The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1900-05-24
ten., Col. csnaer," said the brigndIer.

"held over" him with the silver leaves.
The latter could only obey--and OBJ
jurgnte.
But Canker's knuckles came in for an
other rasping within the hour. The
brigadier being done with him, the d.
vision commanders compliments came
over per orderly, and would the colonel
plense step 10 the generals tent
Cnnker was fuming 10 get to town. lie
was possessed with insane desire &c
follow up that boarding house clew
lie believed the lnndlady could be bul
lied into telling where her bonrdcr wns
taken, and what manner OF man (oi
woman) he was. But down he had &c
10. three blocks OF camp, TO where the
tents of division headquarters were
pitched. md there sat the veteran com
mnndcr. suave and placid as ever.
"Ah, colonel, touching that matter
Of the robbery OF your commissary
stores. Suspicion points very strongly
to your Sergt. Foley. DO you think IL
wise TO have no sentry over him?"
"Why--gcncral." said Cnnkcr. "Tve
known that man Is yenrs--in fact. rot
him ordered to duty here" and the
colonel bristled.
"Wcll- pardon me, colonel, but you
heard the evidence against him last
night. or nt least heard oft. Don't you
consider that conclusive?"
Carkcr cleared his throat and con.
sidcred as suggested.
81 heard the allegation sir, but-hc
made so clear an explanation To me. nj
least, and besides, gcncral'--a bright
idea occurring TO him-"you know that
as commissnry sergeant he is not under
my command"
"Tut, tut. colonel" interrupted the
general, waxing inpatient. "'rhe
storchousc adjoins your camp. Your
sentrics guard 1t. Capt. IIanford, the
commissary, says he called on you last
night TO notify you that he had placed
the sergeant under arrest. but consid-
cred the case so grave that he asked
that sentry he placed over him, and 1t
| wasn't duh,."
II dislike very much To inflict such in
| dignity on deserving soldiers, general" )"
| said Cankcr, stumbling into u sclf-mndc
trap. Until their guilt is established
| they are innocent under the law"
| Apparently you apply different
| rule in case OF officers" calmly respond
ed the general, ",ide Mr.. Gray. No fur
ther words are necessary. Oblige me by
having that sentry posted at once.
Good morning. SIR"
| But TO Canker's dismay the officer OF
the guard made prompt report. The
sentry was sent, but the sergeant's tent
was empty. The colonel's pet had flown
This meant more trouble for the colonel
Meantime Stanley Armstrong had
hied him to Gen. Drayton's hcadquar,
tcrs. The Office tents were well filled
with clerks, orderiics. aides and other
officers who had come in on business
but the meeting was by appointment
and after brief delay the camp com
mander excused himself To those pres
cnt and ushercd Ar'r~trong into hi,
own private tent. the tcenc of the mcr
ry festivities the evening of Mrs. Gar
rison's unexpected arrival. There III,
general turned quickly on his visitor
with the low-toncd question:
"Wcll-what have you found?"
Enough TO give me strong rcasor
for believing that Morton. so-called. /,
Young Prime, and that your nephew j,
with him. SIR"
The old soldiers sad eyes lighted will
sudden hope. Yet as he passed his han,
wearily over his forehead, the look a
doubt and uncertainty slowly returned
ut accounts for the letters reaching
me here" he said. "but--I've know
that boy from babyhood. Armstrong
and n more intense nature have neycl
heard of. What he starts in To do Il,
will carry out IL II kills him." An,
Drayton looked drearily about the ten
ms though in search of something II,
didn't quite know what Then he set
tied back slowly into his favoritc olt
chair. DO sit down, Armstrong.
want 10 speak with you u moment.
Yet IL was the colonel who was the irs
to break the silence.
MAY / ask IL you have had time Il
look at any of the letters, sir?"'
"Do ] look as though ] had time I,
do anything" said the chief, dropping
his hands and uplifting lined and hag
gard face, yet SO refined. Anything
but work. work, morn, noon and higbi
The mass Of detail one has 90 meet herr
Is something appalling. II weighs 81
me like a nightmare, Armstrong. No
was worn out the night after thu
package reached me. When next
sought Il the letters were gone"
"IIow long was that. gcncrai?"
Again the weary hands. with thci,
long. tapering fingers, came up to th'
old soldiers brow. lie pondered mo
ment. 1T must have been the mex
afternoon, think. but can't be sure.
And you hrd left them"
"In the inside pocket OF that old over
coat OF mine, hanging there on the real
tent POLE" was the answer. NJ the gen
cral turned half round in his chair ant
glanced wistfully, sclf-reproachfull,
thither.
| Armstrong arose and, going to ih'
back OF the tent. made close cNamlna
tion. The canvas home of the chic
was what is known as the hospital tent
but instead OF being pitched with III,
ordinary ridge pole and upright, sub
stantial wooden frame and floor hat
first been built and over this the stou
canvas was stretched, stanch and tau
ns the head of drum. II was all intac'
and sound. Whoever hlched tha
packet made way with II through III,
front, and that, as Armstrong wei
knew, was kept tightly laced, as rule
from the time the general left II in th'
morning until his return. II was nevel
unlaced except in his presence or b,