Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-08

claimed. Running like mad and blocking
the streets to see a soldier arrested for alb
sence from camp without a pass. Shan't
We drive on?"
"Oh-just one moment, please, Mrs. Frost.
He has such nice face-a gentleman's face,
and he seems so troubled. Do look at it!'
Languidly and with something very like
pout Mrs. Frost turned her face again
toward the sidewalk, but by this time the
sergeant had linked an arm in that OF the
young soldier and had led him a pace or two
away, so that his back was now toward the
carriage. He was still pleading and the
crowd had begun to back him up, and was
expostulating, too.
awe, take him where he says sergeant,
and let him prove it."
Don't be hard on him, man. If he's TAX
ing care of sick friend give m chance"
Then the sergeant tried to explain mat
ters. 81 can't help myself gentlemen" said
he; "orders are orders, and mine are to
find this recruit and fetch him back to
camp. He's two days over time now.'
"Oh, wish I knew what 1t meant!" anx-
iousy exclaimed Mrs. Frosts companion.
I'm sure he needs help" Then with sudden
Joy in her eyes-"Oh, good! There goes
Colonel Crosby. He'll see what's amiss,"
and as she spoke tall man in the fatigue
uniform OF an officer OF infantry shouldered
his way through the crowd and reached the
blue coated quartet in the center. Up went
the hands to the shoudered rifles in salute
and the young soldier, the cause Of all the
gathering which the police were now trying
to disperse, whirled quickly, and with
something suspicously like tears in his fine
dark eyes was seen to be eagerly speaking
to the veteran officer. There was a brief
colloquy, and then the colonel said some
thing to the sergeant, at which the crowd
set up cheer. The sergeant looked pleased,
the young soldier most grateful, and away
| the throng following.
went the four along the sidewalk, many Of
And then the colonel caught sight Of the
women In the carriage, saw that one was
signaling eagerly, and heard his name
called. fastening to their side. he raised
| his cap and smiled cordial greeting.
ooh, I'm SO glad you came, colonel, we
| are so interested in that young soldier. Do
tell us what 1t all means. Oh! 1 beg your
pardon, Mrs. Frost, / surely thought you
had met Colonel Crosby-let me pre- Why,
| Nita WHAT'S Are you III? Here, take
| my salts, quick!"
"No-no-go on-I-I want to hear!
Where are they taking him?" family
murmured Mrs. Frost"
TRY to control yourself" said her COM
panion. "I'll tell you in one moment"
Meantime from without the carriage the
colonel continued. addressing Nitas COM
panion:
HE tells a perfectly straight story. He
says he has an old friend who Is here SO
desperately Ill and out Of money that he
got doctor for him and had been nursing
| him himself Those things he carried are
medicines and wine that the doctor bade him
buy All he asks Is to take them to his
friends room and get nurse, then he is
ready to go to camp and stand his trial, sc
/ told the sergeant I'd be responsible"
"Oh, thank you 80 much! Do see that
the poor fellow isn't punished. Well drive
right round Perhaps We can do something
1t is Red Cross business, you know. Coco
afternoon, colonel. Please tell our driver
to follow tnem."
But, to her CONSERVATION, no sooner had
they started than she felt Nita's trembling
hand graspng her wrist, and turning
quickly saw that she was in almost hys-
terical condition.
'My poor child, ! had forgotten you were
so worn out. I'll take you home at once
but then well miss them entirely. Oh
could you bear"
"oh! Mo- MOI" moaned Nlta, wrlnging
her little hands. Take me-anywhere