Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-24

would suppose an officer guilty of anything
Of the kinda fragrant military crime? And
yet-men got to asking each other II 1t were
SO that Bugler Curran had carried a note
from the prisoner, Morton, to Mr.. Gray about
1880 that afternoon. And what was this
about Gray's having urged Brooke to swap
tours with him an hour later, and what was
that story the headquarters clerks were tell
ing about Mr.. Gray's coming to the adjutant
and begging to be allowed to march on"
that evening instead of Brooke? 1t wasn't
long before these rumors, somehow, got to
Canker's ears, and Canker seemed to grow
as big again; he fairly swelled with indig-
nation at thought of such turpitude on the
part of an officer. Then he sent for Gray
1t was the afternoon following the sailing Of
the ships with the big brigade-and with
pain and bewilderment and Indignation In his
brave blue eyes the youngster came and stood
before his stern superior. Gordon, who sent
the message, and who had heard Canker's
denunciatory remarks, had found time to
scribble a word or two-"Admit nothing:
say nothing; do nothing but hold your tongue
and temper. If G. insists ON answers say
You decline except in presence of your legal
adviser" So there was a scene in the COM
mander's tent that afternoon. The morning
had not been without its joys. Along about
~ y CLOCK dS tray SAL WTlUHS 10 HIS IdIner
In his little canvas home, he heard a voice
that sent the blood leaping through his veins
and filled his eyes with light. Springing
from his campstool and capsizing it as he
did SO, he poked his curly head from the en-
trance of the tent-and there she was-only
a dozen feet away-Majo Lane in courteous
attendance, Mr.. Prime sadly following, and
Miss Prime quite content with the devotions
Of Captain Schuyler. Only a dozen feet
away and coming straight to him, with frank
smiles and sympathy in her kind and win
some face-with hand outstretched the mo-
ment she caught sight of him. 1--WE wanted
to come when we heard of it yesterday, Mr..
Gray" said Amy Lawrence, but it was dark
when we got back from seeing the fleet off,
and uncle was too tired in the evening. In
deed We are all very, very sorry" And
poor Billy never heard or cared what the
others said, SO absorbed was he in drinking
in her gentle words and gazing into her
soft dark eyes. No wonder he found 1t diff
cult to release her hand. That brief visit,
filled with sweetness and sunshine, ought to
have been a blessing to him all day long,
but Canker caught sight of the damsels as
they walked away on the arms of the at
tendant cavalieTs-Miss Lawrence more than
once smiling back at the incarcerated Billy
and Canker demanded to be informed who
they were and where they had been, and
Gordon answered they We're Miss Lawrence
of Santa Anita and Miss Prince of New York
and he 'reckoned' they must have been in
to console 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 confession, but
Gordon's words had "stiffened" 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 previous interview was his being placed
in close arrest and informed that he should
be tried by general court-martial at a
So he had taken counsel, as was his right
and 'counsef' forbade his committing him
self in any way.
Then you refuse to divulge the contents
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 IL
sufficient to convince any fairminded
court of your guilt, sir" Whereat Gordon
winked at Billy and put his tongue in hi
cheek-and Billy stood mute until ordered
with much asperity. TO go back to his tent