Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-16

ence were poweress. Not until a student
had been under observation two whole
years and was thoroughly known could he
hope for bid to become a Delta Sig"
Not until another six months of probat ton
could he sport its colors, and not until he
formally withdrew from its fold. in post
graduation years, could he consider himself
absolved from its mild obligations. But
the boast of the Delta Sig" had ever been
that no one of it's membership had ever
turned deaf ear to fellow in need of aid
Who of its originators ever dreamed of
such thing as drifting into and becoming
factor in the affairs of the regular army !?
No wonder Gray stood for a moment, the
paper still in his hands. irresolute, even dis
turbed. Not to answer the appeal meant to
run counter to all the tenets of his frater-
nifty. To answer might mean arrest and
court-martial for deliberate disobedience of
orders. Canker had no more mercy than an
Indian. 1t was barely forty-eight hours
since he had been publicly warned by an
experienced old captain that he would find
no guardian angel in Squeers 1t would
seriously mar his prospects to start now
with SqueerS down on him." and that
lynx-eyed commander was ever watch
for infractions of orders, Billy well knew
that he could not hope to see and talk with
the prisoner and Canker not hear of it.
To ask permission of Canker would only
make matters worse-he was sure to refuse
and then re-emphasize his orders and re-
double his vigilance. To ask the consent
of the officer of the days or the connivance
them to court arrest and trial their
own account
He couldn't do that even to obltge a
brother Delt. If only Ned Craven were
ACKNOWLEDGMENT something might be
done-he was a college man. too, and
though not a "Delt,' but rather of rival
set. he would understand and possibly
help. Guard mount was held toward dusk
and that four hours away, at least.
The prisoners note and tone were urgent.
An idea occurred to Billy: What if he
could get Gordon to let him "go on this
very evening? 1t wasn't his tour. He
had marched off" only two days before,
as he we'll remembered, for Canker had
''roughed' him UP and down about that
little error in copying the list of prisoners
from the report of the previous day. More
over, he had counted on going to town right
after retreat" dining at the Palace, an
extravaganza not to be thought Of at other
times. so as to be on hand when the Primes
and Amy Lawrence came down to dinner
He had planned it all-even to the amount
of surprise he was to exhibit when he
should discover about when he had finish
ed his own dinner that they were just
beginning theirs, and the extent and de-
gree Of pleasurable emotion he might ven-
ture on showing. as he fastened over to
greet them. and accept their offer to be
seated with them. even II he had been so
unkind as to dine beforehand solus instead
OF with them. He had set his heart on
having chat with Miss Lawrence as part
recompense for all he had lost that morn
ing. and all this he was thinking of while
still fumbling over that disturbing note.
Time was getting short, too; there was no
telling how much longer they might stay.
Mr.. Prime had brought his only daughter
all that long journey across the continent
on the assurance that the boy he loved,
with whom he had quarreled, and whom,
in his anger. he had sorely rebuked, had
enlisted there in San Francisco and was
serving In a regiment at the great camp
west of the city. He had come full of
hope and confidence; he had found the
young soldier described. and. in his bitter
disappointment. he declared there was no
resemblance to justify the report sent him
by the boys own uncle. who vowed he
had met him with comrades on the main
street Of the CITY, that the recognition was
mutual. for the boy had darted around the
first corner and escaped. His companions
were scattered by the time Mr.. Lawrence
returned to the spot after brief, fruitless
search, but private detectives had taken 1t
up and located" as they thought. young
Prime and telegraphed the father in the
distant east.
Now, Mr.. Lawrence was away on busi-
ness OF his own. Written assurances that
ne couldn't be mistaken lost weight, and
Mr.. Prime, disheartened. was merely wait
ing the report of an agent who thought he
had traced the boy to Tampa In twenty
four hours he might spirit his daughter
away on another chase, and then there
would be no further warrant for Miss Law
rence's remaining in the CITY, She would
return to her lovely home in one of the
loveiiest of California valleys. miles awav
from the raw fogs and chills Of the Golden
Gate. and would be no more seen amon0
the camps. That said Billy Gray to him.