a worse man
than the lieutenant thinks me if I'd
do what he asks
This is nonsense Riggs. What have
I asked you to do that would be either
criminal or wrong?"
| 4 of ha N
friend. sir" said Riggs, with melo-
dramatic gravity. "I'H never betray
the man that's trusted me-"
''Take him back to the guard tent.
sentry" said Lambert, hardly know
ing whether to be amused or disgusted.
"The man isn't sober vet"
And then for the first time the young
officer became aware of the presence Of
a horseman at the side of his tent. With
his hat brim pulled down over his eyes
and the rain dripping from bit and beet
and bride rein, there sat his acquaint-
ance of the owl train-Mr. Barton
Potts.
"One of your men said you wished to
see me, lieutenant" said Mr.. Potts.
with courteous wave of his hand. II
was coming anyhow, but rode round
from the balm yawnduh and came IN
long the branch. Excuse me if Eve
stumbled on something 1 wasn't eX-
pected to hear"
Certainly, Mr.. Potts. Can you dis
mount and come in? L much want to
talk with you"
"And l want to have "a talk with you.
lieutenant-ve'y much-and I'm COM
ing for the purpose, but not just now.
There are some matters / must tend to
in town for my aunt, Mrs. Walton, at
once. But let me add my thanks to
hers-and much more than 'hers-for
your prompt assistance last night. |
know that man by sight. I've seen him
around here befoh, and it's Gawds mer-
cy / wasn't there last night. I'd "a
shot him dead.''
"You can be sure he shall not escape