The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-08

Gated than I am" and Gordon arose
tangling a long, lean leg in the neares
campStoOl, which he promptly kicked
through the doorway into the sailing
fog outside. 1t was barely II o'clock
but already the raw, wet wind was
whistling in over the barren, sandy
slopes and dunes, and the moisture
dripped in big drops from the sloped
rifles Of the men marching sturdily il
from drill.
/ "Yawnduh comes the Prime car
riage now. by George continued the
adjutant, as he limped to the entrance
| cole man seems all broke up. don't he 90
Armstrong had promptly risen and
came striding to his comrades side.
Naturally" was the answer. He
had hoped much from this visit. The
boy was just under 81 when he enlisted,
and, as his fathers consent was lack
ing, a discharge could have been or
dered. 1t may have been fear of that
that drove the youngsIer off. Where
is the carriage-and your glass?" CEN
tinued the colonel, loodjng about until
he found binocular.
Comm right down the road back Of
the officers tents. Reckon it's another
visit of coincidence to Gray. You knew
I shouldn't wonduh if this arrest of his
proved a blessin' in disguise for that
lucky boy"
No reply coming to this observation,
Gordon glanced over his shoulder. Arm
strong was replacing the glasses. Again
the adjutant hazarded.
"I-Iwas sayin' this arrest may be,
after all. the biggest kind of 4 blessing
in disguise for that lucky Billy. Yes,
by Jove! They're comm to his tent.
That's a splendid girl, ole mani
"Miss-Prime, you nean?" calmly
CT, ilyif fo11 Of
ter match in the effort to light a fresh
cigar, his face averted.
Miss Prime 1 don't mean" answered
Gordon, glancing curiously at the
senior officer Not but that she's a
most charming young lady and all
that" he hurriedly interpolated, south
ern chivalry asserting itself. Then with
a witch about the lip: by the way,
ole man. those cigars light better from
the other end Take a fresh one"
Armstrong quickly withdrew the i'll
used weed from between his strong,
white teeth, gave it one glance, and
toss into the waste basket.
mo, I've smoked enough. But how
can they see him? How about that
sentry over Gray's tent?"
Huh, Chief made him talN it off
directly he heard of il" grinnSd Cor
don Moses! But didn't Squeers bias
n0oIlC.
head back and laughed joyously. over
the retrospect. Yes. there's that curly
pate of Billy's at the tent door now.
Reckon he was expectin 'em. There
they are, ole Prime, too. Don't be in a
hurry, colonel"
They had known each other years,
these two, and it had been Armstrong"
and Gordon" when they addressed
each other or "ole man" when Gordon
~ ,ff
the adjutant's southern sense OF mill
tary propriety 'ole man. was still pos
eible Armstrong would be soldier
ly solecism.
Il am to see the general before
noon,' said Armstrong, gravely, and
it's time l started. If you should hear
of your runaway let me know II you
shouldn't. keep our views to yourself.
There's no use in rousing false hopes"
With that Armstrong turned up the
collar of his overcoat and lunged out
into the mist.
Gordon watched him as he strobe
away. the orderly following ID the con-
ventional distance. The shcrtest way
to general headquarters was up the
row of company officers tents in front
of the still incarcerated Billy; the long
est was around back of the mess tent
and kitchen. Armstrong took the lat
tc-.
That escape of prisoners was still the
talk of camp. Men had come by bat
talions to see the tunnel. observing
which, Canker promptly ordered it
closed up. Opinion was universal that
Canker should have released the offic
ers and men he had placed under ar
rest at once, but he didn't. In his bot
tied wrath he hung on to them until
the brigade commander took a hand
and ordered it. Canker grumblingly
obeyed so far as the sergeant and SEN
tries were concerned, but entered stout
protest as to GRAY.
I still hold that officer as having
knowledge of the scheme and aiding
and abetting. ] can prove that he tel
ephoned for that carriage" he said.
AT least there's nothing TO warrant
the posting of that sentry at Mr..
Grays tent. Colonel Canker" said the
with some asperity. Order J