The Delta independent., 1898-07-29


''Pardon -. captain naid the only
tine I ev9 nv his facs wAs that day
in town." - e -ssI
"Tbsn you admit having seea his
form II not his facc-admit having seen
him all the Aame." ,4ag i.,.
mo. sir. I do not even admit that.
Once or twice ] saw form that resem1
bled his very strongly. That'S all can
say"
"where was itr' 'i g
Another painful pause Maynard was
young and inexperienced. He did not
know how far he might b justified in
declining 70 answer cross examination
that must drag from him the whole
truth that he had 70 religiously kept to
himself rather than reveal what he had
seen and heard and suffered and thereby
probably surround her dear name with
renewed shame and suspicion. From the
spirit and letter Of the truth he could
not deviate . hairbreadth. Neither on
the night Of that strange adventure in
front Of BaFYy's quarters nor the miser-
able afternoon when he saw the huge
bulk Of this Questionable stranger bend
ing over that slender form away down
tho row had be seen . single feature Of
the strangers face. New it seemed a.
though the commanding officer was
bent On dragging from him everything
he knew. and vaguely he felt that this
was not that officers prerogative and
that % long a. he held such sublime
faith In Nathalie Baird's innOceDce Of
all completely In or knowledge of the
recent robbery it was not only right
bot . duty 10 refuse 10 reveal anything
that might involve her In deeper tsou.
ble
whether right or wrong IN this be-
Lief. Maynard he'd made up his mind.
Captain Walters should End out moth
ing new at her expense II . stubborn
stand on his part could prevent IL OF
the meeting between her and tho big
stranger down by the end set Of quar-
tsrs Known - No eve-y body at tho
post apparently was informed Bot 70
far % he knew not . soul In the garrison
but himself had any knowledge Of his
meeting with that burly aud mnscular
prowler undsr Nathalie's window the
night Of tho bop. AL this flashed
through his mind and determined his
action before he finally answered:
~ aw man Of that general descrip-
ton one afternoon down by No. ]. but I
was sitting on Major Stannard piazza
away at this end Of the row."
"Yes, SIR. We know all about that.
A dozen people saw him talking with
Miss Baird. And he resembled the man
called Boston. did bey'' ta.
"In figure and in general build. yes,
dr." ts sf-- -als--s
"And now The other occasion, when.
- reported to me-. you met hiE face TO
fsca How about that!''
Silence aeain for . moment. aud again
Maynard slanced 1t Warner for sup
port, and again the deep brown eyes
seemed to ~. ''stAnd your ground"
"Capaais Wsltsrs ! beg yos not to
psso dat question" MD Maynard 70.
spssefHlly. ~ eagerly. "Colooel Ash-
estoa and ny brother onsecrs will b
homs In vssy few daya will answsr
70 hin-to my colonel. But there are
ssasnps Why ] oughs not 70 speak fur
AiD asd Major Barry -is-s .7if
"You may tase - veil aaswss. NJ.
Maynard" interrupted the post COM
nApder coldly. "Your refusal OF hesitsss
ton y quite enough 70 stamp you ~
guilty Of what have been reluctantly
fuecsd TO beiiers-of willfuliy conceal
!ng mos: Important evidence IN conneo.
Ooc WIN TINS most Important case. !
oouA NOT hsve believed 10 Of you with
oue the virtual admission ON your part.
notWtthstanding all ] bad heard This,
es. v ". Coox o. sns'hocky Aoonsain
eetecsave fofoe ifom Dcnver: aSo no
VIII tel! you what you should long ainos
hevs told me. 90 ahead AIR. Cook.
faininlly now Maynard WAS leaning
q his cana He half turned to faoe the
Goo GoSl j.. s.s~sd a. ..,as n.