Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-07

and said she only asked as
a matter of form-the whole thing had
already been settled. Just see to it |
that if any more transports start be-
fore my return no woman is permitted
aboard except, of course, authorized
nurses. Gray is a very sick boy to-
night, but you might wire his father.
saying nothing of the arrest, that the
doctors are confident of his recovery in
course of time
Armstrong read these pages twice
over before he looked up.
"1low did this letter Gomez" he asked.
by the Salvador yesterday"
And the next mail for Honolulu"
queried Armstrong, rising from his
chair and handing back the folded let
ter.
"The next mail closed an hour ago.
man. The China sails at two. No other
boat for week. Where are you going
now?"
''To camp for ten minutes, then to
tuc IeSlQlO.
"Oh, come over to the club and have
bite first?" said the adjutant general,
rising and wriggling out of his uniform
coat as he did so. ~ won't keep YOU
half an hour"
THAT half hour may prove precious"
answered Armstrong, already at the
door. "Many thanks, all the same"
ali Io1 h,t
to the general as to Gray and those let
ters?' asked the staff officer, intent
upon the subject uppermost in his mind
vi the moment.
You can't say anything that will
reach him before he returns. You have
just told me no other boat weuld start
for week. By that time he'll be COM
let himself out and strobe to the ele-
vator, leaving his friend to cogitate
On the question over his luncheon. 1t
was decidedly that officers opinion that
Armstrong knew much more than he
would tell.
But Armstrong knew much less than
he himself believed. fastening back
to camp and ordering his horse, he was
soon speeding up the slope to the wind
swept heights overlooking the Golden
| Gate. The morning had opened fine
as silk, but by noon the sky was hid
den in clouds and the breath of the sea
blew in salt and strong. The white
caps were leaping on the crest of the
surges driving in through the straits
and the surf bursting high on the
Jagged rocks at the base of the cliffs. A
little coast steamer from Santa Bar
bara way came pitching and plunginl
in from sea, and one or two venture
some craft, heeling far to leeward
tore through the pillows and tossed
far astern frothing wake. Witt
names and tails streaming in the stit
gale, the troop horses of the Fourtl
cavalry were cropping at the scant.
heritage down the northward slope
; and the herd guard nearest the roa
lost his grip on his drab campaign ha
as he essayed a salute and galloped O:
on a stern chase down the long ravin
: to the east, as the colonel trotted brisl
, ~ by. One keen glance over the ba
beyond rocky Alcatraz had told hill
the China was not yet away from he
pier. He might have to send dispatc
by that swift steamer, and even the
e it would be six days getting to Hawai-
e If the department commander Shout
e by that time be on his homeward jou
IS ney. the information would still be {
I, interest to the general commanding IL
l. new military district at "the Gro!
l. Roads of the Pacific" and of vast ben
Is fit, possibly, 10 his late cient, Mr.. Ora
IS He wondered what Canker's grount
is could be for saddling SO foul a susr
IS con on the boys good name. He wo
e. dered how long that poor lad wou
d have to struggle with this attack
l. fever and remain, perhaps happily, u,
It conscious of this latest indignity. +
S wondered if Amy Lawrence yet kne
Is of that serious seizure, and, if she di
n what would be her sensations. Dow
n the winding, sloping road he urged b
n way, Glencoe, his pet charger, marvt
e. ing at the unusual gait. The cape
ST the sentry's overcoat whirled over Il
d sentrys head and swished his cap {
re as he presented arms to the tall soldi
re squirting past the guardhouse. II EN-
g no one who has to put 10 sea this day
fl said Armstrong to himself, as he turn
n to the right and refined up in front
II little brown cottage peeping out fro
IS mass of vines and roses, shiveril
p. in the wet wind. Half dozen strid
id took him across the narrow walk a
up the wooden steps. With sharp el
phasis he changed the little gong b
screwed to the back of the door a
waited impatient of the servants CO..
ing. There was no answer. He ra,
again and still again, and no one can
TO RE CONTINUED.