Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-12-22
MISS Lawrence more thnn once stnllins

renee, of Santa Anita, and Miss Prime.
of New York-and he "reckoned" they
must have been in to condole with Mr..
Gray-whereat Canker snarled that
people ought to know better than to
visit officers in arrest-it was tanta-
mount to disrespect to the commander.
1t was marvellous how many things in
Canker's eyes were disrespectful.
So he heard these stories with eager
ears and sent for Gray, and thought to
bully him into an admission or confess
sion, but Gordon's words had "stif-
fened" the little fellow to the extent
OF Drawing Canker's anger and telling
him he had said all he proposed to say
when the colonel called him up the
previous day. The result of that was
] his being placed in close arrest and in
formed that he should be tried by gen
eral court-martial at once. So he had
taken counsel, as was his right, and
counsel" forbade his committing him
self in any way.
Then you refuse to divulge the con-
tents OF that note and to say why you
were SO eager to go on guard out of
your turn?' said Canker, oracularly.
That in itself Is sufficient to convince
any fair-minded court of your guilt,
sir" Whereat Gordon winked at Billy
and put his tongue in his cheek-and
Billy stood mute until ordered, with.
much asperity, to go back to his tent.
But there were other things that
might well go toward convincing
court of the guilt of Lieut.. Gray, and
poor Billy contemplated them with
sinking heart. Taking prompt adj
vantage of his position as officer of the
guard, he had caused the young pris-
oner to be brought outside the guard
house, and as heavy, dripping fog had
come on the wings of the night wind,
sailing In from the sea, he had led the
way to the sheltered side, which hap
pened to be the darkest one, of the rude
little building, and had there hidden
him tell his story. But Morton glanced
1neasily at sentry who followed close
and was lowering suspiciously about.
Il cannot talk about-the affair-with
that fellow spying" he said, with an
eager plea In his tone and sign of the
hand that Gray we'll knew and quickly
recognized. Keep around in front.
III be responsible for this prisoner"
were his orders, and, almost reluctant
ly, the man left. He was veteran SOL
der, and his manner impressed the
lieutenant with a vague sense of
trouble. Twice the sentry glanced
back and hesitated, as though some
thing were on his mind that he must
tell, but finally he disappeared and kept
out of the way during the brief inter-
view that Immediately followed. The
prisoner eagerly, excitedly began his
explanation-swiftly banishing any lin
gering doubts Gray might have enter
tanned as to his innocence. But he had
come from a stove-heated guard room
into the cold sea wind of the Pacific
into the floating wisps of vapor that
sent chill to the marrow. He was far
too lightly clad for that climate, and
presently he began to SILVER.
You are cold" said Gray, pityingly.
Have you no overcoat?"
Its at my tent-I never expected to
spend this night here. I've been be-
fore the summary court, fined for alb
sence, and thought that would end it,
but instead of that I'm prisoner and
the man who should be here is stalking
about camp, planning more robberies.
Yet I'd rather associate with the very
worst of deserters or dead beats in
side there" and the dark eyes glanced
almost in horror-the slender figure
shook with unmingled repulsion and
chill-"than with that smooth-tongued
sneak and liar. There's no crime too
mean for him to commit, Mr.. Gray.
and the men are beginning to know it,
though the colonel won't. For Gods
sake get me out of this before morn
ing" And again the violent tremor
shok the lad from head to foot.
"Here-get inside!" said Gray, i'm
Pulsively. I'll see the adjutant al once
and return to you in few minutes. If
you have to remain until the matter can
be investigated by the general it might
be"
ut would be" vehemently inter-
rupted Morton, then breaking off short
as though at loss for descriptiveness of
sufficient strength. He seemed to swell
with passion as he clinched his fists and
fairly stood upon his toes an instant, his
strong white teeth grinding together.
1T would be-simply hell!" he burst in
again, hoarse and iuivering: ut would
ruin everything. Can't the gen
eral give the order tonight" he
asked with intense eagerness, while
the young officer, taking him by the
arm, had led him again to the light of
the gnardhouse lamps at the front. The
sergeant and group of soldiers
Strengthened up and faced them, listen
ing curiously.
1T may be even impossible to see the
general" answered Gray, doubtfully.
Take Morton into the guardroom till
l get back, sergeant, and let him warm
himself thoroughly. Don't put him
with the prisoners till ! return" and so
saying he fastened away. Gordon, his
friend and adviser, had left camp and
gone visiting over In the other divi-
sion, The lights at general headquar-
tiers were turned low. Even now. liter
having heard proofs of the innocence
OF the accused soldier, Gray knew that
1t was useless to appeal to the colonel.
He could not understand, however, the
feverish-almost insane Impotence of
the lad for immediate release. Another
day ought not to make SO great diff
ference, What could be the reason
IT 1t were not that, though innocent of
the robbery of the storehouse, or OF
completely in the sale of stolen goods.