The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-02-15
81. her sex when / Tan Ia Al

people from the east-looking for a
runaway. Old gent, pretty daughter,
and pretty daughters pretty cousin.
Heard the orders?"
"Damn the orders! They don't touch
us. Where do they come from?"
"D'rect from Washington, they say.
Three regiments to sail at once, and,
ooh, I know all that!" shouted Cor
don, impatiently. "It was all over camp
al hour ago! Where do they-the
girls-come from? What's their
name?"
"Wasn't presented,'swas the sulky re-
ply. "Let u lot of stuffy old women
show up in search of 1ong-lost sons and
those fellows at headquarters unload
them on us in less than no time, but a
brace of pretty girls! Why, they
double the gate guards so that no out
slider can so much as see them. Billy,
here, knows 'em. Ask him."
Bythis time the youngster had ranged
up alongside the adjutant and was
laughingly enjoying the latest arrivals
tiraGe at the expense of the %headquar-
ters' staff, but at his closing words
Lieut.. Billy's grin of amusement sud-
den left his face, giving way to a look
of blank amaze. sA,
II know 'em! I haven't been east of
the Big Muddy since I was a kid" i.
"They asked for you, just the same,
just after you started. Least one of 'em
did-for What's-his-name?-the chief
military legal adviser, came out bare
headed and called after you, but you
were out of hearing. He said the cousin,
the prettiest one, recognized you as you
skipped away from the generals tent,
and pointed you out to her friend.
Somebody explained you were running
an errand for one of those aids toe lazy
to go himself, and that you'd be back
presently"
"Then go at once, young man." said
the adjutant, laying a mighty hand on
the juniors square shoulder. STAND
not upon the order of your going, but
git! Never you mind about the colonel.
He won't be here until after he's been
there, and he's in for a rasping over this
mornings inspection. Just look at the
report, Sergeant major send me Col.
Colts report!" he called aloud, tossing
his head back as he spoke. "Come in,
Parson, come out of the wet" And,
eager enough to read a famous inspec-
tors criticisms of the appearance of the
regiment, the officer addressed as Par
son showed briskly into the tent.
The young soldier who had opened
/ the tent Han q fayy min 1,fac 1hnforo n - -
forward with a folded paper which,
in silence, he handed the adjutant and
turned back to his desk. Mr.. Gordon
took the paper, but his eyes followed
the soldier. Then he called, somewhat
sharply:
"Morton!"
The young fellow stopped at the di-
viding crack between the two tent
floors and slowly faced the three Off
GERS. He was slender, well built, erect.
His uniform fitted him trinity and was
worn with easy grace, his hands and
feet were small and slender, his eyen
and hair dark and fine, his features del
icate. and clear cut, his complexion a
tritle blistered and beaten by the harsh
winds that whistled in every day from
the sea, and, as he turned, all three off,
GERS were struck by it's extreme pallor.
you're sick again, Norton" said the
%adjutant, somewhat sternly. ST
thought I told you to see DR.. Heffer-
nan. Have you done so?"
"I-wasn't sick enough" faltered the
young soldier. II was all right a min
ute or two-or rather this morning,
sir. It'll be over presently. Perhaps
it was the smell of the oil that did it
the stove is close to my desk"
But Gordon continued to look at him
doubtfully.
"Move your desk across the tent for
the present, anyhow" said he, land I'll
speak to the doctor myself. With all
this newspaper hullabaloo about our
neglect of the sick" continued he, turn
ing to his friends, eff a mar changes
color at sight of a smash-up he must
be turned over to the Red Cross at once.
What is it, orderly?" he finished, sud-
denly, as the tent flaps parted and a
soldier in complete uniform, girt with
his belt of glistening cartridges, stood
at salute, some visiting cards in his
| gloved hand.
"Lieut. Gray here, sir?" was the COM
~prehensive answer. Then, catching
sight of the young officer, who stepped
quickly forward, he held forth the
cards.
"The adjutant generals comp1i-
ments, sir, and he'd be glad if the lieu
tenant would come over at once"
Gray took the cards, curiously stud
led them and then read aloud, one after
the other, and placing the topmost I'm
derneath the other two as soon as read.
"MR. LIsPENARD PRIME"
MISS PRIME"
MISS AMY LAWRENCE."
It was the last name that lay upper
most at the end and the Parsen
noted it.
"That's the pretty cousin, Billy"
quoth he. "Case of the last shall be
first, don't you see? Scoot now, you
lucky boy, and tell us all about it later"
But Gray was still gazing dreamily
at the cards.
"Tm sure I never met any of them
before in my life," said he. There
must be some mistake. Yet-that
name sounds Notwithstanding" and
shat" was the only name now in sight.
sI'm off," he suddenly announced, and
vanished.
There was a sound of light, quick
footsteps on the flooring of the rear.
ward tent at the same time. The scr.
geant major glanced up from his writ
ing; looked at a vacant desk, then at
the clock, then, inquiringly, at his regi-
mental deity-the aGjutant. It was
just the hour of the day at which all
name of papers were coming down