The Iola register., 1900-04-27

mally enlisted and no embarrassing
questions asked.
And now poor Pat was gone and
Primes father had been cabling for him
to return home; but there was that awk-
ward matter about the desertion. Gen.
Drayton was trying to have it straight
ened out at Washington, for he had
been kindness itself the day of his visit
to the hospital, where almost his first
act had been to seek out the wounded
young soldier who had been his beloved
nephew's boon companion, and at one
time sole support. The sentry was re-
lieved of his surveillance, and Corp.
| Norton transferred to Corregidor TO re-
| cuperate; and now that both lads were
| well on the road to recovery, Drayton
had sent for them. Strictly speaking,
! some one should have seen to it that
! Corp. Norton, of the volunteers, was
! shifted back TO Private Morton. of the
--teenth, and the chevrons stripped
from his sleeves; but no one had cared
to interfere where the worstod was con-
cerned, especially as the boy had won
such praise for bravery at Concordia
| Bridge. So there the chevrons stood
when the two were ushered into the
presence of the gray-haired chief, and
he arose, and, stepping forward, held
out hand to each.
81 want you. boys" said he, "to be
ready to take the next transport home
The doctors say you need a sea voyage,
Gray; so there is the order. The doc.
] 30, 20 1,a,. p,p1g I1ritt,t.s
and the record will be duly Strengthened
out in Washington-the charge of de
sertion, no doubt, will be removed It's
matter of influence. Tonight you
dine with me here; and | have asked
your good friend, Col. Armstrong, to
come"
Again the blood rose guilty to Billy's
cheek. Not yet had he made his peace
with his conscience and that valued
counselor and invaluable friend from
whose good graces he seemed to have
fallen entirely. Not once had oppor-
tunity been afforded in which to speak
and open his heart to him. As fer writ
ing, that seemed impossible. Billy could
handle almost any implement better
than a pen. But even in the few min
utes left him in which TO think he knew
that now at least he must face the mu-
Sic" like the man his father would
have him be, even though it took more
nerve than did that perilous dash on the
Tacal works that Sunday morning.
Billy would rather do that twice over
than have to face Armstrong; stern.
searching eyes, and hear again The cold.
almost contemptuous tone in whicn The
colonel said to him the day the doctor
led his vanquished and hystcrical
charmer from the room: Don't try to
thank, man; try TO think what you risk
what you deserve 10 lose-for putting
yourself in the power of such II woman
From that day until this, here on the
banks of the swift-runuing Pasig, they
had not met at all; and it seemed to
Gray as though Armstrong had aged a
year. There was n lump in his throat
as he went straight up TO the colonel,
his blue eyes never flinching, though
they seemed to fill, and bravely spoke.
"Col. Armstrong, have an explanation
that 1 owe to you. VIII you give me ID
few minutes on the gallery"
"Certainly, Gray" was the calm re-
ply; and the youngster led the way.
1t was broken story. 1t told of his
desperation and misery through Can
kcr's persecution, of his severe illness
then of the utter weakness and prostra-
ton; then her coming, and with her
comfort, peace, reinsurance, gradual
return TO health, and with th6., grad dal
surrender to his nurses fascinatous.
Then her demand upon him, her plea
her final insistence that he should prove
his gratitude and devotion by getting
for her those dangerous letters, and his
weakness in letting her believe he could
and would do so. That was the situa-
tion when they went on to Manila; and
Armstrong knew the rest-llnew that
but for his timely aid she might have
triumphed over his repentance; but
Armstrong had come, had vanquished
her and poor Latrobe's last wishes were
observed. The fateful packet contain.
ing the three letters that were most inn
portant was placed in his uncle's trem'
bling hand.
But how was it-what was it that SO
utterly crushed hcr?" asked Billy, when
the colonel had once more extended his
hand.
"The evidences of her own forgery
her own guilt" said Armstrong, grave.
ly. Zone was the order she wrote in
excellent imitation of her husbands
hand and signature, authorizing the
changing Of guard arrangements on the
wharf the evening Stewart sailed. ThC
other was a note in pencil, also purport'
ing to come from him, directing old
Keeny-you remember the generals
Irish orderly-to search for a packet OF
letters that had come by mail, and
must be in the generals tent, either
about his desk or overcoat, and tc
bring them at once to room number sc
> and so at the palace. OF course, neither
the general nor Garrison was there