The Iola register., 1900-03-23

once, but he didn't. In his bottled
wrath he hung on to them until the
brigade commander took a hand and or
dered it. Canker grumblngly cbeycd
so far as the sergeant and sentries were
concerned, but entered stout protest as
to Gray.
81 still hold that officer as having
knowledge of the scheme and aiding
and abetting. | can prove that he tele-
phoned for that carriage" he said.
AT least there's nothing to warrant
the posting of that sentry at Mr.. Gray's
tent, Col. Canker," said the brigadier,
with some asperity. "Order him Oft at
once. That's all for to-day, sir, and
the man with the starred shoulders
"held over" him with the silver leaves.
The latter could only obey-and OBJ
iurgate.
But Canker's knuckles came in for an
other rasping within the hour The
brigadier being done with him, the di-
vision commanders compliments came
over per orderly, and would the colonel
please step to the generals tent.
Canker was fuming to get to town. lie
was possessed with insane desire to
follow up that boarding house clew.
He believed the landlady could be bull
lied into telling where her boarder was
taken, and what manner of man Cor
woman) he was. But down he had to
20, three blocks of camp, to where the
tents of division headquarters were
pitched, and there sat the veteran com
mander, suave and placid as ever.
"Ah, colonel, touching that matter
Of the robbery of your commissary
stores. Suspicion points very strongly
to your Sergt. Foley. DO you think it
wise to have no sentry over himW
"Why-general," said Canker, "I've
known that man Is years-in fact, got
him ordered to duty here" and the
colonel bristled.
"Well-pardon me, colonel, but you
heard the evidence against him last
night, or at least heard it. Don't you
consider that conclusive?'
Canker cleared his throat and con-
sidered as suggested.
81 heard the allegation sir, but-he
made so clear an explanation TO me, at
least, and besides, general"-a bright
idea occurring TO him-"you know that
as commissary sergeant he is not under
my command"
"Tut, tut, colonel" interrupted the
general, waxing impatient. "The
storehouse adjoins your camp. Your
sentries guard it, Capt. Hanford, the
commissary, says he called on you last
night 10 notify you that he had placed
the sergeant under arrest, but consid-
cred the case so grave that he asked
that sentry be placed over him, and it
wasn't done"
81 dislike very much to inflict such in
dignity on deserving soldiers, general,
said Canker, stumbling into self-made
trap. Until their guilt is established
they are innocent under the law"
apparently you apply a different
rule in case Of officers,' calmly respond.
ed the general, wide Mr.. Gray. No fur
ther words are necessary Oblige me by
having that sentry posted at once
Good morning, sir"
But TO Canker's dismay the officer Of
the guard made prompt report. The
sentry was sent, but the sergeant's tent
was empty. The colonel's pet had flown
| This meant more trouble for the colonel
Meantime Stanley Armstrong had
hied him TO Gen. Draytons headquar
ters. The Office tents were well filled
with clerks, orderlies, aides and other
| officers who had come in on business
but the meeting was by appointment
and after brief delay the camp com
mander excused himself TO those pres
ent and ushered Armstrong into hi!
own private tent, the scene of the mer
ry festivities the evening of Mrs. Gar
rison's unexpected arrival. There tn,
general turned quickly on his visitor
with the low-toned question:
"Well-what have you found?"
Enough to give me strong reasoI
for believing that Morton, so-called, il
young Prime, and that your nephew il
with him, sir"
The old soldiers sad eyes lighted will
sudden hope. Yet as he passed his hanC
wearily over his forehead, the look o
doubt and uncertainty slowly returned
ut accounts for the letters reaching
me here" he said, "but-I've know
that boy from babyhood, Armstrong
and more intense nature have neve
heard Of What he starts in to do h
will carry out If it kills him." An,
Drayton looked drearly about the ten
as though in search of something h
didn't quite know what. Then he set
tied back slowly into his favorite oil
chair. "Do sit down, Armstrong.
want to speak with you a moment.
Yet it was the colonel who was the frs
to break the silence.
'May l ask if you have had time t
look at any of the letters, sir?"
"Do | look as though l had time t
do anything?" said the chief, dropping
his hands and uplifting lined and hag
gard face, yet so refined. "Anythin
but work, work, morn, noon and night
The mass of detail one has to meet her
| i. 1. Ia s..l,.