Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-01-05
CHAPTER XII.

For man ordinarily absorbed in his
own command, Col. Stanley Armstrong
had become all on sudden deeply en-
crossed in that of Col. Canker. The
Frosts had been gone 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 bawn
gentleman" drawled Gordon, as he Of
fered the colonel chair and cigar.
'He was behavin' tip top, steady us
you please, until about a month ago.
| He's only been with us since LIST of
May-came with big batch of recruits
"a regular athlete, you know. Then
after he'd drilled awhile I nailed him
for headquarters clerk. I 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 fortnight
since, by Jove, Morton lit out sudden
~ and was gone 4s hours and was
brought back by a patrol, perfectly
straight, and he said he had to 20 on
account of friend who had been taken
very i'll and was stranger here.
squeers let him off with warning, and
inside of three days he begged for a
24-hour pass, and Squeers wouldn't give
1t. 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 to the lodg-
ings of his sick friend, and there they
found him and he laid out two of our
best men for forcing 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
the last of him. Canker sent party in
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
nothing further TO tell as yet"
81 wish had known about him earli-
er-before the Primes came" said Arm
strong thoughtfully, 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-
duh are full of youngsters better edu-
Gated than l am" and Gordon arose,
tangling long, lean leg in the nearest
camp stool, which he promptly kicked
through the doorway into the sailing
fog outside. 1t was barely II o'clock,
but already the raw, wet wind was
whistling in over the barren, sandy
slopes and dunes, and the moisture
dripped in big drops from the sloped
rifles of the men marching sturdily
in from drill.
"Yawnduh comes the Prime carriage
now, by Gawge," continued the adiu-
tant. az he limpel to the entrance.