Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-12-01

1T aCds the orderly, auth the commanding
officers compliments.
had some knowledge Of this man they
call Boston besides the affair in town
the day you tumbled him off your
horse -
Maynard on entering had instructive
ly assumed the position Of soldier and
stood there i'll the presence of the tenn
porary post commander erect and hold
ing his cane and forage cap in his hand.
The instant the captain began to speak
the faint color faded from Maynard's
face. In a moment he was pale as
death. Looking straight at his COM
mander, he uttered not word.
"Why don't you answer?' snapped
Walters, CHANGING irritably at the sub.
altern. I've had enough worry over
this matter to drive man distracted
Either you have or you haven't. Now
which is it?'
And still for another moment there
was silence, and then Maynard spoke.
I do not know, sir.
You don't know? Why, that's rot,
Mr.. Maynard! You must know whether
you have ever encountered that man be-
fore. Men Of his strength and size are
not easily mistaken y
Again pause before the answer
came: "And yet, captain, cannot say
l am telling you just as would have to
answer before court. The only time I
ever saw his face was that day in town
the day he headed the gang that took
our horses.'
The commanding officer sharply turn
ed and struck the bell on his table, anr
almost Instantly a young lieutenant of
infantry appeared at the ROOM 1t was
Warner, the temporary adjutant of the
post.
Mr.. Warner, bring Mr.. Cook in
here, said Walters sharply, "and you
come too. -
The lieutenant beckoned to some one
who was evidently in readiness for the
summons. powerfully built gray
eyed, impassive sort of man in a loose
hitting business suit appeared at the
doorway and silently awaited the cap
tain's words.
Eve called you in here, Mr.. Cook,
and you, Mr.. Warner, to hear what ex-
PLANTATION this officer can give of the
matter that has been brought to my
ears You persist in saying, Mr.. May
nard that you never saw this fellow
Boston except that day in town.
81 have never made that statement,
captain. f" answered Maynard, flushing
painfully now, for the position in which
he was placed was awkward enough
% L..
words. At a nod from the captain Mr..
Warner and the stranger had taken
chairs, but Maynard, the invalid, was
still kept standing attention. Warner
was several years his senior, but the
young fellow had taken to him. as
the army expression went from the day
Warner first called to see him as he lay
fretting at the STANDARDS. Even now
the latter could not resist the impulse
that prompted him to look to Warner
FOR strength and sympathy, and the
brown eyes answered the mute appeal
and said, if ever eyes could speak:
"Stand fast. I'm with you -
Walters slowly lowered himself into
his chair, glaring the while impressive
ly at the troubled face of the young sol
dier. 1t had again turned white.
"Why, Mr.. Maynard, not three min
utes ago you said right here you never
saw him except that day in town.
pardon me, captain. said the only
time l ever saw his face was that dag
in town.
"Then you admit having seen his
form if not his face-admit having seen
him all the same.
"No, sir, l do not even admit that.
Once or twice I saw form that resam-
bled his very strongly. That's all can
say"
'Where was it?''
Another painful pause. Maynard was
young and inexperienced. He did not
know how far he might be justified in
declining to answer cross examination
that must drag from him the whole
truth that he had SO religiously kept to
himself rather than reveal what he had
seen and heard and suffered and thereby