The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-03-30


the reviewing point and gentlemen with
two stars on each shoulder extended
their congratulations to the reviewed
commander with one, Armstrong also
made his way among the mounted Off
GERS in his calm, deliberate fashion,
needless of threatening heels and
crowding forehands, until he, too, could
say his word of cordial greeting. He
had to wait a few minutes, for the gen.
eral officers were grouped and talking
earnestly. He heard few words and
knew well enough what was meant
that quantities of stores intended for
by the Red Cross society, had been
stolen from time to time and spirited
off in the dead of night, anu doubtless
sold in town for the benefit of a pack
of unknown scoundrels enlisted for no
better purpose. In his own regiment
his system had been, so strict that no
loss was discoverable, but in certain
others the deficit was great. Com
plants We're loud, and the camp COM
'mander, stung possibly by comments
from the city, had urged his officers to
ishment to the extent of the law on the
guilty parties whenever or wherever
found.
Even as he was exchanging word
with the brigadier, Armstrong heard
the exclamation: "By Jove-they've
caught another!" for with a grim smile
of qualification the camp commander
had read and turned over to his adju-
tant general brief dispatch just hand
ed him by a mounted orderly who had
galloped fast.
Zone of your irreproachables, Arm
strong" said. one of the staff, with
something half sheer, half taunt, as he
too read and then passed the paper to
the judge advocate of the division.
Armstrong turned with his usual de-
liberation. There was ever about him
a. quiet dignity of manner that was the
delight of his friends and despair of his
foes.
what is his name?" he calmly asked.
THAT young fellow at Canker's head
quarters you took so much interest in
i day or so ago." was the reply.
THAT does not give his name-nor
identify him as one of my men, said
Armstrong, coolly.
'''Oh, well, I didn't say he belonged to
your command" was the staff officers
response. You devoted good deal
of time to him, that's all. Possibly you
suspected him.
. IF you mean the young soldier in
Gordon's Office, tenth infantry, 1
would be slow to suspect him of any
crime" said Armstrong, with. some
thing almost like a drawl, SO slow and
deliberate was his manner, and now the
steel gray eyes and the fair, clear-cut
face were turned straight upon the
swapping black eyes and dark features
of the other. There was no love lost
there. One could tell without so much
as seeing.
you're off, then! That commissary
sergeant gave him away the very even
ing you were looking. him .over-he got
wind of it and skipped, and to-day came
back in handcuffs.'
''All of which may be as you say, and
still not warrant your reference to him
as one of my irreproachables," an
swered Armstrong, land it will take
more than the evidence you refer to
to make me believe him guilty"
BY this time much of the crowd and
most of the vehicles had driven away.
The generals still sat in saddles chat
ting earnestly together, while their
staff officers listened IN some impa.
thence to the conversation just record
ed, Everybody knew the fault was not
Armstrong;, but 1t was jarriihg to have
to sit and 'henrken to the controversy.
Don't ever twit or try funny business
with Armstrong" once said regi-
mental sage. He had no sense of hui
mor-of that kind. Those who best
knew him knew that Armstrong never
tolerated unjust accusations, great or
small. In his desire to say an irritat-
ing thing to a man he both envied and
respected, the staff officer had not con-
fined himself to the facts, and it proved
a boomerang. It was true that two
days before, calling at Gordon's official
tent while several other officers were
present ut an investigation then going
on, Armstrong was seen to be greatly
interested in the appearance end testi-
mony of Gordon's young. dark-eyed
clerk, and after the conference asked
many questions about and finally asked
to speak with him. Then young Nor
ton was again missing when he was
wanted, and the next heard Of him he
was either absent without leave-Or