The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-03-23

- Mt LUlitl out o. HIS EloA DAdhhNt-
Here's a state of things. Listen to
this. captain" he called 10 his company
commander in the adjoining tent.
Here's Morton, back from IS hours
absence without leave, brought back
by armed guard after sharp resist
ance. charged with Lord knows what
ali, wants 10 tell me his story and prove
his innocence"
''You let linn alone" growled his
senior. Remember what Canker said,
or you'll go in arrest. What call has
Morton on you. I'd like to know?''
The lad flushed. Fraternity was
very sacred thing in the 4 = X 1t
was the most exclusive crowd at the
varsity" Its membership was pledged
10 one another by unusual ties. 1t was
the hardest society for a fellow 10 get
into IN any one of the seven colleges
whereat it flourished. and its mystic
bonds were not shaken off with the
silken gown and mortar board of
undergraduate days, but followed its
membership through many a maturer
year. 1t was a society most college men
might ask 10 join in vain. Money, So
cial station. influence were powerless.
Not until a student had been under OBJ
servation two whole years and was
thoroughly known could he hope for
bid 10 become a Delta Sig" Not
until another six months of probation
could he sport its colors, and not until
he formally withdrew from its fold,
in post graduation years, could he con-
slider himself absolved from its mild
obligations. But the boast of the Del
IA Sig" had ever been that no one of
its membership had ever turned a deaf
ear to a fellow in iced of aid. Who of
its originators ever dreamed of such a
thing as its drifting into and becoming
a factor in the affairs of the regular
army?
No wonder Gray stood for a moment,
the paper still in his hands, irresolute,
even disturbed. Not TO answer the APP
peal meant 10 run counter to all the ten
cts of his fraternity. To answer might
mean arrest and court-martial for de-
liberate disobedience of orders. Canker
has 10 more mercy than an Indian. IT
was barely IS hours since he had been
publicly warned by an experienced old
captain that he would find no guard
ian angel in Squeers. It would Sc
riously mar his prospects to start now
with Squeers down on him." and as
that lynx-eyed commander was ever on
watch for infractions of orders, Billy
hot h. Gould ~ hone ~
and talk with the prisoner and Canker
not hear of il. To ask permission OF
Canker would only make matters worse
he was sure TO refuse and then re-
emphasize his orders and redouble his
vigilance. To ask the consent of the
officer of the day or the cOnnivance of
the officer of the guard was 10 invite
them 10 court arrest and trial on their
own account. He couldn't do that even
10 Oblige a brother Delt. If only Ned
Craven were officer of the guard some
thing might be done-he was a college
man, too, and though not a "Delt," but
rather of 4 rival set, he would under
stand" and possibly help. Guard mount
was held toward dusk, and that was
four hours away, at least. The prison
er's note and tone were urgent. An idea
occurred TO Billy: What if he could
get Gordon 10 let him go on" this
/ very evening? 1t wasn't his tour. He
had marched or only two days be-
/ fore. as he well remembered, for Canker
had roughed" him up and down about
/ that little error in copying the list of
prisoners from the report of the pre-
yious day. Moreover. he had counted
/ on going 10 town right after retreat"
dining at the Palace, an extravaganza
not 10 be thought of II other times,
so as TO be on hand when the Primes
and Amy Lawrence came down to din
ner. He had planned il all-even 10 the
amount of surprise he was to exhibit
when he should discover about when
/ he had finished his own dinner that
they were just beginning theirs. and
I the extent and degree of pleasurable
/ emotion he might venture Oh showing
/ as he fastened over TO greet them.
and accepted their offer to be seated
with them, even if he had been so IN
| kind as 10 dine beforehand, instead of
/ VIII lucIu. ne ndu StL MS nedTI on
having a chat with Miss Lawrence as
! part recompense for all he had lost
that morning, and all this he was think
Of while still fumbling over that dis
turbing note. Time was getting short,
too; there was no telling how much
/ longer they might stay. Mr.. Prime
had brought his only daughter all that
long journey across the continent on
the assurance that the boy he loved.
with whom he had quarreled, and
whom, in his anger, he had sorely re-
buked, had enlisted there in San Fran
cisco and was serving in a regiment at
the great camp west Of the city. He
had come full Of hope and confidence;
nc had found the young soldier de-
se-ibed, and, in his bitter disappoint-
2ent. he declared there was no re-
/ semb-a2ce 10 justify the report sent him
/ by the boys oUn uncle, who vowed he
lid net him with comrades on the