Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-03-17
such language was renecrion on MN.

mendlnE trlal by general court-ndr tla1'
Indeed he had made out case against
the lad even before he was arrested and
returned to camp. Gordon asked II he
had seen the boy and heard his story.
Canker reddencd and said he hadn't,
and he didn't mean to and didn't have
to-. Gordon said he had--he had talked
with the lad fully and freely on his
being brought to camp toward nine
o'clock, and was greatly impressed with
his story--as would anyone else be
who heard it, Canker REDEEMED still
more and said be wouldn't allow Of
hcers to interview prisoners without
his authority. I'll prefer charges
against the next that does it," said he.
And not three hours later, Mr.. Billy
Gray, sprawling on his camp cot, striv-
ing to forget the sorrow Of the earlier
morning, and to memorize page Oh
paragraphs OF army regulations, was
suddenly accosted by an orderly who
stood at the front of the tent, scratch
ing at the tent fap--thc camp substi-
tute for ring at the bell.
"a note for the lieutenant" said he.
darting in and then darling out, pos
sibly fearful of question. 1t was
queer note:
IT am a total stranger to you, but wort
In brighter days the badge of the same SOY
cety that was yours at the university.
Three of the fraternity are In my com.
pany-one Is on guard and he urged me to
write at once to you. They know me to be
brother Delt, even though l dare not ted
my real name. What l have to say Is thai
the charge against me Is utterly false. aa
l can convince you, but could not con-
vince q court I am confined at the mo
ment Of all others In my life when 1t is most
vitality Important that l should be free.
Grant me ten minutes interview this afn
ernoon and If do rot prove myself guilt
less will ask no favor-but whenI do con-
vince you. do as you would be done by
yours in 4 : X,
GEORGE MORTON"
"Wen, I'll be blessed" said Mr.. Gray,
as he rolled out of his gray blanket.
'ITeres a state Of things! Listen to
this, captain he called to his company
commander in the adjoining tent.
"IIere's Morton, back from As hours
absence without leave, brought bach
by armed guard after sharp resist
ance, charged with Lord knows what
all, wants to tell me his story and provo
his innocence"
"You let him alone" growled his
senior. Remember what Canker said,
or you'll 60 in arrest. What call has
Morton on you, I'd like to llnow?"
The lad flushed. Fraternity was q
very sacred thing in the A 3 X. Il
was the most exclusive crowd at this
varsity" Its membership was pledged
to one another by unusual ties. 1t was
the hardest society for q fellow to get
into in any one of the seven colleges
whereat it Aourished, and its mystic
bonds were not shaken off with the
silken gown and mortar board" of
undergraduate days, but followed Its
mcmbe sship through many a maturer
year. 1t was society most college men
might ask to join in vain. Money, So
cial station, influence were powerless.
Not until a student had been under OBJ
servation two whole years and was
thoroughly known could he hope for q
IBID" to become a Delta Sig" Not
until another six months Of probation
could he sport its colors, and not until
he formally withdrew from its fold,
| in post graduation years, could he con-
| slider himself absolved from its mild
obligations. But the boast Of the "Del-
ia Sig" had ever been that no one Of
its membership had ever turned a deaf
ear to fellow in need of aid. Who of
its originators ever dreamed of such
thing as its drifting into and becoming
factor in the affairs Of the regular
army?
No wonder Gray stood for a moment,
the paper still in his hands, irresolute,
even disturbed. Not TO answer the APP
zeal meant to run counter to all the ten
cts of his fraternity. TO answer might
mean arrest and court-martial for de-
Nberate disobedience Of orders. Canker
has no more mercy than an Indian. 1t
~as barely 4S hours since he had been
publicly warned by an experienced old
captain that he would find no guard
ian angel" in Squeers. 1t would Sc
riously mar his prospects to start now
with Squeers down on him." and as
that iynx-eyed commander was ever on
watch for infractions of orders, Billy
well knew that he could not hope to see
and talk with the prisoner and Canker
not hear of it. To ask permission of
Canker would only make matters worse
he was sure to refuse and then re-
emphasize his orders and redouble his
vigilance. To ask the consent of the
officer OF the day or the connivance of
the officer OF the guard was to invite
them to court arrest and trial on their
own account. lie couldn't do that even
to oblige brother Delt. If only Ned
Craven were officer Of the guard some
thing might be done-he was a college
man, too, and though not 'Delt," but
rather of Il rival set, he would UNDER
stand" and possibly help. Guard mount
was held toward dusk, and that was
four hours away, at least. The prison.
er's note and tone were urgent. An idea
occurred to Billy: What if he could
get Gordon to let him go on" this
very evening? 1t wasn't his tour. He
had marched OFF, only two days be-
fore, as he well remembered, for Canker
"had roughed' him up and down about
that little error in copying the list OF
prisoners from the report of the pre-
vious day. Moreover, he had counted
on going to town right after retreat"
dining at the Palace, an extravaganza
not to be thought of at other times,
so as to be on hand when the Primes
apd Amy Lawrence came down to din
ner. He had planned it all--even to the
amount of surprise he was TO exhibit
when he should discover about when