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

a message from the adjutant general in
town. Would Armstrong drop in at the
office at the first opportunity? A matter of
some Importance had come up In the gen.
erals first letter from Honolulu, one
which Armstrong; opinion was desired;
and the colonel, hoping for tidings of a
chance to move even that far to the front.
made immediate opportunity and took the
first car for the Phelan building. The ad-
jutant looked up from Uttered desk as
Armstrong entered.
1T is good of you to come so promptly
said he I'm in stew, to tell the truth,
and l want your advice" Then he tapped
his bell. Excuse me to any one who comes
for the next ten minutes said no to the
attendant who entered. Il have business
with Col Armstrong.
No sooner did the orderly vanish than the
man of the desk whrled full on the man
of the saddle. Armstrong" said he. you
defended Gray and proved him innocent.
What else has Canker against him?"
Nothing that i know of-why?"
Because he's got him in arrest again at
Honolulu. and the chief is worked up over
something. Look here-do you suppose
did you ever hear about certain letters that
were stolen from Gen. Drayton's tent?''
81 heaId-yes. Why" And the look of
disappointment which had appeared in the
grave face of the colonel gave way to one
of alert interest
Just read that said the staff official,
holding forth letter. Begin there at
Later"
And Armstrong read, his forehead slow
ly growing into something very like
frown.
Later I may have to remain here
eral days. Canker, with the -teenth, went
ahead before news of the protocol could
stop him; but he leaves here a number of
sick - Lieut. Gray. charged with using
threatening and insubordinate language to
his commanding officer, among them; and
Gray is down with brain fever. The doc
tors say he is too i'll to be disturbed, and
his side of the story is hard to get at, as
the boy is too fighty TO talk sense FROM
~ a iSCin I
accused Gray of having knowledge OF the
whereabouts of that packet of letters stolen
from Gen. DraytonS tent, and the young
ster's reply was furious. Canker had TO
place him in arrest and prefer charges.
When asked if he were sure OF his ground
in making serious an accusation, ne de-
cIared he had proof positive, at least ne
would have the instant they reached MA
Mia and his intention was to take the boy
along with him to be tried there by court
martial, where no meddiing outsiders, as
he said, could buy off witnesses.
1T was plain that he considered himself
out of my jurisdiction, and that he re-
scented my staff officers questions. But DE-
Morrow had appealed to me in behait OF
Gray Said that If compelled to continue
a prisoner aboard that transport under
Canker's tyrannical rule Gray might be
goaded into insanity. He was IN cohui-
ton boz dering on brain fever Wheh MORO"
came to see me. and in another day was
raving That settled it. / ordered MIN
taken off and placed in hospital here. ana
Canker had to go without him. But WISH
you would see Armstrong and tel MN
about Gray so that ] may know the Whoe
situation as soon as | return. Canker eEl-
IDENTIFY intended not to let us know ms
proofs He probably believes that he VIII
find a more credulous and comp!alsant
listener in Drayton; but his insinuations
pointed to Gray as at least an abettor IN
the theft, and he went so far as to say that
if Armstrong could be brought before the
court some very interesting testimony could
no drappp6 from him. and. nnaliN, that
both Armstrong and Mrs. -, well, the VIE
of staff officer who is already Well on the
way to Manila-rnight be compelled TO teS-
tify. / cannot bring myself to repeat more
that he said; but he was in ugly and al
most defiant mood, and l had to give him
a dressing down. You may say TO Arm
strong for me that l do not believe one
word of Canker's calumny at his expense
or that of the lady in the case. But he de-
clared his intention of laying the Whole
matter before General Draytcn Immediately
on his arrival, and it is best that Arm
strong should be prepared. AS for the
lady, Canzer said she and Armstrong We're
very close friends when they were at Fort
Stanhope ten years ago, though they no
longer meet as such.
And that brings me to another matter. l
declined positively to allow two or three
ladies, wives of officers, to go on to Mania
with CankerS command: and they said that
as | had promised Mrs. Garrison a passage
| had no right to refuse them. Pressed fer
their authority, two very eStimable women
told HE 1nJl, at the IfeSlulC TWO bdSS lie
fore we sailed, Mrs. Garrison openly boast
ed of having my promise to send her on the
very next steamer Now, who is really the
fabrcator? ! told her positively that. with
my consent, she should not go; and she
laughed delightedly, and said she only ask
ed as a matter Of form-the whole thing
had already been settled. Just see to 1t
that if any more transports start before
my return woman is permitted aboard
except, of course. authorized nurses Gray
is a very sick boy tonight, but you might
wire his father, saying nothing of the ar
rest, that the doctors are confident of his
recovery in course of time"
Armstrong read these pages twice over
fore he looked uD
How did this letter Gomez" he asked.
Blythe Salvador yesterday.
And the next mail for Honolulu" que
ried Armstrong, rising from his chair and
handing back the folded letter.
The next mail closed an hour ago, man.
The China sails at 2. No other boat for a
week Where are you going now?'
ITO camp for ten minutes. then to the
Presidio.'
"Oh. come over to the club and have a
bite first, said the adjutant general, rising
and wrigging out of his uniform coat as
he did so. Il won't keep you half an
hour
That half hour may prove precious" an
swered Armstrong, already at the door
Many thanks all the same
We'll. Hold on. What am I to say to
the general as to Gray and those letters?''
asked the staff officer, intent upon the SUBJ
Ject uppermost in his mind at the moment.
You can't say anything that will reach
him before he returns. You have just told
me no other boat would start for week.
By that time he'll be coming home" And
with that Armstrong let himself out and
strobe to the elevator, leaving his friend
to cogitate on the question over his lunch
con. 1t was decidedly that officers opinion
that Armstrong knew much more than he
would tell.
(To be contnued.)
Says Churches Are Not Looted.
From he