The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-06-01

suppose you ever hear about GER
tain letters that were stolen from Gen.
Dayton's tent?"
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 letter. Begin
there at Dater!'"
| 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
l-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 Eighty 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 he tried there
| by court-martial, where mo meddling
| outsiders as he said. could buy off
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 APP
pealed to me in behalf of Gray. Said
| that if compelled to continue 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, ard in
| another day was raving. That settled
| it,, 1 ordered him taken off and placed
| in hospital here, and Canller had to go
| without him. But L wish you would
see Armstrong and tell him about Gray,
so that l may know the whole situation
as soon as 1 return. Canker evidently
| intended not to let US know his proofs.
He probably believes that he viii find
| more credulous and complaisant lis
tener in Drayton; but his ipsinuations
| 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, that 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
| most defiant mood, and had to give him
a dressing down. You may say to Arm
strong for me that l 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.
"Aud that brings ne to another mat
ter. 1 declined positively to allow two
or three ladies, wives Of officers, to go
on to Manila with Canker's command;
and they said that as l had promised
Mrs. Garrison a passage l had no right
to refuse them. Pressed for their
| authority, two very estiElabie women
| told me that at the Preside two days
| before we sailed, Mrs. Garrison openly
boosted CT having ny promise to send
her on the very next steamer. Now,
who is really the fabricator? ! told
her positively that, with my consent,
she should not go; and she laughed de-
| lightedly, and said she only asked as.
Il matter Of fCrfn-the whole thing had
| already been settled. Just see to it
| that if any more transports start be-
| fore my return no woman is permitted
aboard except, of course, authorized
nurses. Gray is very sick boy to-
night, but you might wire his father,
saying nothing of the arrest. that the
doctors are confident Of his recovery in
course of time
Armstrong read these pages twice
| over before he looked up.
"How did this letter come ?" he asked.
"By the Salvador YESTERDAY"