Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-05-24

his head back and laughed joyously
over the retrospect. Yes, there's that
curly y-headed pate of Billy's at the tent
door now. Reckon he was eXpectin'
'em. There they are, ole Prime, too.
Don't be in Il hurry. colonel"
They had known each other years,
these two, and it had been "Arm-
strong" and Gordon" when they adj
dressed each other, or ''oie man" when
Gordon lapsed into the semi-atfcction-
ate. TO the adjutant's southern sense
of military propriety ''ole man" was
still possible. ''Armstrong" would be
a soldierly solecism.
II am TO see the general before noon,"
said Armstrong, gravely, ''and it's
time | started. If you should hear of
your runaway let me know. If you
shouldn't. keep our views to yourself.
There's no use in rousing false hopes
With that Armstrong turned up the
collar of his overcoat and lunged out
into the mist.
Gordon watched him as he strobe
away. the orderly following at the con-
ventional distance. The shortest way
to general headquarters was up the
row of company officers tents in front
of the still incarcerated Billy, the
longest was round back of the mess
tent and kitchen. Armstrong took
the latter.
That escape of prisoners was still the
talk of camp. Men had come by bat
talions to see the tunnel, observing
which Cankcr promptly ordered it
closed up. Opinion was universal that
Canker should have released the officers
and men he had placed under arrest at
once, but he didn't. In his bottled
wrath he hung on to them until the
brigade commander took u hand and or
dered it. Canker grumblingly obeyed
so far as the sergeant and sentries were
concerned, but entered stout protest as
to Gray.
81 still hold that officer as having
knowledge of the scheme and aiding
and abetting. l can prove that he tele
phoned for that carriage" he said.
"At least there's nothing to warrant
the posting of that sentry at Mr.. Gray's
tent, Col. Canker," said the brigadier,
with some asperity. ''Order him off at
the man with the starred shoulders
'held over" him with the silver leaves.
The latter could only obey-and OBJ
jurgate.
But Canker's knuckles came in for an
other rasping within the hour. The
brigadier being done with him, the di-
vision commanders compliments came
over per orderly, and would the colonel
please step to the generals tent.
Canker was Tuning to get to town. lie
was possessed with insane desire TO
follow up that boarding house ciew.
He believed the landlady could be bull
lied into telling where her bOarder was
taken, and what manner of man (or
woman) he was. But down he had to
go, three blocks of camp, to where the
tents of division headquarters were
pitched, and there sat the veteran COM
mander, suave and placid as ever.
"Ah, colonel, touching that matter
of the robbery of your commissary
stores. Suspicion points very strongly
to your Sergt. Foley. Do you think it
wise to have no sentry over him?"
"Why-general," said Canker, I've
known that man IS years-in fact, got
him ordered to duty here" and the
colonel bristIed.
''Well-pardOn me, colonel, but you
heard the evidence against him last
night, or at least heard of it. Don't yQu
consider that conclusive?"
Canker cleared his throat and con-
sidered as suggested.
81 heard the allegation sir, but-he
made so clear an explanation TO me, at
least, and besides, general"-a bright
idea occurring to him-''you know that
as commissary sergeant he is not under
my command"
Tut, tut, colonel interrupted the
general, waxing impatient. THE
storehouse adjoins your camp. Your
sentries guard it. Capt. Hanford, the
commissary, says he called on you last
night to notify you that he had placed
the sergeant under arrest, but consid-
cred the case so grave that he asked
that sentry be placed over him, and it
wasn't done"
Il dislike very much to inflict such in
dignity on deserving soldiers, general"
| said Canker, stumbling into a self-made
trap. Until their guilt is established
| they are innocent under the law"
apparently YOU apply a different
rule in case of officers" calmly respond
ed the general, wide Mr.. Gray. No fur
| ther words are necessary. Oblige me by
having that sentry posted at once.
Good morning, sir"
But to Canker's dismay the officer of
the guard made prompt report. The
| sentry was sent, but the sergeant's tent
was empty. The colone's pet had flown.
| This meant more trouble for the colonel
Meantime Stanley Armstrong had
hied him to Gen. Drayton's headquar-
| ters. The Office tents were we'll filled
| with clerks, orderlies, aides and other
officers who had come in on business
but the meeting was by appointment,
and after brief delay the camp COM
mander excused himself to those pres
ent and ushered Armstrong into his
| H. L.