Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1900-01-12

again toward the sidewalk, puJ by rms
time the sergeant had linked an arm
in that of the young soldier and had
led him a pace or two away, SO that
his back was now toward the carriage.
He was still pleading, and the crowd
had begun to back him up, and was ex-
postulating, too.
awe, take him where he says, SER
geant, and let him prove it."
Don't be hard on him, man. If he's
taking care of q sick friend, given q
chance"
Then the sergeant. tried to explain
matters. II can't help myself, gentle
men," said he; 'orders are orders, and
mine are to find this recruit and fetch
him back to camp. he . two days over
time now"
"Oh, I wish I knew. what it meant!"
anxiously exclaimed Mrs. Frost's COM
panion. I'm sure he needs help" Then
with sudden joy in her eyes: "Oh, goodl
There goes Col. Crosby. He'll see what's
amiss," and as she spoke a tall man in
the fatigue uniform of an officer of in
fantry shouldered his way through the
crowd, and reached the blue-coated
quartette in the center. Up went the
hands to the shouldered rifles in salute,
and the young soldier. the cause Of the
gathering which the police were now
trying to .disperse, whirled quickly, and
with$somethipg: suspiciously like stears
in his fine dark eyes, was seen to be
eagerly speaking to the veteran officer.
There was a brief tolloquy, and theR
the colonel said something to the ser
geant at which thecrowd set up a cheer.
The sergeant looked pleased, the young
soldier most grateful, and away went
the four along the sidewalk, many of
the throng following.
And then the colonel caught sight Of
the ladies in the carriage, saw that.one
was signaling eagerly, and heard his
name called. Fastening to their side,
he raised his cap and smiled a cordial
greeting.
"Oh, I'm SO glad you came, colonel,
we>are so interested in that young SOL
der. Do tell us what it all means. Oh!
I beg your pardon, Mrs. Frost, 1 surely
thought you had met Col. Crosby-let
me pre- Why, Nita! What's Are
you ill? Here, take my salts, quick!"
"No-no-go on-I-I want to hear!
Where are they taking him2" family
murmured Mrs. Frost"
"Try to control YOURSELF" said her
companion. "Ill tell you in one mo-
ment." Meantime from without the
carriage the colonel continued, address
ing Nita's companion:
HE tells a perfectly straight story.
He says he has IN old friend who is so
desperately i'll and out of money-that
he got a doctor for him and had been
nursing him himself. Those things he
carried are medicines and wine hat the
doctor babe him buy. All he asks is to
take them to his friends room and get
a nurse, then he is ready to go to camp
and stand for his trial, so l told the
sergeant I'd be responsible"
"Oh, thank you so much! Do see that
tie poor fellow isn't punished. Well
drive right round. Perhaps we can do
something. 1t is Red Cross business,
you know. Good afternoon, colonel.
Please tell our driver to follow them"
But, to her CONSERVATION, no sooner
had they started than she felt Nita's
trembling hand grasping her wrist, and
turning quickly saw that she was in an
almost hvstericai condition.
my poor child, I had forgotten you
were so worn out. I'll take you home
at once-but then We'll miss them en-
tirely. Oh, could you bear"
ooh! No! Not" moaned Nita, wiring
ing her little hands. "Take me-any.
where. No! Take me home-take me
heme! and promise me not to-not to
tell my husband what we saw"
CHAPTER XT.