Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-06-01

On, III SO Bldd you came, colonel
we are so interested in that young sol
der. Do tell us what il all means. Oh
! beg your pardon, Mrs. Frost, | surely
thought you had met Col. Crosby-le
me pre- Why, Mia! What's Ar,
you i'll? Here, take my salts. quick
"No-no-go on-I-I want TO hear
Where are they taking him." family
murmured Mrs. Frost"
CRY to control yourself" said hel
companion. IN tell you in one mo
ment." Meantime from without III,
carriage the colonel continued, address
ing Nita's companions:
"IIe tells a perfectly straight story
lie says he has an old friend who is Sc
desperately i'll and out of money-that
he got doctor for him and had beer
nursing him himself. Those things nc
carried are medicines and wine that the
doctor bade him buy. All he asks is &c
take them to his friends room and get
a nurse, then he is ready to go to camp
and stand for his trial, so | told the
sergeant Id be responsible"
"Oh, thank YOU SO much. DO see that
tie poor fellow isn't punished. Wen
drive right round. Perhaps we can dc
something. 1t is Red Cross business
you know. Good afternoon. colonel.
Please tell our driver to follow them"
But, to her CONSERVATION. no sooner
had they started than she felt Mia S
trembling hand grasping her wrist, and
turning quickly saw that she was in an
almost hysterical condition.
MY poor child, had forgotten you
were so worn out. I'll take you home
at once-but then We'll miss them en-
tirely. Oh, could you bear"
"Oh! No! mol" moaned Nita, wiring
ing her little hands. Take me-any.
where. No! Take me home-take me
home! and promise me not to-not TO
tell my husband what we saw"
CHAPTER XI.
For a man ordinarily absorbed in his
own command, Col. Stanley Armstrong
had become all on a sudden deeply en-
crossed in that of Col. Canker. The
Frosts had been gone a week via Van
couver-the expedition only about 16
hours-when he appeared at Gordon S
tent and frankly asked to be told all
that tall southerner knew Of the young
soldier Morton, now gone from camp
for the third, and, as Armstrong be-
lieved, the last time.
why, that young fella's a bawn
gentleman" drawled Gordon, as he Of
fered the colonel a chair and cigar
"He was behaviu' rip top, steady as
you please, until about month ago.
He's only been with us since 1st of
May-came with a big batch of recruits
"a regular athlete, you know. Then
after he'd drilled awhile l nailed him
for headquarters clerk. l never knew
him TO be off an hour until about four
weeks ago. The men say another young
fella came out here one night, had a
talk with Morton, and they went out
together. He got regular permission.
Nobody has set eyes on his friend out
here since that time, but Morton got
three passes TO town in ten days, and
Squeers happened to want him, and
gave orders he should have to be con-
suited hereafter. Bout a fortnight
since, by Jove, Morton lit out sudden
ly and was gone 4S hours and was
brought back by a patrol, perfectly
-, -
account of friend who had been taken
very i'll and was a stranger here.
Squeers let him off with a warning, and
inside of three days he begged for a
24-hour pass, and Squeers wouldn't give
ii. He went without it, by George!
1t was just about the time the Prime
family arrived, looking up the boy
they heard was in your regiment. This
time there was big trouble. The patrol
sent for him went directly 10 the lodg-
ings of his sick friend, and there they
found him and he laid out two of our
best men for forcing a way into the
room. They told me your carriage
nearly ran over him the day of the re-
view. Then came that dam fool charge
about his being mixed up in this rob-
berry. Then his escape from under
Billy Gray's nose, by Gawge, and that's
TIC ldSl Vi MIN. AdIktI Stnl d party III
to look him up at the usual place, and
both birds had flown, both, by Gawge!
The sick man was well enough to be
driven off in a carriage. and there's
further TO tell as yet"
81 wish had known about him earli-
the Primes came" said Arm
strong thoughtfuily, knocking the
ashes off his cigar. "Of course you di-
vine my theory"
THAT Morton is the missing son and
heir? OF course. Now that I've seen
Miss Prime the family resemblance is
strong. But if he wanted TO soldier,
what's to prevent? Those tents yawn-
luh are full of youngsters better edu
,ated than | am" and Gordon arose,
angling a long, lean leg in the nearest
amp stool, which he promptly kicked |
through the doorway into the sailing
og outside. 1t was barely IL o'clock,
,ut already the raw, wet wind was
in over the barren, sandy |
lopes and dunes, and the moisture