Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-13
CHAPTER Nv.

baffled the efforts of the guards. Car
riages from camps and carriages from
town, carts from the suburbs, eques-
TRANS from the parks and pedestrians
from everywhere had gradually en-
croached within kicking distance OF the
heels of the cavalry escorting the gen.
eral commanding the department, ana
that official noted with unerring eye
that the populace was coming up on his
TANKS, SO to speak, at the moment when
the etiquette of the service required
that he should be gazing only to his i'm
mediate front and responding to the sa-
lutes of the marching column. Back of
him, ranged in long, single rank, was
drawn up what the newspapers unani-
mously described as brilliant" staff,
despite the fact that all were in SOM
Der campaign uniform and several had
never been SO rated before. In their
rear, in turn, was the line Of mounted
orderlies and farther still the silent
rank of the escorting troop. Sentries
had been posted to keep the throng at
proper distance, but double their force
could have accomplished nothing-the
omniscient corporal could not help
them, and after asking one or two stray
officers what they would do about it, the
sentries gave way and the crowd
swarmed in. It was just as the head of
the long tramping column came OPP
posite the reviewing point, and the
brigade commander and his staff, turn
ing out after saluting, found their al
lotted station on the right of the review
ing party completely taken up by the
mass of eager spectators. A minute or
SO was required before the trouble
could be remedied, for just as the Off
GERS and orderlies were endeavoring to
induce the populace to give way a
thing the American always resists with
gay good humor that is peculiarly his
own-a nervous hack driver on the out
skirts backed his bulky trap with unex-
pected force, and penned between it and
the wheels Of a newly-arrived and much
more presentable equipage fair eques-
trian who shrieked with fright and
chung to her pommel as her excited
mount" dashed out with his heels and
made splinters of the hacks rearmost
spokes and felloes. Down went the
hack on its axle point. Out sprang tall
officer from the open carriage, and in a
second, it seemed, transferred the panic
stricken horsewoman from the seismat-
lie saddle to the safety of his own seat.
and the ministrations of the two young
women and the gray-haired civilian
who were the latest arrivals. This done,
and after one quick glance at the lady's
helpless escort, young officer from the
Preside, he shouldered his way through
the crowd and stood, presently, on its
inner edge, an unperturbed and most
interested spectator. Battalion after
battalion, in heavy marching order, in
the dark blue service dress, with cam.
paign hats and leggins, with ranks well
closed and long, well-aligned fronts
with accurate trace Of the guides and
well-judged distance, the great regi
ments came striding down the gentle
slope, conscious, every officer and man
of the admiration they commanded
Armstrong, himself commander of .
fine regiment of volunteers in anothe,
brigade, looked upon them with sol
dier's eye, and looked approvingly
Then, as the rearmost company passet
the reviewing point and gentlemen will
two stars on each shoulder extende,
their congratulations to the reviewe,
commander with one, Armstrong ais,
made his way among the mounted ofH
GERS in his calm, deliberate fashion
needless of threatening heels ant
crowding forehands, until he, too, coul,
say his word of cordial greeting. 81,
had to wait a few minutes, for the gen
eral officers were grouped and talking
earnestly. he heard few words an,
knew well enough what was meant
that quantities of stores intended fo
the soldiers, even dainties contributed
by the Red Cross society, had BEEF
stolen from time to time and spirite,
off in the dead of night, and doubles
sold in town for the benefit of a pacl
OF unknown scoundrels enlisted for n,
better purpose. In his own regimen
his system had been SO strict that n,
loss was discoverable, but in certai,
others the deficit was great. Com
plants were loud, and the camp com
mander, stung possibly by comment
from the city, had urged his officers t
unusual effort, and had promised pun
ishment to the extent of the law on tn
guilty parties whenever or whereve
| found.
Even as he was exchanging wor,
with the brigadier, Armstrong hear
the exclamation: "By Jove-they'v
caught another!" for with grim smil
OF qualification the camp commando
had read and turned over to his adiu
tant general brief dispatch just hand
ed him by mounted orderly who ha
galloped fast.
"One of your irreproachables, Arm
strong" said one of the staff, wit
something half sneer, half taunt, as b
too read and then passed the paper t
the Judge advocate of the division.
Armstrong turned with his usual dc
liberation. There was ever about hi,
a quiet dignity of manner that was til
delight of his friends and despair of hi
| foes.
What is his name?" he calmly asked
THAT young fellow at Canker's head
quarters you took SO much interest il
a day or SO ago" was the reply.
THAT does not give his name-no
identify him as one of my men," sal
Armstrong, coolly.
"Oh, well, didn't say he belonged Il
your command" was the staff officer
response. "You devoted good dea
of time to him, that's all. Possibly yo
suspected him."
IF you mean the young soldier il
Gordon's office, tenth infantry,
would be slow to suspect him of an,
crime" said Armstrong, with some
thing almost like drawl, SO slow an,
deliberate was his manner, and now Il,
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