Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-09

other!' for with a grim smile of gratifica-
ten the camp commander had read and
turned over to his adjutant general brief
dispatch just handed him by a mounted
orderly who had galloped fast.
Zone Of your irreproachables, Arm
strong" said one of the staff, with some
thing half sheer, half taunt as he, too, read
and then passed the paper to the judge ad
vocate of the division.
Armstrong turned with his usual deliber-
alton. There was ever about him quiet
dignity of manner that was the delight OF
his friends and despair of his foes.
What is his name?' he calmly asked.
lone of those society swells of whom
you have so many was the reply.
THAT does not give his name nor identity
him one of my men, said Armstrong;
coolly
"Oh, well, I didn't say he belonged to
your command" was the staff officers re-
Spouse, but one of the kid-glove crowd
that's got into the ranks.
IF you mean the recruits In the -teenth
Infantry l should be slow to suspect them
of any crime" said Armstrong. with some
thing almost like a drawl. so slow and de-
liberate was his manner. and now the steel
gray eyes and the fair, clear-cut face were
turned straight upon the swapping eyes
and dark features of the other. There was
no love lost there. One could tell with
out so much as seeing.
You're off, then! That commissary SER
geant caught one of 'em in the act-he got
wind of 1t and skipped and today came
back in handouts"
"All of which may be as you say an
swered Armstrong, land still not warrant
your reference to him as one OF my ire
proachabes."
BY this time much of the crowd and most
of the vehicles had driven away The gen
erals still sat in saddle chatting earnestly
together, while their staff officers listened
in some impatience to the conversation just
recorded. Everybody knew the fault was
not Armstrong;, but it was Earring to
have to sit and hearken to the controversy
Don't ever twit or try funny business with
Armstrong once said regimental sage
He has no sense of humor-of that kind.
Those who best knew him knew that Arm
strong never tolerated unjust accusations
great small. In his desire to say an lr-
ritating thing to man he both envied and
respected, the staff officer had not confined
himself to facts, and it proved a boomer
ang.
And now. Armstrong; eyes had lighted
for an instant on the alleged culprlt Seat
ed opposite Miss Lawrence as the carriage
whirled across Point Lobos avenue, and
watching her unobtrusively, he saw the
sudden light of alarm and excitement in
her expressive face. heard the faint eXcla-
nation as her gioved hand grasped the rail
of the seat, felt the quick sway of the We
hicle as the horses SHE'D in fright at some
object beyond his vision. Then as they
dashed on he had seen the running guard
and just vanishing within the portals of
the corner building, the slim figure OF the
escaping prisoner. He saw the qulVerlnS
hands tearing at their fastenings. He turn
ed to the driver and bade him stop n min
ute but it took fifty yards of effort before
the spirited horses could be Gained and
brought to a halt at the curb To the
startled inquiries of Mr.. Prime and his
daughter as to the cause of the excitement
and the running and shouting he answered
simply: "a prisoner escaped. | Think and
sent a passing corporal to inquire the re-
suit The man came back in a minute
"They got him easy, sir. He had no show.
behind back
he couldn't climb was the brief report.
They have not hurt him, L hope" said
Armstrong.
mo, sir. He hurt them-one of 'em, at
least before he'd surrender when they nab
bed him in town This time he submitted
all right-said he only ran in for glass of
beer and was laughing-like when l got
there"
"Very Well That'l do. Go on, driver
We haven't minute to lose if we are to
see the review" he continued, as he step
ped lightly to his seat
Il saw nothing of this affair."" said Miss
Prime. What was 1t all about?'
Nor could I see added her father Il
heard shouts, and after We passed saw the
guard. but no fugitive
ut is just weil-indeed I'm glad you
didn't uncle answered Miss Lawrence
turning even she spoke and gazing visit
fully back. He looked so young and SEEM
ed so desperate and had such al don't
know--hunted look on his face-poor fell
low
And then the carriage reached the en-
trance to the reservation and the subject
and the second object of Miss Lawrence's
sympathies evoked that day We're for the
time forgotten. Possibly Mrs. Garrison was
partly responsible for this, for hardly had
they rounded the bend in the road that
brought them in full view from the left
or southern flank of the long line of masses
in which the brigade was formed than there
came cantering up to them, all gay good
humor, all smiles and saucy coquetry, their
hostess of the evening at the generals tent.
She was mounted on a sorry-looking horse.
but the habit was a triumph of art and
it well became her slender, rounded figure.
No one who really analysed Mrs Frank
GarriSOn'S features could say that she was
a pretty woman. No one who looked merely
at the general effect when she was out for
conquest could deny it. Colonel Armstrong,
placidly obserVant, as usual, was quick to
note the chances that shot between the couS-
ms on the rear seat as the little lady came
b.ithely alongside He knew her and saw
that they We're beginning to be as wise
as he, for the smiles with which they greet
ed her were but the wintry reflections of
those that beamed upon her radiant face.
Prime, parterfamilias, bent cordially for
ward in welcome. but her quick eyes had
recognized the fourth occupant by this time,
and there was IL little less of assurance in
her manner from that instant.
How perfectly delicious!' she cried. Il
feared from what you said yesterday you
weren't coming, and SO | never ordered the
carriage, out came out III Sduule-l can L
say on horseback with such a wreck as
this, but every decent horse in the Presi-
do had to go out with the generals and
staffs, you know, and l had to take what
| could get-both horse and escort, she
added in confidential tone. "Ohi-May L
present Mr.. Ellis? He knows you all by
name already" The youth in attendance,
and a Mcclellan tree two sizes too big for
him. lifted his cap and strove to smile; he
had ridden nothing harder than a park
hack before that day. Frank says l talk
of nothing else But-wheres Mr.. Gray?
Surely | thought he would be with YOU.
This for Armstrong; benefit in case he
We're in the least interested in either dam
sci.
Mr. Gray was detained by some duties
in camp" explained Miss Prime, with just
trace of reserve that was lost upon
neither their new companion nor the col
onel 1t settled matter the placid officer
was revolving in his mind.
Pardon us. Mrs. Garrison" he said
briefly. We must hurry. Go on driver"
"Oh, l can keep up" was the indomitabe
answer. even on this creature" And Mrs.
Garrison proved her words by whipping
her steed into lunging canter and sitting
him admirably, rode CALAMITY alongside,
and just where Mr. Prime could not but
see and admire. since Colonel Armstrong
would not look at all. He had entered into
an explanation of the ceremony by that
time well under way, and Miss Lawrences