Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-23

him, with frank smiles and sympathy in
her kind and winsome face-with hand out
stretched the moment she caught sight of
him. I'VE wanted to come when we heard
of it yesterday, Mr. Gray said Amy Law
renee, but it was dark when we got back
from seeing the fleet off, and uncle
too tired in the evening. Indeed. we all
Very, very sorry." And poor Billy never
heard or cared what the others said. go alb
scrbed was he in drinking in her gentle
words and gazing into her soft dark eyes.
No wonder he found it difficult to release
her hand That brief visit, filled with
sweetness and sunshine, ought to have
been blessing to him all day long. but
Canker caught sight of the damsels
they walked away on the arms of the at
tendant cavaliers-Miss Lawrence more than
once smiling back at the incarcerat.d Billy
and Canker demanded to be informed
who they We're and where they had been.
and Col do1 answered that they were Miss
Lawrence of Santa Anita and Miss Prime
of New fork-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
lii arrest-it was tantamount to disrespect
to the commander. 1t was marvellous how
many things in Cankers eyes were disIe-
spectful.
So he heard these stories with eager ears
and sent for Gray, and thought to bully
him into an admission or confession, but
Gnrdon's words had "stiffened' the little
fellow to the extent of hraving Canker's
anger and telling him he had said all he
him up the previous day The result Of
that previous interview was his being
placed in close arrest and informed that he
Should be tried by general court-rnartial at
once. So he had taken counsel, as was his
right, and counsel forbade his committing
himself in any way.
Then you refuse to divuge the contents
of that note and to say why you were 50
eager to go on guard out of your turn
said Canker oracularly. THAT in itself is
! sufficient to convince any fair-mnded court
of your guilt. sir Whereat Gordon wink
ed 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 a court OF the
guilt Of Lieutenant Gray. and poor Billy
contemplated them with sinking heart.
Taking prompt advantage of his position
as officer of the guard, he had caused the
young prisoner to be brought outside the
guardhouse. and as a heavy, dripping fog
had come the wings Of the night wind,
sailing in from the sea- he had led the
way to the sheltered side. which happened
to be the darkest one, of the rude little
building. and had there hidden him tell
his story. But Morton glanced uneasily at
a sentry who followed close and was
lowering suspiciously about. Il cannot
talk about the affair with that fellow spy
Ing" he said, with eager plea In his
tone and sign of the hand that Gray
well knew and quickly recognized. Keep
around In front I'll be responsible for this
prisoner" were his orders, and, almost re-
luctantly, the man left. He was a veteran
soldier. and his manner impressed the lieu
tenant with a vague sense of trouble. Twice
the sentry glanced back and hesitated as
though something were on his mind that
he must tell. but finally he disappeared and
kept out of the way during the brief in
terview that Immediately followed The
prisoner eagerly. excitedly began his ex-
planauon-swiftly banishing any lingering
doubts Gray might have entertained as to
his innocence But he had come from a
stove-heated guard room into the cold sea
wind off the Paciic-into the floating visus
of vapor that sent chill to the marrow He
was far too lightly clad for that climate.
and presently he began to shiver
You are cold" said Gray, pityingly
Have you no overcoat?"
IT'S at my tent-I never expected to
spend this night here. I've been before the
thought that would end 1t, 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 the deserters or
dead beats inside there" and the dark
eyes glanced almost In herror-the slender
figure shook with mingled repulsion and
chill-''than with that oth-tone,led
sneak and liar There's no crime too mean
for him to commit. Mr.. Gray. and the men
are beginning to know 1t. though the colo
mel won't. For Gods sake get me out OF this
before morning." And again the violent
tremor shook the lad from head to foot
"Here-get insfde" said Gray irnpulsive-
ly. I'll see the adjutant at once and re-
turn to you in a few minutes II you have
to remain until the matter can be inyesti-
gated by the general it might be"
1t would be vehemently Interrupted