Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-04-20

Hldll, 100, anu lhOupn not a 'Dcl, Dut
rather of 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 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. lie
had marched Off" only two days be-
/ fore, as he well remembered. for Canker
had roughed' him up and down about
that little error i'm copying the list of
/ prisoners from the report of the pre-
'lous day. Moreover, he had counted
on going 10 town right after "retrcat,"
dining AT the Palace, an extravaganza
not 10 be thought Of at other times,
30 as 10 be on hand when the Primes
and Amy Lawrence came down TO din
ner. He had planned it all-eycn to the
amount Of surprise he was TO exhibit
when ne should discover about when
he had finished his own dinner that
they were just beginning theirs. and
the extent and degree Of pleasurable
emotion lie might venture on showing
as he FASTENED over 10 greet them,
and accepted their offer TO be seated
with them. even if he had been so un-
kind as 10 dine beforehand. instead Of
with them. lie had set his heart on
having chat with Miss Lawrence as
part recompensc for all he had lost
that morning, and all this he was think
of while still fumbliug over that dis
turbing note. Time was getting short.
toOz there was no telling how much
longer they might stay. Mr. Prime
had brought his only daughter all that
long journey across the continent on
the assurance that the boy ne loved.
with whom he had quarreled, and
whom, in his anger, he had sorelv re-
bukcc. had enlisted there In san Fran
cisco and was serving i'm a regiment at
the great camp west of the city. lie
had come full OF hope and confidence;
he had found the young soldier de-
scribed, and, in his bitter Gisappoint-
ment, he declared there was no re-
semblarce 20 Justify the report sent him
by the boys own uncle, who vowed he !
had met him with comrades on the /
main street of the city. that the recog-
milton was mutual, for the boy had dart
sd around the first corner and ESCAPED.
His companions were scattered bv the |
time Mr.. Lawrence turned TO the spot. |
after a brief, fruitless search. but pri-
yate detectives had taken il up and "lo- /
'ated' young Prime and telegraphed .
the father in the distant east.
Now, Mr.. Lawrence was away on .
business Of his own. Written assur-
lnces that he couldn't be mistaken lost
weight, and Mr.. Prime, disheartened.
VAS merely waiting th. report Of an
agent who thought he had traced the
BOY 10 Tampa. In "a hours he might
pirit his daughter away on another
base, and then there would be no fur
her warrant for Miss Lawrence's re-
naming in the city She would return
o her lovely home in one Of the loveliest
# California valleys, miles away from
he raw fogs and chills of the Golden
iate, and would be no more seen among
he camps. That, said Billy Gray 10
himself, would take every bit Of sun
hine from his life.
All this detail, or much of it. he had
earned from the fair lips of Miss Law
ence herself, for Mr.. Prime and his
laughter seemed 10 shrink from speak
ng of the matter. From the first Miss
any had had to take the young gentle
nan under her personal wing, as it
.ere. In her desire TO aid her uncle
nd cousins IN every way, and know
lg them 10 be strangers 10 the entire
amp, She had eagerly sent for him as {
he first familiar or friendly object she
aw. Then when he came and was pre-
ented, and proved TO possess little in {
crest TO the careworn man and his J
nNious and devoted child, il devolyed {
pom Miss Lawrence 10 make much of
My IN proportion as they made little
him, and for three days or so the J
1.-the young fellow seemed fairly to {
ak on air Moreover. she had taken
i'm into family condolences in telling
i'm of the missing son and brother, {
'r both her uncle and cousin, she said, q
ere so sensitive about it they could a
Ut talk 10 anyone except when actual s
necessary. They had leaned as it
ere, on the general and on Col. Arm /
rong for a day, and then seemed to Y
raw away from both. They even
emed to take it much amiss that her u
ther had TO be absent when they =
me, though they had sent no word. !,
ntil late, of their coming. lie was on !,
S return, might arrive any hour, but
might they go. Now if Billy could Il
lly discover that missing SON V
Then came an inspiration! Pencil "
g brief note he gave it TO soldier of h
5 company and babe him take it 10
e guard tents. 1t told Morton of the :
loners orders, issued that very day, -
VI bade him be patient-he hoped and II
'lieved opportunity would be afforded II
r an interview that evening. Then he OF
lnted up subaltern of his own grade C
hom he knew would probably be the p
tail for oflicer-of-the-guard that n,
ening. "Broode," he said, will you >,
zap tours with me if Gortlon's yyilIingo '"