The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-05-18

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"
II dislike very much to inflict such in
dignity on deserving soldiers, general"
said Canker, stumblingin into a self-made
trap. Until their guilt is established
they are innocent under the law
Apparently you apply different
rule in case of officers" calmly respond
ed the general, wide Mr.. Gray. No fur
.ther words are necessary. Obhge 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 coloners pet had fiowr.
This meantmore trouble for the colonel.
Meantime Stanley Armstrong had
HE'D him to Gen. Draytor's headquar-
tiers. The Office tents were well 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
own private tent, the scene of the mer-
~ festivities the evening of Mrs. Gar
rison's unexpected arrival. There the
general turned quickly on his visitor
with the low:toned questions:
"Well--what have you found?"
|. Enough to give me strong reason
for believing that Morton, so-caI1ed. is
young Prime, and that your nephew is
with him. SIR"
The old soldiers sad eyes lighted with
sudden hope. Yet as he passed his hand
YEARLY over his forehead, the look of
doubt and uncertainty slowly returned
1T accounts for the letters reaching
me. here" he said, ''but-I've known
that boy from babyhood, Armstrong.
and a more intense nature have never
heard of. What he starts in to do he
will carry out if it kills him. And
Drayton looked drearily about the tent
as though in search of something he
didn't quite know what. Then he set
tied back slowly into his favorite old
chair. "Do sit down, Armstrong. I
want to speak with you a. moment"
Yet it was the colonel who was the first
to break the silence.
MAY l. ask. if you have had time to
look at any of the letters, sir?'
ss'Do I look as though I had time to
do anything?" said the chief, dropping
his hands and uplifting lined and bag
gard face, yet SO refined. "Anything
but. work, work, morn, noon and night.
The mass of detail one has to meet here
is something appalling. 1t weighs on
me like a nightmare, Armstrong. No,
Twas worn out the night after the
package reached me. When next I
sought it the letters were gone"
"How long was that, general?"
Again the weary hands, with their
long, tapering fingers, came up to the
old soldiers brow. He pondered mo-
ment. ''It must have been the next
afternoon, I think, but can't be sure -
"And you he'd left Them
'In the inside pocket of that old over
coat of mine, hanging there on the rear
tent pole,". was the answer, as the gen
eral turned half round in his chair and
glanced wistfully, self-reproachfully
thither.
Armstrong arose and, going to the
back of the tent, made close eXamina-
| ton. The canvas home of the chief
was what is known as the hospital tent.
but instead of being pitched with the
ordinary ridge pole and upright, a sub
stantial wooden frame and floor had
first been built and over this the stout
canvas was stretched, stanch and taut
as the head of a drum. 1t was all intact
and sound. Whoever filched that
packet made way with it through the
| front, and that, as Armstrong well
knew, was kept tightly laced, as rule,
from the time the general left it in the
morning until his return. 1t was never
unlaced except in his presence or by
his order. Then the deft hands of the
orderlies on duty would do the trick in
n .twinkling. knowing all this, the
colonel queried further:
| you went in town. as remember,
late that evening and called on the
Primes and other people at the Palace.
I think I saw you in the supper room.
There was much merriment at your
table. Mrs. Garrison seemed to be the
life of the party. Now, you left your
overcoat with the boy at the cloak
| stand?"
"No, Armstrong, that's the odd part
of it. 1 only used the cape that even