The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-05-10

neIghborhood. San Franciscans, who
had wept copiously when others sailed
away, would have seen these patriots
sent into exile without shedding a tear.
Every man of this command will
yet be needed and yet be sent" said
Armstrong. So, too, did the veteran
division commander, and the brigade
took heart accordingly. The last of the
regulars, with the recruit detacllments
for regiments already in the Philip
pines, had been shipped to Honolulu,
there to await orders, and September
seemed destined to go by without a
change for the better in the prospects
of the men still left in camp about the
reservation. The Primes, convinced at
last that the boy they sought was not
to be found in California, had gone to
Santa Anita visiting their kindred, the
Lawrences; and Armstrong, buckling
down to hard and constant work, was
striving to persuade himself that he
did not care that the mornings no long
er brought with them the carriage and
the fair face of that gentle girl; the de-
partment commander himself had gone
to take a look at his new responsible
tiles in Hawaii; little Mrs. Garrison
still held court, though with dimin-
ished r%etinue, at the Preside, when one
day, just as October was ushered in,
there came a message from the adju-
tant general in town. Would Arm
strong drop in at the office at the first
opportunity? A matter of some i'm
portance had come up in the generals
first letter from Honolulu, one on
which Armstrong; opinion was de-
sired; and the colonel, hoping for It'd
ings of a chance to move even that far
to the front, made immediate oppor-
tunity and took the first car for the
Phelan building. The adjutant gener-
al looked up from a Uttered desk as
Armstrong entered.
"It is good of you to come so prompt
w." said he. SIN in a stew, to tell the
truth, and l want your advice" Then
he tapped his bell. Excuse me to any
one who comes for the next ten min
utes," said he to the attendant who
entered. II have business with Col.
Armstrong"
No soner did the orderly vanish than
the man of the desk whirled full on
the man of the saddle. ARMSTRONG"
said he, t'you defended Gray and proved
him innocent. What else has Canker
against him?"
Nothing that I know of-why"
because he's got him in arrest again
at Honolulu, and the chief is worked
up over something. Look here-do you
suppose-did you ever hear about Ger
tain letters hat were stolen from Gen.
Dayton's tent?" F..
81 heard-yes. Why?" And the look
of disappointment which had appeared
in the grave face of the colonel gave
way to one of alert interest.
"Just read that" said the staff Of
fetal, holding forth a letter. begin
there at 'Later!'"
And Armstrong read, his forehead
slowly growing into something very
like a frown.
Later. I may have to remain here
several days. Canker, with the
tenth, went ahead before news Of the
protocol could stop him; but he leaves
here a number of sick-Lieut. Gray,
charged with using threatening and in
subordinate language to his command
ing officer, among them; and Gray is
down with brain fever. The doctors
say he is too i'll to be disturbed, and his
side of the story is hard to get at, as
the boy is too fighty to talk sense
From Canker's w admission l learned
that ha oop11coI Erop Df boy-;r n ~ owl
edge of the whereabouts of that packet
of letters stolen from Gen. Drayton's
tent, and the youngsters reply was
furious. Canker had to place him in
arrest and prefer charges. When
asked if he were sure of his ground in
making so serious ar accusation, he de-
clared he had proof positive, at least
he would have the instant they reached
Manila, and his intention was to take
the boy along with him to be tried there
by court-martial, where mo meddling
outsiders as he said, could buy off
witnesses. 1t was plain that he o n
sidered himself out of my jurisdiction,
and that he resented my staff officers
questions. But DR.. Morrow had ap-
pealed to me in behalf of Gray. Said
that if compelled to continue a pris-
oner aboard that transport under Can
ker's tyrannical rule Gray might be
goaded into insanity. He was in a
condition bordering on brain fever
when Morrow came to see me, and in
another day was raving. That settled
it. I ordered him taken off and placed
in hospital here, and Canker had to go
without him. But 1 wish you would
see Armstrong and tell him about Gray,
so that I may know the whole situation
as soon as I return. Canker evidently
intended not to let US know his proofs.
He probably believes that he will find
a more credulous and complaisant lis
tener in Drayton; but his insinuations
pointed to Gray as at least an abettor
in the theft, and he went SO far as to
say that if Armstrong could be brought
before the court some very interesting
testimony could be dragged from him,
and, finally, hat both Armstrong and
Mrs.-well, the wife of a staff officer
who is already well on the way to Ma
nila-might be compelled to testify. l
cannot bring myself to repeat more
that he said; but he was in ugly and al
mostdefantmood, and l had to give him
a dressing down. You may say to Arm
strong for me that 1 do not believe one
word of Canker's calumny at his ex-
pense or that of the lady in the case.
But he declared his intention of lay
ing the whole matter before Gen.
Drayton Immediately on his arrival,
and it is best that Armstrong should
be prepared. AS for the lady, Canker
said she and Armstrong were very close
friends when they were at Fort Stan
hope ten years ago, though they no
longer meet as such.