Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-01-03

"It may be even impossible to see the
general" answered Gray, doubtfully.
"Take Morton into the guardroom till
1 get back, sergeant, and let him warm
himself thoroughly. Don't put him
with the prisoners till return" and SO
saying he FASTENED away. Gordon, his
friend and adviser, had left camp and
gone visiting over in the other divi-
sion. The lights at general headquar-
tiers were turned low. Even now, after
having heard proofs of the innocence
of the accused soldier, Gray knew that
it was useless to appeal to the colonel.
He could not understand, however, the
feverish-almost insane impotence of
the lad for immediate release. Another
day ought not to make SO great diff
ference. What could be the reason
if it were not that, though innocent of
the robbery of the storehouse, or of
completely in the sale of stolen goods,
some other crime lay at his door which
the morrow might disclose? All the
loyalty of Delta Sig was stretched to
the swapping point as Gray paused ir-
resolute in front of the adjutant's tent,
his quest there unsuccessful. The
sergeant major and sorely badgered
clerk were working late over some
regimental papers-things that Nor
ton wrote out easily and accurately.
II suppose, sir, it's no use asking to
have the prisoner sent up here under
guard" said that jewel of a non-com-
missioned officer. Yet the colonel will
be savage if these papers amt ready.
1t will take us all night as things are
going"
Gray shook his curly head. "Go ask,
if you like, but-Morton's in no shape
to help you"
HAS he been drinking, sir2" said the
sergeant major, in surprise. 81 never
knew him"
"Oh, it isn't that" said Gray, hastily,
''only he's-he's got-other matters on
his mind! Bring me his overcoat. He
said it was in his tent" and the young
officer jerked his head at the patch of
little "a" tents lined up in the rear of
those of the officers.
Get Morton's overcoat and take it
to him at the guardhouse," snapped the
staff sergeant to the clerk. "Be spry
now, and no stopping on the way
back" he added, well aware how much
in need his assistant stood of creature
comfort of some surreptitious and for
hidden kind. The man was back in
u moment, the coat rolled on his arm.
"I'll take it," said Gray, simply.
"You needn't come"
go on with It'll" ordered the ser
geant as the soldier hesitated. "D'ye
the service has gone to the devil and
officers are runnin' errands for enlist
ed men? An get back inside two min
utes, too," he added, with portent in
his tone. The subaltern of hardly two
months service felt the implied rebuke
of the soldier of over 20 years. and
meekly accepted the amendment, but
"a thought occurred to him: He had
promised Morton paper, envelopes and
stamps and the days newspapers-the
lad seemed strangely eager to get all
the latter, and vaguely Billy remem-
berd having heard that Canker consid-
cred giving papers to prisoners as
equivalent to aid and comfort to the
enemy.
"Take it by way of my tent" said he
as they started, and, once there it took
time to find things. go back to the
sergeant major and tell him I sent
you," said Gray, after another search.
He needs you on those papers,"
And when the officer of the guard
returned to the guardhouse and went
in to the prisoner, the sergeant saw
and others saw-that, rolled in the
soldiers overcoat he carried on his
arm, was a bundle done up in news
paper. Moreover, scrap of CONVEX
sation was overheard.
There's no one at the generals"
said the officer. 81 see no way of-fix-
ing it before morning"
my God, lieutenant! There-must
be some way out of it! The morning
will be too late"
"Then I'll do what can for you to-
night" said Mr.. Gray, as he turned
and hurriedly left the guardroom-a
dozen men standing stifly about the
walls and doorway and staring with
impassive faces straight to the front.
Again, the young officer had left the
post of the guard and gone up into
camp, while far and near through the
dim, fog-swept aisles of score OF
camps the bugles and trumpets were
wailing the signal for lights out" and
shadowy forms, with coat collars
turned up about the ears or capes muf-
fled around the neck, scurried about
the company streets ordering laughter
and talk to cease. A covered carriage
was standing at the curb outside the
officers Rate-and the sentry there