Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-06-22


vator, leaving his friend TO cogitate
on the question over his luncheon. 1t
was decidedly that officers opinion that
Armstrong knew much more than he
would tell.
But Armstrong Srsw much less than
he himself believed. fastening back
to camp and ordering his horse, he was
soon speeding up the slope to the wind
swept heights overlooking the Golden
Gate. The morning had opened fine
as silk, but by noon the sky was hid
den in clouds and the breath Of the sea
blew in salt and strong. The white
caps were leaping on the crest of the
surges driving in through the straits
and the surf bursting high on the
Jagged rocks at the base of the cliffs. a
little coast steamer from Santa Bar
bara way came pitching and plunging
in from sea, and one or two venture
some craft, heeling far to leeward,
tore through the pillows and tossed
far astern frothing wake. With
names and tails streaming in the stih
gale, the troop horses of the Fourth
cavalry were cropping at the scanty
heritage down the northward slope,
and the herd guard nearest the road
lost his grip on his drab campaign hat
as he essayed n salute and galloped off
on a stern chase down the long ravine
TO the east, as the colonel trotted brisk
~ by. One keen glance over the bay
beyond rocky Alcatraz had told him
the China was not yet away from her
pier. lie might have TO send dispatch
by that swift steamer, and even then
il would be six days getting TO Hawaii.
If the department commander should
by that time be on his homeward jour
ney the information would still be of
interest TO the general commanding the
new military district at 1.-The Cross
Roads Of the Pacific" and of vast bene-
fit, possibly, TO his late chent, Mr.. Gray.
He wondered what Canker's grounds
could be for saddling so foul suspi-
cion or the boys good name. He won
dered how long that poor lad would
have TO struggle with this attack of
fever and remain, perhaps happily, UNI
conscious Of this latest indignity. He
wondered if Amy Lawrence yet knew
of that serious seizure, and if she did,
what would be her sensations. Down
the winding, sloping road he urged his
way, Glencoe, his pet charger, marvel
ing at the unusual gait. The cape of
the sentrY's overcoat whirled over T.
sentry : heau ana swIshed = nO'ne
as he presented arms l., MS cap OH
squirting past the O. -GSthe tall soldier
no one who has tC.dardhouse. Il envy
said Armstrong put to sea this day,
TO the right Zorro himself, as he turned
a little brow nd refined up in front of
" e- i cottage peeping out from
"a ina4S' on vines and roses, shiyering
ia the wet wind. Half dozen strides
took him across the narrow walk and
up the wooden steps. With sharp en-
phasis he changed the little gong bell
screwed TO the back Of the door and
waited impatient of the servants COM
ing. There was no answer. He rang
again and still again, and no one came.
4 glance at the windows told that the
white lace curtains hung there draped
as prettily as ever. Fresh flowers stood
on the window sill. A shawl and a
pillow, the latter indented as by hui
man head, lay in the Longing chair
on the little porch. Another chair
stood but few feet away. There was
even fan, though fans in a Frisco
summer are less needed than furs; but
nowhere saw he other sign of the tenn
porary mistress of the house. He went
round TO a side window and raped.
No answer. Then he turned TO the
walk again, and, taking the reins, bade
the orderly inquire next door if Mrs,
Garrison could be found. Yes, was
the answer; she went driving TO Golden
Gate Park with Mrs. Stockman an hour
ago, and Mrs. Stockman was to leave
for Los Angeles that night. Odd! II
Mrs. Garrison drove to Golden Gate
Park the easiest and best way was that
along which he came, and he had met
no carriage. In fact, not since thai
night at the Palace had he set eyes or
Mrs. Garrison, or until the coming Of
this sorrowful news about Gray had be
cared to. From all that he heard Mrs
Iduh Was tAJOy III htlSt "b 'A'
Preside. Cherry having gone one way
and her devotee another, Mrs. Franz
speedily summoned a chum of old gar
rison days TO come and keep house will
her for awhile, and Mrs. Stockman
whose lord had left her at the call o
duty, and gone to Manila with his men
right gladly accepted and much en-
ioyed the fun and frolic that went oil
night after night in Mrs. Franks COZ!
parlor, or the mild Irritation, possibly
in the recesses of Mrs. Franks EN-
powered porch. The last expedition
had borne off almost all the regular
element at the post, but had not left !
poor, for, fast as camp grounds coul,
be made ready for them, vastly TO tn
! disgust of the saloon keepers and stree
car magnates who had reaped ricl
harvest from Camp Merritt, regimen
after regiment, the volunteers cam
marching over from the malodorou
sand lots and settled down in sheltered
hooks about the Preside. So cavalier
in plenty were still to be had, cavalier
whose wives and sweethearts, as a rule
were far away; and Mrs. Frank loved t
console such as were so bereft. TIL
! chafnp dish and Scotch and sod