The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-08-24
CHAPTER VII.

VlCulu Iuo 1OrCu1SuC CAME poor Neu
Lawrence back to Worth, and men who
rode far out on the Crockett trail to
meet the stage marveled at the change
three months had made in him. He had
grown ten years older and was wrinkled
and gray. VIM was Of the party, and
VIM, who month gone by was look
ing haggard, nervous, miserable, now
rode buoyantly, with almost hopeful
eyes and certainly better color than he
had had for months, despite the fact
that he had lost both flesh and color
during his illness. Something had hap
pened to Tighten his load Of dread and
care. Something must have happened
to enable Lawrence to take that long,
long journey back to Texas. Fort Worth
INDUCED in all manner of theories as to
where the money was coming from,
and Barclay of course was suspected,
even Intercepted. The frankest man in
some respects that ever lived, Captain
Galbraith Barclay was reticent as
clam when he saw fit to keep silent,
and men found it useless to question or
womoa to hint. AS for VIM, he had
but one classmate at the post, Brayton,
who had never been one Of his intimates
at the Point, and being rather, as was
said, Of the ''high and mighty" re.
served and distant sort with the subal-
terms he found at Worth on joining
three winters before, VIM had never
been popular. Lawrence was his one in
innate, despite the disparity in years.
And SO no man ventured to ask by what
means he expected to meet the demands
thus made upon him. The board of sur
vey ordered to determine the amount of
the loss and fix the responsibility had
no alternative. VIM and his few
friends made hard fight, setting forth
the facts that the count had been made
every month as required by orders and
regulations, and that except by burst
ing open every bale, box and barrel and
sitting over the contents it would have
been impossible to detect Marsden s
methods. On some things the board was
disposed to dare regulations and raps on
the knuckles and to let VIM off on
several others, but what was the use,
"the proceedings would only be sent
back for reconsideration, said their
president, and as it transpired that
VIM had not exercised due vigilance,
but had trusted almost entirely to his
sergeant, they decided to cut the Gordiau
knot by saddling the young officer with
the entire responsibility, which meant
sooner or later a stoppage of nearly
$4,000 Of his pay.
1t is sad yet time honored common
tary at the expense of human nature
that the contemplation Of the misfor
tunes Of our fellow men is nQt always {
source of unalloyed sorrow. There wa.
genuine and general sympathy for Law
renee, because he had been poor ani
pinched and humbled for years, hal
worn shabby clothes and had sought al
possible field duty, where "deeds, no
duds," as a garrison wit expressed it
seemed to make the man. He had frank
!; ly spoken of his traits and worries t,
such as spoke to him in friendship
} and this, with his deep and tende
love for his children and his capita
record as a scout leader, had won owe
to him all the men. who. at one tim
were envious and jealous and had cher
ished the line mans prejudice agains
; the fellow whose duties for years ha,