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

swapping black eyes and dark features
Of the other. There was no love lost |
there. One could tell without SO much |
as seeing.
You're off, then! That commissary
sergeant gave him away the very even
ing you were looking him over-he got
wind of it and skipped, and to-day came
back in handouts"
Gall of which may be as you say, and
still not warrant your reference to him
as one of my irreproachables," an
swered Armstrong, land it will take
more than the evidence you refer to
to make me believe him guilty"
By this time much of the crowd and
most of the vehicles had driven away.
The generals still sat in saddles chat
ting earnestly together, while their
staff officers listened in some impa-
thence to the conversation just record
ed. 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 Armstrong" once said regi-
mental sage. He had no sense of hui
mor-of that kind. Thoss who best
knew him knew that Armstrong never
tolerated unjust accusations, great or
small. In his desire to say an irritat-
ing thing to a man he both envied and
respected, the staff officer had not con-
fined himself to the facts, and it proved
boomerang. 1t was true that two
days before, calling at Gordon's official
tent while several other officers were
present at an investigation then going
on, Armstrong was seen to be greatly
interested in the appearance and testi-
mony of Gordon's young, dark-eyed
clerk, and after the conference asked
many questions about and finally asked
to speak with him. Then young Nor
ton was again missing when he was
wanted, and the next heard of him he
was either absent without leave-or a
deserter.
And now once again Armstrong;
eyes had lighted on that boy. Seated
opposite Miss Lawrence as the carriage
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
exclamation as her gloved hand grasped
the rail Of the seat, felt the quick sway
of the vehicle as the horses 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 build
ing, the slim figure of the escaping pris-
oner. BE saw the quivering hands
tearing at their fastenings. He knew
he had seen that figure before now.
He turned to the driver and babe him
stop minute, but it took so yards OF
effort before the spirited horses could
be Gained and brought to a halt at the
curb. To the startled inquiries of Mr..
Prime and his daughter as to the cause
OF the excitement and the running and
shouting he answered simply: "a pris.
oner escaped, I think" and sent a pass.
ing corporal to inquire the result. The
man came back in minute.
"They got him easy, sir. He had nc
show. His hands were tied behind hi
back and he couldn't olimb," was thu
brief report.
"They have not hurt him, hope
said Armstrong.
"No, sir. He hurt them-one Of 'sm
at least, before he'd surrender whel
they nabbed him in town. This time b,
submitted all right-said he only ran II
for glass of beer, and was laughing
like when got there"
Every well. That'll do. Go on, driver
We haven't a minute to lose II we are t,
see the review" he continued, as b
stepped lightly to his seat. II say
nothing of this affair."" said Miss Prime
What was it all about?"
"Nor could see," added her father
Il heard shouts and after we passed say
the guard, but no fugitive"
"It is just as well-indeed, Pm gla
you didn't, uncle" answered Miss Law
renee, turning even as she spoke an
gazing wistfully back. "He looked &
young, and seemed so desperate, an
had such al don't know-hunted loo
on his face-poor fellow"
| And then the carriage reached the er
trance to the reservation and the sui
ject, and the second object of Miss Law
rence's sympathies evoked that day
were for the time forgotten. Possibl
Mrs. Garrison was partly responsible
for this, for hardly had they rounde
the bend in the road that brought ths1
in full view, from the left, OF souther
flank, of the long line of masses /
which the brigade was formed, tina
there came cantering up to them, a,
gay good humor, all smiles and sauc
coquetry, their hostess of the evening a
the generals tent. She was mounted o
a sorry-looking horse, but the "habit
was triumph Of art, and 1t well BEGAN
her petite, rounded figure.
No one who really analysed Mr.
Frank Garrison's features could So
that she was pretty woman. No on
who looked merely at the general effee
when she was out for conquest couI
deny it. Col. Armstrong, placidly oil
servant as usual, was quick to note th
glances that shot between the cousin
on the rear seat as the little lady cam
blithely alongside. He knew her, an
saw that they were beginning to be q
wise as he, for the smiles with who
they greeted her were but wintry r,
Elections of those that beamed upon he
radiant face. Prime, paterfamilia.
bent cordially forward in welcome, bu
her quick eyes had recognized til
fourth occupant by this time, and ther
was little less of assurance in he
manner from that instant.
How perfectly delicious!" she CRIED
Il feared from what you said yesterda
you weren't coming, and SO never o,
dered the carriage, but came out in SAD
dle-1 can't stay on horseback wit
such wreck as this, but every decen
horse in the Presidio had to go out wit
the generals and STATS, you know, an
I had to take what 1 could get-bot
horse and escort" she added, in conf
dental tone. "Oh!-May present M,
Ellis9 He knows you all by name al
ready" (The youth in attendance an
a Mcclellan tree two sizes too big TO
him, lifted his cap and strove to smile
| he had ridden nothing harder than