Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-01-31

"At least there's no1mng 10 warran,
the posting of that sentry at Mr.. Gray's
tent, Col. Canker," said the brigadier
with some asper.ty. "Order him off at
once. That's all for to-day, SIR" and
the man with the starred shoulders
"held over" him with the silver leaves
The latter could only obey-and OBJ.
jurgate.
But Canker's knuckles came in for an
other rasping within the hour. The
brigadier being done with him, the di-
vision commanders compliments came
over per orderly, and would the colonel
please step to the generals tent.
Canker was tuning to get to town. He
was possessed with insane desire to
follow up that boarding house clew.
He believed the landlady could be bull
lied into telling where her boarder was
taken, and what manner of man Tor
woman) he was. But down he had to
go, three blocks of camp, to where the
tents of division headquarters were
pitched, and there sat the veteran COM
mander, suave and placid as ever.
"Ah, colonel, touching that matter
Of the robbery of your commissary
stores. Suspicion points very strongly
to your Sergt. Foley. Do you think it
wise to have no sentry over him?"
"Why-general," said Canker, eve
known that man is years-in fact, got
him ordered to duty here" and the
colonel bristled.
"Well-pardon me, colonel, but you
heard the evidence against him last
night, or at least heard oft. Don't you
consider that conclusive?"
Canker cleared his throat and con-
sidered as suggested.
Il heard the allegation sir, but-he
made SO clear an explanation to me, at
least, and besides, general"--a bright
idea occurring to him-"you know that
as commissary sergeant he is not under
my command"
Tut, tut, colonel" interrupted the
general, waxing impatient. 1.-The
storehouse adjoins your camp. Your
sentries guard it. Capt. Hanford, the
says he called on you last
night to notify you that he had placed
the sergeant under arrest, but consid-
cred the case so grave that he asked
that sentry be placed over him, and ii
wasn't DONE"
Il dislike very much to infiict such in
dignity on deserving soldiers, general"
said Canker, stumbling into self-made
rap. Until their guilt is established
they are innocent under the law"
Apparently you apply different
rule in case of officers" calmly respond
ed the general, wide Mr.. Gray No fur
Their words are necessary. Oblige me by
having that sentry posted at once.
Good morning, SIR"
But to Canker's dismay the officer of
The guard made prompt report. The
sentry was sent, but the sergeant's tent
was empty. The colonel's pet had flown.
This meant more trouble for the colonel.
Meantime Stanley Armstrong had
ned him to Gen. Drayton's headquar
:ers. The office tents were well filled
With clerks, orderlies, aides and other
ulcers who had come in on business.
'ut the meeting was by appointment,
md after brief delay the camp COM
nander excused himself to those pres
mt and ushered Armstrong into his
'wn private tent, the scene of the mer-
y festivities the evening of Mrs. Gar
lson's unexpected arrival. There the
General turned quickly on his visitor
With the low-toned question::
'Well-what have Won found on
Enough to give me strong reason
or believing that Morton, so-caIled, is
oung Prime. and that your nephew is
Nth him. str.p9