Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1900-06-27
CHAPTER XVIII,-CoNT1S17En

copyright. 1899. by F. Tennyson Neely.l
(, CHAPTER XVIII.-CoNT1NuED
!" Again the blood rose guilty to Billy's
cheek. Not yet had he made his peace
with his conscience and that valued
counselor and invaluable friend from
whose good graces he seemed to have
fallen entirely. Not once had oppor-
tunity been afforded in which to speak
and open his heart to him. AS for writ
ing, that seemed impossible. Billy could
handle almost any implement better
utes left him in which to think he knew
that now at least he must 'face the mu-
SIC" like the man his father would
have him be, even though it took more
nerve than did that perilous dash on the
Tagal works that Sunday morning.
Billy would rather do that twice over
than have to face Armstrong; stern,
searching eyes, and hear again the cold,
almost contemptuous tone in which the
colonel said to him the day the doctor
led his vanquished and hysterical
charmer from the room: Don't try to
thank, man; try to think what you risk
what you deserve to lose-for putting
yourself in the power of such woman"
From that day until this, here on the
banks of the swift-running Pasig, they
had not met at all; and it seemed to
Gray as though Armstrong had aged
year. There was a lump in his throat
as he went straight up to the colonel,
his blue eyes never flinching, though
they seemed to fill, and bravely spoke.
''Col. Armstrong, l have an explanation
that owe to you. Will you give me
few minutes on the gallery?"
'"Certainly, Gray" was the calm re-
ply; and the youngster led the way.
1t was broken story. 1t told of his
desperation and misery through Can
ker's persecution, of his severe illness,
then of the utter weakness and prostra-
ton; then her coming, and with her
comfort, peace, reinsurance, gradual
return to health, and with that, gradual
surrender to his nurses destinations.
Then her demand upon him, her plea,
her final insistence that he should prove
his gratitude and devotion by getting
for her those dangerous letters, and his
weakness in letting her believe he could
and would do so. That was the situa-
ton when they went on to Manila; and
Armstrong knew the rest-knew that
but for his timely aid she might have
triumphed over his repentance; but
Armstrong had come, had vanquished
her and poor Latrobe's last wishes were
observed. The fateful packet contain
ing the three letters that were most i'm
portant was placed in his uncle's trem-
bling hand.
but how was it-what was it that so
utterly crushed her?' asked Billy, when
the colonel had once more extended his
hand.
"The evidences of her own forgery,
her own guilt said Armstrong, grave
ly. Zone was the order she wrote in
excellent imitation of her husbands
hand and signature, authorizing the
changing of guard arrangements on the
wharf the evening Stewart sailed. The
other was note in pencil, also purport-
ing to come from him, directing old
Keeny-you remember the generals
Irish orderly-to search for packet of
letters that had, come by mail, and
must be in the generals tent, either
about his desk or overcoat, and to
bring them at once to room number so
and so at the palace. Of course, neither
the general nor Garrison was there
when he arrived with them; but she
was, and with all her destinations. She
got the Irishman half drunk, and told
him piteous story and made him
swear he'd never tell the general or
anybody. If questioned he could plead
he had gone out, and got a little full
with the boys She gave him money
big bit, too; and he got more than
full. The very vehemence of his de-
malls made me suspect him." said Arm
strong; 'but he was firm when exam
ined. The general never required him
to remain at the tent at night. He
could 60 to town any evening he
wished; and to cover his appearing at
the Palace where the general long had
a room, and where he was we'll known,
he could say he was only in to have a
word with one of the housemaids, and
to give Mrs. Garrison a handkerchief
one of the ladies must have dropped.
But one thing she failed INJECTING the
letter back. Keeny had left it at camp
in the pocket of his. old blouse, and
when he sobered up and all the ques
tions were asked he hung onto it in
case the truth came out, in order that
he might save himself from punish
ment.. But it broke him-he got to
drinking cftener, and the general had
to send him to his regiment; and then
when he heard of Canker's charge
against you, I saw the way to wiring
the truth out of him. He worshiped
your father, as did every Irish dragon
that ever rode under him; and told
him you were to be brought to trial
for the crime. Then he broke down
and gave the truth-and her penciled
order-to me-"
+, In the silence that followed the SOL
der of 40 and the lad of only 81 sat
looking gravely into each others face,
1t was Armstrong who spoke again:
Gray, it was manly in you to tell
me your story and your trouble. 1
could help you here; but-who can help
you when you have to tell it-next
5time?'' &: 80 49,. II.
a Next time?-father, do you mean? r.
queried Gray, a puzzled look in his blue
eyes. Il hadn't thought, do you know,
to worry dear old dad-unless he