Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-05-24
CHAPTER XI.-CoNTINUED.

CHAPTER Al.-CONTINUED.
Late that afternoon, just after the
various trunks and boxes of the Frosts
that were to go by the transport were
packed and ready, and Mrs. Frost, look
ing stronger at last, though still frag-
lie, almost ethereal, was returning from
drive with one of her friends, the at
tention of the two ladies was drawn to
crowd gathering rapidly on the side
walk not far from the Baldwin hotel.
There was no shouting, no commotion,
nothing but the idle curiosity of men
and boys, for a young soldier, hand
some, slender, dark-eyed, darkroom
,1fexioned fellow of 81 or %, had been
arrested by patrol and there they
stood, the sergeant and his two sol
diers fully armed and equipped the
hapless captive with his arms half filled
with bundles, and over the heads of
she little throng the ladies could see
that he was pleading earnestly with
mis- captors, and that the sergeant,
though looking sympathetic and far
from unliind, was shaking his head.
Mrs. Frost, listless and little fatigued,
had witnessed too many such scenes in
former days of garrison life to take any
Srtercst in the proceeding. How
stupid these people are!" she irritably
exclaimed; running like mad and
blockading the streets to see a soldier
arrested for absence from camp with
out pass. Shan't we drive en?'
"Oh-just one moment, please, Mrs.
Frost He has such nice face-a gem
9leman's face. and he seems so troubled.
I3o look at it,"
Languidly and with something very
like q pout, Mrs. Frost turned her face
again toward the sidewalk, but by this
time the sergeant had linked an arm
in that of the young soldier and had
fed him pace or two away, so that
mis- back was now toward the carriage.
lie was still pleading, and the crowd
had begun to back him up, and was eX-
postulating, too.
''Awe, take him where he says, SER
geant, and let him prove it,"
Don't be hard on him, man. If he's
taking care of a sick friend, given a
chance"
Then the sergeant tried to explain
matters. II can't help myself, gentle
men," said he; "orders are orders, and
mine are to find this recruit and fetch
him back to camp. He's two days over
Gmc now"
~'Oh, | wish | knew what it meant"
apxiously exclaimed Mrs. Frost's COM
panion. I'm sure he needs help" Then
with sudden Joy in her eyes: "Oh, good |!
There goes Col. Crosby. He'll see what's
amiss,'' and as she spoke tall man in
the fatigue uniform of an officer of in
fantry shouldered his way through the
crowd, and reached the blue-coated
quartette in the center. Up went the
hands to the shouldered rifles in salute,
and the young soldier, the cause of the
gathering which the police were now
trying to disperse, whirled quickly, and
with something suspiciously like tears
In his fine dark eyes, was seen to be
eagerly speaking to the veteran officer
There was brief colloquy, and rler
the colonel said something to the ser
geant al which the crowd set up 4 cheer
The sergeant looked pleased, the young
soldier most grateful. and away went
the four along the sidewalk, many ot
the throng following.
And then the colonel caught sight o1
the ladies in the carriage, saw that one
was signaling eagerly, and heard his
name called. Fastening to their side
he raised his cap and smiled a cordial
greeting.
"oh, I'm SO glad you came, colonel
we are so interested in that young sol
der Do tell us what it all means. Oh.
/ beg your pardon, Mrs. Frost, | surely
thought you had met Col. Crosby-le1
me pre- Why, Nita! What's Are
you i'll? Here, take my salts, quick!'
"No-no-go on-I-I want to hear.
Where are they taking him?" family
murmured Mrs. Frost"
TRY to control yourself" said hel
companion. I'll tell you in one mo
ment." Meantime from without the
carriage the colonel continued, address
ing Nita's companion:
''Eie tells a perfectly straight story
He says he has an old friend who is sc
desperately i'll and out of money-that
he got doctor for him and had beer
nursing him himself. Those things he
carried are medicines and wine that the
doctor badc him buy. All he asks is tc
take <aem to his friends room and ge
q nurse, tnen he is ready to go to camI
aud stand for his trial, so | told the
sergeant I'd be responsible"
''Oh, thank you so much! Do see tha
&he poor fellow isn't punished. Wei