The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-23

8 as he again bowed over her extende'
hand II shan't rest until find on
the truth about this robbery bushes
Q and clear her utterly. 1t can be done
and it shall be done.
II hope so," came the answer, witt
sigh. ''Ihope SO. yet everything seems
SO dark for her just now, and how cal
we get at the TRUTH"
No wonder she asked herself as May.
nard imped away how it was possible
raw, inexperienced subaltern could
discover anything when the police
officials had done their best and failed.
They had searched and ransaoked every
doubtful resort, every suspected house,
shop or saloon in town, and not ves-
tige had been found of the stolen prop
erty, nor trace Of the perpetrators be-
yond the wagon tracks, lost all too soon
in the general rut of traffic in the busy
frontier town.
1t was but short distance to the ad-
jutant' office, and there Maynard found
Captain Walters pacing impatiently the
floor Of the long room in the old head
quarters building. He turned sharply
as the young officers halting step was
heard and spoke impetuously:
"Mr. Maynard. I'm told you have
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 in 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 glanoing irritably at the sub
altern. "I've had enough worry over
this matter to drive a 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.
II do not know, SIR
"You don't known 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.
Again a pause before the answer
came: "And yet, captain, cannot say.
am telling you just as would have to
answer before court. The only time I
ever saw his face was that day in town
tho day he headed the gang that took
our horses.
The commanding officer sharply turn.
ed and struck the bell on his table, and
almost instantly 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. land you
come too"
The lieutenant beokoned to some one
who was evidently in readiness for the |
summons. A powerfully built, gray |
eyed, impressive sort of man in a loose
fitting business suit appeared at the
doorway and silently awaited the cap
tain s words.
'I've 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."
II have never made that statement,
captain" answered Maynard, flushing
now, for the position in which
he was placed was awkward enough
without any Misrepresentation Of his
words. At 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
Pretting at the STANDARDS Even now
he latter could not resist the impulse
hat prompted him to look to Warner
'or strength and sympathy, and the
brown eyes answered the mute appeal
md said, il ever eyes could speak:
Stand fast. I'm with you"
Walters slowly lowered himself into
lis chair, glaring the while impressive
y at the troubled face Of the young SOL
lier. It had again turned white.
"Why, MI. Maynard, not three min
ties ago you said right here you never
aw him except that day in town.
Pardon me, captain. said the only +
ime I ever saw his face was that day
u town."
"Then you admit having seen his
orm II not his face-admit having seen
i'm all the same"
"No, sir, I do not even admit that Z
,noe or twice saw form that resem. 9
led his very strongly. That's all can
n.y."
"Where was it?'' Z
Another painful pause. Maynard was !
Dung and inexperienced. He did not
now how far he might be justified in
to answer CROSS examination
nat must drag from him the whole n
nth that he had so religiously kept to i
IluhoAl 1dtucI Ludu IofCAl Wudb LIS 1hu
Sen and heard and suffered and thereby
robably surround her dear name with
,newed shame and suspicion. From the Il
,irit and letter Of the truth he could II
Of deviate hairbreadth. Neither on =
10 night Of that strange adventure in [
ont of Barry's quarters nor the miser-
lie afternoon when he saw the huge II,
llk of this Objectionable stranger bend C,
g over that slender form away down 6C
10 row had he seen single feature of
10 strangers face. Now 1t seemed as
ough the commanding officer was s
mt on dragging from him everything G
} knew, and vaguely he felt that this "
az not that officers prerogative and
at so long as he held such sublime
it'll in Nathalie Baird's innocence of
completely in or knowledge of the
cent robbery it was not only right
It duty to refuse to reveal anything An
at might involve her in deeper trou. /
.. "
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