Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-10

dainties contributed by the Red Cross So
ciety-had been stolen from time to time
and spirited of in the dead OF night, and
doubtless sold in town for the benefit OF a
pack Of unknown scoundrels enlisted for nc
better purpose. In his own regiment hie
system had been 90 strict that no loss wa,
discoverable, but in certain others the def
cit was great. Complaints were loud, and
the camp commander, stung possibly by
comments from the city, had urged his ofi-
GERS to unusual effort, and had promised
punishment to the extent OF the law on the
guilty parties whenever or wherever found.
Even as he was exchanging a word with
the brigadier Armstrong heard the exclama-
ton: by jove-they've caught anotherl'
for with a grim smile OF qualification the
camp commander had read and turned over
to his adjutant general a brief dispatch just
handed him by a mounted orderly who had
galloped fast.
"One OF your irreproachables, Arm
strong" said one OF the staff, with some
thing halt-sneer, halt-taunt, as he, too.
read and then passed the paper to the judge
advocate OF the division.
Armstrong turned with his usual dellber-
alton. There was ever about him a quiet
dignity OF manner that was the delight OF
his friends and despair of his foes.
w nat Is MS name ne calmly asked.
Zone OF those society swells of whom
you have so many" was the reply.
That does not give his name-nor identity
him as 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. 1 should be slow to suspect them
OF any crime" said Armstrong, with some
thing almost like a drawl. so slow and
deliberate 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 without
SO much as seeing.
You're off theni That commissary SER
geant caught one of 'em in the act-he got
wind of It and skipped and today came back
in handcuffs.'
All OF which may be as you say"
answered Armstrong, land still not warrant
your reference to him as one of my ire
proachables."
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 imoatience to the conversation Just
recorded. Everybody knew the fault was not
Armstrong;. but 1t was Earring to have to
sit and hearken to the controversy. Don't
ever twit or try funny business with Arm
strong" once said a 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 or small. In his desire to say an irri-
tating thing to a man he both envied and
respected the staff officer had not confined
himself to facts and 1t proved a boomerang.
And now Armstrong; eyes had lighted
for an Instant on the alleged culprit.
Seated opposite Miss Lawrence as the car
riage 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 ex-
clamation as her gloved hand grasped the
rail of the seat, felt the quick sway OF the
vehicle as the horse 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 escap-
ing prisoner. He saw the quivering hands
tearing at their fastenings. He turned to
the driver and babe him stop a minute, but
it took fifty yards Of effort before the
spirited horses could be Gained and brought
to q halt at the curb. To the startled in
quiries of Mr.. Prime and his daughter as
to the cause Of the excitement and the
running and shouting he answered simply:
"a prisoner escaped, I think" and sent a
passing corporal to inquire the result. The
man came back in a minute.
"They got him easy, sir. He had no
show. His hands were tied behind his
back and he couldn't climb was the brief
report.
They have not hurt him. / hope said
Armstrong.
mo, sir. He hurt them-one Of 'em, at
least, before he'd surrender when they
nabbed him in town. This time he sub
mitted all right-said he only ran in for a
: glass of beer, and was laughing like when
got there"
very well. That'I do. Go on, driver.
We haven't a minute to lose If we are to
see the review" he continued, as he stepped
lightly to his seat.
II saw nothing of this affair."" said Miss
Prime. What was 1t all about?'
Nor could l see," added her father. 81
heard shouts and after we passed saw the
guard, but no fugitive"
ut Is just as well-indeed I'm glad you
didn't, uncle" nswered Miss Lawrence,
turning even as she spoke and gazing visit
3 fully back. HE looked so young, and
seemed so desperate, and had such al
don't know-hunted look on his face-poor
fellow"
And then the carriage reached the en-,