Daily camera., 1899-11-25
CHAPTER II.


braced against the tent poles, were near
ly a dozen officers all in the somber
dark blue regulation uniform, several
in riding boots and spurs. some even
wearing the heavy, frogged overcoat:
all but two, juniors of the staff. men
who stood on the shady side of 40.
four of the number wearing on their
shoulders the silver stars of generals
of division or brigade. and among their
thinning crops of hair the silver
strands that told OF years of service.
One man alone. the commanding gen.
eral, was speaking; all the others lis
tened in respectful silence. In the
gloom Of that late. fog-shrouded after
noon lantern or two would have been
welcome. but the conference had be-
gun while it was still ligh, enough for
the chief to read the memoranda on his
desk, and now he was talking without
notes. In the array of grave. thought
full faces, some actually sombcr and
severe In expression. a sr..ilp would have
seemed out of place. yet. all on n sud
den, grim features relaxed. dcep-set
eyes ,winkled and glanced quickly
about in search OF kindred sympathetic
spirits. and more than half the bearded
faces broadened into y grin OF merri-
ment. and ns ma heads were sudden
ly uplifted. for just 0s the gray-haired
chief ended nm IgPrt siye period with
the words: at will be no laughing
matter II ! con lay hold of them, there
burst upon the surprised ears OF the
n, 4 -.
imnginable-the ripping, joyous. mu-
sical laughter OF happy girlhood ming
ling with the hearty, wholesome, IL
somewhat boyish. outburst OF jollity
OF hcaltbful youth.
"M.rciful powers!" exclaimed the
chief. Il had forgotten all nbou; those
people. They must have been here 20
minutes"
Sixty sir, by the watch" .nid n
misunderstanding soldier. tall and stall
war,, and wearing the shield OF the ad-
ju,nn, geacral's department, on the coll
lar of his sack coat.
They ought to go, then" was the
placid suggestion OF third officer.
man with keen eyes, thin, almost ascetic
fnce. but there twitcbed u quain,
humor about the lines Of his lips.
That waits pnsi the retiring age"
And then another peal of merrimsnt
from the adjoining ten; pu, stop to
conversation.
They don't lack for entertainers"
bnzarded staf officer as soon as he
could make himself heard. THE sol
smn-looking Gothnmi,e who came with
them mus, have slipped out"
at seems he knows Col. Armstrong"
said the chief, thoughtfuliy. II sent for
him an hour ago, and he may be pilot
ing Mr.. Prime around camp. looking up
the runaway"
Another cnae ?" asked brigade COM
mandcr. with a shrug OF his shoulders.
Another case" answered the gcner-
al, with n sigh. "it isn't always home
trouble, that drive them to 1t. This
boy had everything do,ing father
could give him. WIN, on earth could
make him boil, and enlis, for the war;"
No one answered for a moment. Then
the officer with the humorous twinkle
about the eyes and the twitch at the
lip corners bent forward. placed his
elbows on his knees. his fingers tip to
tip. gazed dreamily at the floor. and
sententiously said:
Girl
Whercupon his next neighbor, .
stocky. thickset man in the uniform OF
brigadicr, never moving eye. head or
hand. managed to bring n stable foot
in heavy riding boot almost savagely
upon the slim gai,er of the humoris'.
who suddenly started and flushed to the
temples. glanced quickly at the chief,
and then ms quickly back to the floor,
his blue eyes clouded in genuine dis
tress.
The generals gray face had seemed
to grow grayer in the gloom. Again
there came, like ripping echo, the
chorus OF merry laughter from the ad-
joining tent. only il seemed trfle sub
ducd. possibly ms though one or two Of
the merry-makers had joined less
heartily. With sudden movement the
general rose. "Wcll, I've kept you long
enough" he said Let the three regi-
ments be got in readiness at once, but
relax no effort in-thnt other matter.
Find the guilty parties II n possible
thing
And then the group dissolved. One
or two OF the number looked bnck, half
hesi,ating. ut the entrance of the tent,
but the chief had turned again to the
Uttered table before him. and, seating
himself, rested his gray head in the
hand nearest his visitors, II WAS -
though he wished TO conceal his face.
One OF the Inst TO go-the thinfaced SOL
dier with the twinkling blue eyes, hung
irresolutely behind the chief moment
ms though he had !, In his mind to speak,
then turned and fairly ,ip-,oed out.
leaving the camp co nmHnder 10 the So
ciety of n single staff officer, and to the
gathering darkness.
KINDLY say to Mr.. Prime, or his