Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-03-22
copyright. 1899, by F. 1ennyson NeeIy.l

MO ~ steHl Hdu Deen so strict that no
loss was discoverable, but in certain
others the deficit was great. Com
plants were loud, and the camp COM
mander, stung possibly by comments
from the city, had urged his officers to
unusual effort, and had promised pun
lshment to the extent Of the law on the
guilty parties whenever or wherever
found.
Even as he was exchanging a word
with the brigadier, Armstrong heard
the exclamation: by Jove-they've
caught another!" for with a grim smile
OF qualification the camp commander
had read and turned over to his adj
tant general brief dispatch lust hand
ed him by mounted orderly who had
galloped fast.
One of your irreproachables, Arm
strong said one of the staff. with
something half sneer, half taunt. as he
too read and then passed the paper to
the judge advocate of the division.
Armstrong turned with his usual de-
Liberation. There was ever about him
quiet dignity Of manner that was the
delight OF his friends and despair Of his
foes.
What is his nance" he calmly asked.
That young fellow at Canker's head
quarters you took 50 much interest ii
a day or so ago" was the reply.
That does not give his name-nor
iGAnfif H I'm, - !
Armstrong, coolly.
"Oh, well. | didn't say he belonged TO
your command" was the staff officers
response. You devoted a good deal
of time TO him, that's all Possibly YOU
suspected him."
IF you mean the young soldier in
Gordon's office, -teenth infantry, |
would be slow to suspect him of any
crime, said Armstrong, with some
thing almost like drawl, so slow and
deliberate was his manner, and now the
steel gray eyes and the fair, clear-cut
face were turned straight upon the
swapping black eyes and dark features
Of the other. There was no love lost
there. One could tell without 50 much
as seeing.
You're off, then! That commissary
sergeant gave him away the very even
ing you were looking him over lie got
wind of il and skipped, and to-day came
back in handouts"
"All of which may be as YOU say. and
still not warrant your reference to him
as one of my irreproachables," an
swered Armstrong, and it will take
more than the evidence you refer to
to make me believe him guilty"
by this time much of the crowd and
most of the vehicles had driven away.
The generals still sat in saddles chat
ting earnestly together, while their
staff officers listened in some impa-
thence to the conversation just record
ed. Everybody knew the fault was not
Armstrong;, but it was iarring to have
to sit and hearken to the controversy.
Don't ever twit or try funny business
with Armstrong once said a 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 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
oerk, 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 a
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. lie saw the quivering hands
tearing at their fastenings. lie knew
he had seen that figure before now.
lie 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..