Mower County transcript., 1900-05-09

y
to be found in California, had gone to
Santa Anita visiting. their kindred, the
Lawrences; and Armstrong, bucklinR
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 eone
to take a look at his new responsibil-
tiles in Hawaii; little Mrs. Garrison
sti1l held court, though with dimin-
ished retinue, at the Presidio, 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 frst
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
inRs Of 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. Fl" ..:-~"7
1T is good of You to come 50 prompt
IT," said he. "I'm In q stew, to tell the
truth, and 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. " 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. 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 that were stolen from Gen.
Dayton's tent?"
II 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. l may have to remain here
several days. Canker, with the
|-teenth, 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 own admission learned
that he accused Gray of having knowl-
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 an 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 no meddling
outsiders as he said, could buy, of
witnesses. 1t was plain that he con
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