The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-03-02
CHAPTER VII


Billy Gray was indeed in close ar
rest and the grim prophecy was full
filled-Col. Canker was proving "any-
thing but \ guardian angel 10 him" The
whole regiment, ofaosrs and men, bar
ring only the confnander, was practi.
cally In mourning with sorrow for him
and chagrin over its.own discontinue.
Not only one Important prisoner was
gone, but twoi not only two, but four.
No man In authority was able TO say
just when or how " happened. for it
was Canker's own order that the pris-
oners should not be paraded when the
guard fell in at night. They were here
at tattoo and at taps all right, The Of
ficer of the guard, said several soldiers,
had quite a long talk with one of the
Prisoners-young Morton-just after
tattoo, at which time the entire guard
had been inspected by the commanding
officer. But at reveille four most i'm
portant prisoners were gone, and such
was Canker's wrath that not only was
Gray in arrest, but the sergeant of the
guard also, while the three luckless
men who were successfully posted as
sentries during the night at the back OF
the wooden shell that served as guard
house--were now in close confinement
in the place Of the escaped quurtette.
Yet those three were men who had
hitherto been above suspicion, and
there were few soldiers in the regiment
who would accept the theory that any
one of the three had connivCd at the es-
cape. AS for the sergeant he had
served four enlistments in the -teenth,
and without flaw in his record beyond
an occasional alteration in the now
distant past, due to the potency of the
poteen distilled by certain Hibernian
experts not far from an old-time plains
fort, where the regiment had rested on
its march cross continent. As for the
oflicers-but who would suppose an
officer guilty of anything of the kind
fragrant military crime? And yet
men got to asking each other if it were
so that Bugler Curran had carried
note from the prisoner, Morton, to Mr..
Gray about $3.50 that afternoon? And
what was this about Gray's having
urged Brooke to swap tours with him
an hour later, and what was that story
the headquarters clerks were telling
about Mr.. Gray's coming to the adju-
tant and begging to be allowed to
march on" that evening instead of
BrookeP 1t wasn't long before these
rumors, somehow, got to Canker's ears,
and Canller seemed to grow as big
again; he fairly swelled with indigna.
tion at thought of such turpitude on
part of an officer. Then he sent for Gray
1T was the afternoon following the
sailing of the ships with the big brigade
and with pain and bewilderment and |
indignation in his brave blue eyes the
youngster came and stood before his |
stern superior. Gordon, who sent the
message, and who had heard Canker's |
denunciatory remarks, had found time
TO scribble word or two; admit |
nothingi say nothing; do nothing but |
hold your tongue and temper. nc. |
insists on answers say you decline ex-
cept In presence of your legal adviser"
So there was scene in the command
er's tent that afternoon. The morning
had not been without it's joys. Along
about ten o'clock as Gray sat writing
to his father In his little canvas home,
he heard voice that sent the blood
Ieaping through his veins and filled his
eyes with light. Springlng from his
'ampstool and capsizing it as he did