Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-03-17
still not warrant your reference 70 him
a. one of my, irreproachables," an

to make me believe him guilty"
BY this time much of the crowd and
most Of the vehicles had drivec away.
The generals still sat in saddles chat
ting earnestly together, while their
staff officers listened in some inpa-
tience to the conversation just record
ed. Everybody knew the fault was not
Armstrong;, but it was jarring to have
to sit and hearken to the controversy.
Don't ever twit or try funny business
with Armstrong" once said regi-
mental sage. He had no sense of hui
mor-of that kind. Those who best
knew him knew that Armstrong never
tolerated unjust accusations, great or
small. In his desire to say an irritat-
ing thing TO n man he both envied and
respected, the staff officer had not con-
fined himself to the facts, and it proved
a boomerang. 1t was true that two
days before, calling at Gordon's official
tent while several other officers were
present at an investigation then going
on, Armstrong was seen to be greatly
interested in the appearance and testi-
mony of Gordon's young, dark-eyed
clerk, and after the conference asked
many questions about and finally asked
to speak with him. Then young Nor
ton was again missing when he was
wanted, and the next heard of him he
was either absent without leave-or
deserter.
And now once again Armstrong;
eyes had lighted on that boy. Seated
opposite Miss Lawrence as the carriage
whirled across Point Lobos avenue, and
watching her unobtrusively, he saw the
sudden light of alarm and excitement
in her expressive face, heard the faint
exclamation as her gloved hand grasped
the rail of the seat, felt the quick sway
of the vehicle as the horses SHE'D in
fright at some object beyond his vision.
Then as they dashed on he had seen
the running guard and, just vanishing
within the portals of the corner build
ing, the slim figure of the escaping pris-
oner. He saw the quivering hands
tearing at their fastenings. lie knew
he had seen that figure before now.
He turned to the driver and babe him
stop a minute, but it took so yards of
effort before the spirited horses could
be Gained and brought to halt at the
curb. To the startled inquiries of Mr..
Prime and his daughter as to the cause
of the excitement and the running and
shouting he answered simply: "A pris-
oner escaped, I think" and sent pass
ing corporal to inquire the result. The
man came back in minute.
"They got him easy, sir. He had no
show. His hands were tied behind his
back and he couldn't climb" was the
brief report.
"They have not hurt him, I hope"
said Armstrong.
mo, sir. He hurt them--one of 'em,
at least, before he'd surrender when
they nabbed him in town. This time he
submitted all right-said he only ran in
for glass of beer, and was laughing
like when I got there"
"Very well. That'll do. Go on, driver.
We haven't minute to lose If we are to
see the review" he continued, as he
stepped lightly to his seat. "I saw
nothing of this affair."" said Miss Prime.
"What was it all about?"
"Nor could l see," added her father.
II heard shouts and after we passed saw
1890 80 ="
ut is just as well-indeed, I'm glad
you didn't, uncle" answered Miss Law
renee, turning even as she spoke and
gazing .wistfully back. "He looked so
young, and seemed so desperate, and
had such al don't know-hunted look
on his face-poor fellow"
And then the carriage reached the en-
trance to the reservation and the SUBJ
ject, and the second object of Miss Law
rence's sympathies evoked that day,
were for the time forgotten. Possibly
Mrs. Garrison was partly responsible
for this. for hardly had they rounded
the bend in the road that brought them
in full view. from the left, or southern
flank, of the long line of masses in
which the brigade was formed, than
there came cantering up to them, all
gay good humor, all smiles and saucy
coquetry, their hostess of the evening at
the generals tent. She was mounted on
a sorry-looking horse, but the "habit"
was triumph of art, and it well became
her petite, rounded figure.
No one who really analysed Mrs.
Frank Garrison's features could say
that she was a pretty woman. No one
who looked merely at the general effect
when she was out for conquest could
deny it. Col. Armstrong, placidly OBJ
servant as usual, was quick to note the
glances that shot between the cousins
on the.rear seat as the little lady came
alongside. He knew her. and
saw that they were beginning to be as
wise as he, for the smiles-wth which
they greeted her were but wintry re-
Elections of those that beamed upon her
radiant face. Prime, paterfamilias,
bent cordially forward in welcome, but
her quick eyes had recognized the
fourth occupant by this time, and there
was little less of assurance in her
manner from that instant.
"How perfectly delicious!" she cried.
Il feared from what you said yesterday
you weren't coming, and so I;never or
lered the carriage, but came out in sad
ile-I can't stay on horseback with
such wreck as this, but every decent
horse in the Preside had to go out with
The generals and stats, you know, and
had to take what could get-both
horse and escort" she added, in conf
lential tone. "Oh!-May l. present Mr..
Ellis? He knows you all by name al
'eady." (The youth in attendance and
! Mcclellan tree two sizes too big for
him, lifted his cap and strove to smile;
lie had ridden nothing harder than a
Dark back before that day.. "Frank
avs talk of nothing else. But where's