Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-14
Chapter MI.

Opinion was divided at Camp Merritt as
TO whether Billy Gray should or should not
stand trial Confident as were his friends
OF his innocence of all completely in Nor
tons escape. there remained the fact that
he had telephoned for a carriage that
carriage had come and that carriage with
-FOUR men. apparently soldiers, had driven
rapidly downward along Point Lobos ave-
nue. 1t was seen by half a dozen police
men as II shot under electric light or gas
lamp Then there was the bundle inside
his rolled ovcrcOat that Gray had person.
ally handed Morton when a prisoner
Everybody agreed he should have sent it
by orderiy-everybody. that is. except some
scores of young soldiers in the ranks who
could see no harm in it having been done
that Way, especially two Delta Sigs'' in
the -teen;h- Then there were the long con-
ferences in the dark. What did they mean?
All things considered the oder and wiser
heads saw that. as the lieutenant could or
would make no satisfactory explanation
OF these 70 his colonel. he must to a court
or take the consequences
You've made a mess of the thing and an
ass of yourself. Billy was Gordons com
pFehensiVe If not cOnSolatory summary of
the matter, and as Canker has been
raped for one thing or another by camp
division and brigade commanders. one after
another. he feels that he's got to prove that
ne Ism I the only fool in the business You'd
better employ good counsel and prepare for
a ngnt.
Cant afford it," said Billy briefly ..and
l m bowed if I'll ask my dear old dad to
come 10 the rescue. He's had to cough ND
tSnane on your S'~ng. Billy far too much
already ] tell sou. Gordon I'm so fixed
that can't explain these things unless I'm
actually brought TO trial. It's-it's-weIl-
You nave no secret societies at the Point
as We DO az college, so YOU can't fathom it.
m no more afraid Of standing trial than
/ am OF SqueeTS-and be ID to him.
Good l.awd, youngster-yOu-you aren't
qu4te such an ass as 70 suppose a court is
gong 10 regard any schoo!boy obligation
as paramount 10 that which your oath of
Office demands Look hyuh. Billy, your
syai : Just added. can't work on you
bu, somebody must
and Gordon went away very low in his
mind He liked that boy He loved n keen
alert, snappy soldier on drill, and Billy had
no superior in the battalion when it came
10 handling squad or company The adiu-
tant plainly saw the peril of his position
and further consultation with his brother
officers confirmed him in his fears Schuy-
Ter. the brigade cOmmissary, being much
with the -teenth-mesSng with them in
fact. when ne was not dancing attendance
on Miss Prime-heard all this camp talk
AMI told her Thus II happened that the
very next day when he drove with the
COUSINS tMr- Prime being the while in con-
ference with the detectives still securing
the city for the young deSerter who the
father now felt confident was his missing
boy, Miss Lawrence looked the CAPTAIN
full IN the face with her clear searching
eyes and pumped at him the point blank
question:
Captain Schuyler do Mr.. Gray's brother
officers really consider him in danger Of
dismissal
Miss Lawrence. grieve to say that not
one has any other opinion now"
There could be no doubt of Ii. Amy Law
renee turned very pale and her beautiful
eyes filed.
1t is shame"' she said. after mo-
ment 5 struggle to conquer the trembling
of her lips. ''Has-is there no one-intuen1
tial enough-Or with brains enough (this
with returning color to take up his case
and clear him.
They were whirling through the beautiful
drive of the Golden Gate Park pa ssiug
company after company at drill Even as
Amy spoke Schuyler lifted his cap and Miss
Prime bowed and smiled. a group of rasi-
mental officers. four In number, stood, APP
parently supervising the work, and as Miss
Lawrence quickly turned TO see who they
might be, her eyes met those of Colonel
Armstrong Five minutes later the cal
Rage returning drew UP as though by some
order from its occupants, at that very spot.