The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-12
words and gazing into

ing in her gentle words and gazing into
her soft, dark eyes.
No wonder he found 1t dlfhcult TO re-
lease her hand. That brief visit, hlled
with sweetness and sunshine, ought to
have been a blessing to MIN all day long,
but Canker caught sight of the damseIs
as they walked away on the arms OF Ihe
attendant cavaiers-Miss Lawrence more
than once smiling back at the lncarcer- .
ated Billy-and Canker demanded TO be
informed who they We're and where they
had been, and Gordon answered they were
Miss Lawrence Of Santa ANITA and Mss
Prime of New York-and he "reckoned'
they must have been in to cOndOIe with
Mr. Gray-whereat Canker snarled that
people ought to know better than TO visit
officers in arTcSt-lt was JdnJtIIlo UNI 10
disresDect to the commander II was
marvellous how many things IN Cankers
eyes were disrespect1ul III
SO he heard these stores Win eager
ears and sent for Gray, ana tAoIehl 70
bully him into an admission OF coillyssS4oIli
little fellow 10 the extent or DIaNlAs IN
ker's anger and telling MN ne A'tu sdIq
all he proposed to say Whe1 ,Ie ~
called him up the previous DAY. me re-
e11it If thar nreyi0us interview was ms
being placed in close arrest anu ia IllS1
that he should be tried by genera CoSL,J I
martial at once. So be had taken Colii9ei-
a. was his right. and counsel forbade
his committing himself in any way:
Then you refuse to divulse me con con
tents Of that note and 70 say v ny 80
were so eager to go on SuaIq Out -, ~ =
turn? said Canker. oracularly. fhan IN
itself is sufficient to convince Any I7S,,d,'aa+
minded court of your guilt, sir NFueifaL
Gordon winked at Billy ana % IiLS
tongue in his cheek-and Billy STOOD mus
until ordered. with much dSpSii1S' ~ %
BI1t there We're other things that might
well go toward convincing court o. me
guilt of Lieutenant Gray, ana poor nIliy
Sor+ar,74lated them with sinking heart
Taking prompt advantage OF MS posltlEEu
as officer Of the guard, he mao ceuseu ne
Young prisoner to be brought OILSiius
The gT1ard house and as a heavy, gripping
fog had come on the wings OF the nlgnL
wind sailing in from the sea, ne mac Ieu
the way to the sheltered side Wulch I'D 2
ranAd 10 be the darkest one, Of the rude
little building and had there bldden MN
tell his story But Morton glanced IN
easily al a sentry who followed close ana
was lowering susplcIously ABOUT cSI-
not talk a b0ut-the affair-w1th that TEL
low spying" he said, with an eager pea
in his tone and a sign OF the hanu lAdL
CRAY we'll knew and quickly recognized
Keep around in front III pc respon-
sible for this prisoner, were MS ORDERS
and almost reluctantly, the man left
He was a veteran soldier and MS man
ner impressed the Heutenants with q
vague sense of trouble. Twice the sentry
glanced back and hes1tated, as thousn
Sonnet hing were on his mind that ne must
tell but finally he disappeared ana kept
out of the way during the brlef inter
view that Immediately followed: me
prisoner eagerly. excitedly began mis- eXv
pIanatior-swiftly banishfng any Hnger-
ing doubts Gray might have entertained
as TO his innocence. But ne hau 'CoI47
from stove-heated guardroom INTO the
cold sea wind off the PaclhC-Into Ine
floating wisps Of .vapOT that sent chill to
the marrow. He was far too lightly. Gao
for that climate, and presently ne began
TO shiver- IS 60 ,,+,,,-,r,-
Have You no overcoat?'.
ats at my tent never expected 70
spend this night here. I've been before the
summary court, fined for absence ana
thought that would end it, but instead
of that I'm prisoner and the man VINO
should be here is stalking about camp,
planning more robberies. Yet j rather
associate with the very worst Of the De
serters or dead beats inside there, ana
the dark eyes glanced almost IN horror
the slender figure shook with mingled re-
pulsion and chill-'than with Jnat -
smooth-tongued sneak and liar: There
no crime too mean for MIN 10 COMMIT,
M Gray, and the men are beginning TO
know it, though the colonel won't. For
Gods sake get me out OF rb inns I 9eIeTe
tremor shook the lad from head to foot.
'Here-get insidel" said Gray impui-
siveIy. IN see the adjuJant al once and
return to You in a few minutes. If.'you
have TO remain until the matter can be
Investigated by the general Il might he
1T would be- vehemently interrupted
Morton then breaking of short as
though at loss for descrpuVeness Of
sufficient strength. He. seemed. to swell
with passion as he Cinched his fists and
fairly stood upon his toes an instant, mis-
strong
would be-simply henI" he burst in again,
everything! Can't the general give the
order to-night?r he asked with intense
eaEerness while the young officer. taking
him by the arm. had led him again TO the
light of the gUardhouse lamps at tne
front The sergeant and q group OF SOL
diers Strengthened up and faced; Them,
listening curiously-
1T may be even impossible TO see the
general" answered Gray doubfully-
Take Morton into the guardroom till Iget
back. sergeant. and let INN warm hlI1lselI
thoroughly. Don't put him with the prls-
oners till ! return, and so saying he had
FASTENED away. Gordon his friend and
adviser, had left camp and gone visiting
over in the other division. The lights at
general headquarters We're turned low.
Even now after having heard proofs Of
the innocence Of the accused soldier. Gray
knew il was useless TO appeal TO the col
oneL He could not understand. however,
the feverish, almost insane, Impotence
Of the lad for immediate release. Another
day ought not TO make so great q differ
enCe.
that. though innocent Of the robbery OF
the storehOuse. or Of completely in the
sale Of stolen goods. some other crime Law
AT his door which the morrow might dis
close? All the loyalty Of Delta Sig was
stretched TO the swapping point Gray
paused irTesOlute in front of the adjutant's
tent his quest there unsuccessful. The
sergeant major and a sorely badgered
clerk We're working late over some regi-
mental papers-things that Morton wrote
Il suppose. sir, it's no use asking to
have the prisoner sent up here under
guard, said that Jewel of .non-commis-
stoned officer. Yet the colonel viii he
savage if these papers amt ready. II viii
take Us all night as things are going
Gray shook his curly head. 60 ask, if
you like, but-Morton's in no shape to
help YOU
Has he been drinking, sir?' said the
seTgeant-major in surprise. I never
knew him
'Oh. it isn't that" said Gray hastily.
only he,s--he's got-other matters on his
mind. Bring me his overCoat. He said
il was in his tent" and the young officer
jerked his head at the patch of little
"A tents lined up in the rear of those
Of the officers.
Get Morton's overcoat and take it to
him at the guardhouse,' snapped the STAFF
no stopping on the way back" he added.
wen aware how much in need his as
siStant stood of creature comfort of soma
surreptitious and forbidden kind The
man was back in moment the coat
rolled on his arm.
IN take it" said Gray simply; you