Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-04-12
CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER V.
There had been morning of jubilee
an the camp of the Fifth Separate bri-
gade, and a row in the tents of the reg
ulars. Up to within fortnight such
q state of affairs would have been con-
sidered abnormal, for the papers would
have it that the former were on the
verge of dissolution through plague,
pestilence and famine due to the neg
tect of officials vaguely referred to as
"the military authorities" or 1.-The
staff" while up to the coming of Can
ter to command sweet accord had
Ceigned in the regular brigade, and the
volunteers looked on with envy. But
now a great martial magnate had
praised the stalwart citizen soldiery
whom he had passed in review early in
the day, and set them to shouting by
the announcement that, as reward for
Eheir hard work and assiduoug drill,
they should have their hearts desire
and be shipped across the seas to far
Manila. 1t had all been settled before
hand at headquarters. The chief" had
known for four days that that partic-
zIiar command would be selected for
the next expedition, but it ticliled "the
boys" to have it put that way, and the
nome papers would make so much of
It. So there was singing and triumph
and rejoicing all along the eastern
verge of a rocky, roughly paved cross
street, and rank blasphemy across the
way. To the scandal and sorrow of the
-teenth infantry some of the recent
,.obberies had been traced to their very
doors. A commissary sergeant had
weakened" a cartman had squealed,
and one of the most popular and at
Cractive young soldiers in the whole
command was now a prisoner in the
,ruardhouse charged with criminal
knowledge of the whole affair, and of
!oeing a large recipient of the ill-gotten
money-Morton, of the adjutant's Of
flee, private in company X.
What made it worse was the allega-
tion that several others, non-commis-
stoned officers and especial duty men, y
were mixed up in the matter, and Can
ker had rasped the whole commissioned
force present for duty in his lecture
upon the subject and had almost init
mated that officers were conniving at
the concealment of the guilt of their
sergeants rather than have it leak out
that the felony was committed in
company of their commanding.
He and Gordon had had what was
described as a ''red-hot" row, all be-
cause Gordon fatty declared that while
something was queer about the case OF
the young clerk, he'd bet his bottom
dollar he wasn't a thief. Canker said
ouch language was reflection on him
self, as he had personally investigated
the case. was convinced Morton's guilt
could be established, and had so report
ed to the brigade commander in recon-
mending trial by general court-martial
Indeed he had made out case against
the lad even before be was arrested and
returned to camp. Gordon asked II he
had seen the boy and heard his story
Canker reddencd and said he hadn't
and he didn't mean to and didn't have
to. Gordon said he had-he had talked
with the lad fully and freely on his
being brought to camp toward nine
O'Clock and was greatly impressed with
his story-as would anyone else be
who heard it. Canl1er REDEEMED still
more and said he wouldn't allow of
ficers to interview prisoners without
his authority. 'I'll prefer charges
against the next that does it, said he
And not three hours later, Mr.. Billy
Gray, sprawling on his camp cot, striv'
ing to forget the sorrow of the earlier
morning, and to memorize page o1
paragraphs of army regulations, was
suddenly accosted by an orderly who
stood at the front of the tent, scratch
Ing at the tent fap-the camp substi
tute for ring at the bell.
"A note for the lieutenant" said he
darting in and then darting out, pos
sibly fearful of question. 1t was &
queer note:
'T am a total stranger to you but 7 wore
In brighter days the badge of the same so
ciety that was yours at the university
Three of the fraternity are in my com
pany-one Is on guard and he urged me L
write at once to you. They know me to be
brother Delt, even though l dare not tel
my real name. What have to say is tina
the charge against me is utterly false, al
I can convince you, but could not con
vince court. ! am confined at the mo
znent of al, others in my life when it is mos
Vftzny important that l should be free
Grant me ten minutes interview this aft
ernoon and if l do not prove myself guilt
less / will ask no favor-but whenI do con
vince you, do as you would be done by.
"Yours in h Z X,
GEORGE MORTON"