Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-03-31
absorbed was he In drinking In her gen.

filled with sweetness and sunshine,
ought to have been blessing to him
all day long, but Canker caught sight
OF the damsels as they walked away
on the arms of the attendant cavaliers
Miss Lawrence more than once smiling
back at the incarcerated Billy-and
Canker demanded to be informed who
they were and where they had been, and
Gordon answered thty were Miss Law
renee, OF Santa Anita, and Miss Prime.
Of New Yorli-and he ''reckoned" they
must have been in to condole with Mr..
Gray-Whercat Canker snarled that
people ought to know better than TO
visit officers in arrestit was tanta-
mount to disrespect to the commander.
1t was marvellous how many things in
Canker's eyes were disrespectful.
So he heard these stories with eager
ears and sent for Gray, and thought to
bully him into an admission or confess
sion, but Gordon's words had "stif-
fened" the little fellow to the extent
of Drawing Canker's anger and telling
him lie had said all he proposed to say
when the colonel called him up the
previous day. The result Of that was
his being placed in close arrest and in
formed that he should be tried by gen.
eral court-martal at once. So lie had
taken counsel, as was his right, and
counsel" forbade his committing him
self il any way.
"Then you refuse to divulge the con-
tents of that note and to say why you
were so eager to go on guard out Of
your turn?" said Cnnker, oracularly.
That in itself is sufficient to convince
any fairminded court of your guilta
sir" Whereat Gordon winlled at Billy
and put his tongue in his check and
Billy stood mute until ordered, with
much asperity, 10 go back to his tent.
But there were other things that
might well go toward convincing u
court of the guilt of Lieut.. Gray, and
poor Billy contemplated them with
sinking heart. Taking prompt adj
vantage of his position as officer OF tbs
guard, he had caused the young pris-
ouer to be brought outside the guard
house, and as a heavy, dripping fog had
come on the wings of the night>wind
sailing in from the sea, he had led The
way 70 the sheltered side, which hap
pened to be the darkest one, of the rude
little building, and had there hidden
him tell his story. But Morton glanced
1neasily at Il sentry who followed closs
And WAS lowering srspiciously about
Il cannot talk ubout--the aifair-with
that fellow spying" he said with an
eager plea in his tone and a sign of the
hand that Gray we'll knew and quckl.-
recognized. Keep around in front.
III be responsible for this prisoner
were his orders, and, almost reluctant
IL, The man left. He was Il veteran sol
der. and his manner impressed the
lieutenant with a vague sense o.
trouble Twice the sentry glanced
back and hesitated, as though somH
thing were on his mind that he must
tell, but finally he disappeared and KEEP
out of the way during the brief inter-
view that Immediately followed. The
prisoner eagerly, eXcitedly began his
explanation swiftly banishing any lin
gering doubts Gray might have enter
tanned rs TO his innocence. But he had
come from stove-heated guard room
into the cold sea WING OF he. ?1f' tGuu
sent chill to the marrow. lie was far
TOO lightly clad for that climate, and
presently he began 10 SILVER.
"You are cold" said Gray, pityingly.
"llayc you-no overcoat?"
CTS at my tent never expected t .
spend this night here. I've been be-
fore The summary court, fined for alb
sencc, and thought that would end it,
but instead of that I'm prisoner and
the man who should be here is stalking
about camp, planning more robberles.
Yet Id rather associate with the very
worst of deserters or dead beats in
side there" and the dark eyes glanced
almost in horror-the slender figure
shook with unmingled repulslon and
chill-"than with that smooth-tongued
sneak and liar. There's no crime too
mean for him to commit. Mr.. Gray,
and the men are beginning to know it,
though the colonel won't. For Gods
sake get me out OF this before morn
ing" And again the 1iolent tremor
slolS the lad from head 70 foot
Here get inside." said Gray, I'm
pulsivcly. "I'll see the adtutant at once
md return to you In few minutes. II
you have to remain until the matter ca,i
be investigated by the general it might
be-"
at would be-" vehemently inter-
rupted Morton, then breaking off short
as though at loss for descriptiveness Of
strength. He seemed to swell
with passion as he clinched his fists and
fairly stood upon his toes an instant, his
strong white teeth grinding together.
ut would be-simply HE'LL" he burst in
again, hoarse and quivering: at would
ruin everything! Gait the gen
eral give the order tonight" he
asked with intense eagerness, while
the young officer, taking him by the
arm, had led him again to the light of
the guardhouse lamps at the front. The
and a group Of soldiers
Strengthened up and faced them, listen
Ing curiously.
at may be even impossible to see the
general answered Gray, doubtfully,
Take Morton into the guardroom till
| get back, sergeant, and let him warm
himself thoroughly. Don't put him
With the prisoners till RETURN and so
saying he fastened away. Gordon, his
friend and adviser, had left camp and |
gone visiting over in the other divi.
sion. The lights at general headquar-