Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-01-02

6O SNSCt anu 4ldS llC dS VIA SAC NOu1o |
not believe for an instant. Then the |
nurse, still retained, heard bitter words
from the colonel as one morning she |
came to the door with Mrs. Frost's |
breakfast, and while she paused, uncer- |
tain about entering at such a time, he |
rushed angrily forth and nearly col
lided with her. Mrs. Frost was in |
tears when the nurse finally entered,
and the breakfast was left untouched.
Late that afternoon, just after the
various trunks and boxes of the Frosts
that were to go by the transport We're
packed and ready, and Mrs. Frost, look
| ing stronger at last, though still frag-
| lie, almost ethereal, was returning from
a drive with one of her friends, the at
tention of the two ladies was drawn to a
crowd gathering rapidly on the side
walk not far from the Baldwin hotel.
There was no shouting, no commotion,
nothing but the idle curiosity of men
and boys, for young soldier, hand
some, slender, dark-eyed, dark-com-
pleXioned fellow of 81 or 20, had been
arrested by q patrol and there they
stood, the sergeant and his two sol
diers fully armed and equipped, the
hapless captive with his arms half filled
with bundles, and over the heads of
| the little throng the ladies' could see
| that he was pleading earnestly with
his captors, and that the sergeant,
though looking sympathetic and far
from unlind, was shaking his head.
Mrs. Frost, listless and little fatigued,
had witnessed too many such scenes in
former days of garrison life to take any
interest in the proceeding. ''How
stupid these people are!" she irritably
exclaimed; running like mad and
blockading the streets to see a soldier
arrested for absence from camp with
out pass. Shan't we drive on?"
"Oh-just one moment, please, Mrs.
Frost. He has such a nice face-a gen.
tleman's face, and he seems so troubled.
Do look at it,"
| Languidly and with something very
like a pout, Mrs. Frost turned her face
again toward the sidewalk, but by this
time the sergeant had linked an arm
in that of the young soldier and had
led him a pace or two away, SO that
his back was now toward the carriage.
He was still pleading, and the crowd
had begun to back him up, and was ex-
postulating, too.
Awe, take him where he says, SER
geant, and let him prove it,"
Don't be hard on him, man. If he's
: taking care of a sick friend, give'm a
, chance"
Then the sergeant tried to explain
matters. II can't help myself, gentle
men," said hei 'sorders are orders, and
mine are to find this recruit and fetch
him back to camp. He's two days over
time now.''
"Oh, wish knew what it meant!"
anxiously exclaimed Mrs. Frost's COM
panion. I'm sure he needs help" Then
with sudden joy in her eyes: ooh, good!
There goes Col. Crosby. He'll see what's
amiss.A and as she spoke tall man in
the fatigue uniform of an officer of in
fantry shouldered his way through the
crowd, and reached the blue-coated
quartette III the center. Up went the
hands to the shouldered rifles in salute.
and the young soldier, the cause of the
!, Got-ASAlA6 N111Si1 liz tSA1SC HSiS INV
trying to dispense, whirled quickly, and
with something suspiciously like tears
in his fine dark. eyes. was seen to be
eagerly speaking to the veteran officer.
There was. a brief colloquy, and then
! the colonel said something to the SER
geant at which the crowd set up cheer.
The sergeant looked pleased, the young
soldier most grateful, and away went
the four along the sidewalk, many Of
the throng following.
K And then the colonel caught sight OF
the ladies in the carriage, saw that one
> was signaling eagerly, and heard his
name called. fastening to their side,
= he raised his cap and smiled cordial
) greeting.
, "Oh, I'm so glad you came, colonel
r we are SO interested in that young sol
: der. Do tell us what it all means. Oh!
, l beg your pardon, Mrs. Frost, surely
3 thought you had met Col. Crosby-let
: me pre- Why, Mia! What's Are
you i'll? Her. take my salts, quick!'
"No-no-goN ,n-I-I want to hear!
Where are they taking him?" family
murmured Mrs. Frost
"Try to control yourself" said hel
companion. "Pll tell you in one mo
ment." Meantime from without the
carriage the colonel continued, address
ing Nita's companion:
He tells a perfectly straight story
He says he has an old friend who is 81
desperately i'll and o,rt of money-tha
he got doctor for him and had beer
nursing him himself. Those things h,
carried are medicines and wine that TIL,
doctor babe him buy. All he asks is Il
,, take them to his friends room and ge
). nurse, then he is ready to go to cam
i and stand for his trial, so l told tn
! sergeant I'd be responsible"
: "Oh, thank you so muchl DO see tina
: tie poor fellow isn't punish Wei
). drive right round. Perhaps we can d
e something. 1t is Red Cross bushes:
: You know. Good afternoon, colonel
Please tell our driver to follow them"
But, to her CONSERVATION, no soone
q had they started than she felt Nita'