The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-05-30

as he rolled out of his gray blanket
Here's a state of things. Listen +
this, captain, he called to his compan,
commander in the adjoining tent
Here's Morton, back from As hours
absence without leave, brought bacl
by armed guard after sharp resist
ance, charged with Lord knows wha
all, wants to tell me his story and prov,
his innocence
"You let him alone" growled hi.
senior. Remember what Canker said
or you'll go in arrest. What call ha.
Morton on you, I'd like to know"
The lad flushed. Fraternity was a
very sacred thing in the A z X. II
was the most exclusive crowd at the
i varsity" It's membership was pledged
to one another by unusual ties. 1t was
the hardest society for fellow to get
into in any one of the seven colleges
whereat it fourished, and its mystic
bonds were not shaken off with the
silken gown and mortar board" of
undergraduate days, but followed its
membership through many a maturer
year. 1t was society most college men
might ask to join in vain. Money, So
cial station, influence were powerless.
Not until "a student had been under OBJ
servatlon two whole years and was
thoroughly known could he hope for a
bid to become a Delta Sig" Not
until another six months of probation
could he sport its colors, and not until
he formally withdrew from its fold.
IN post graduation years, could he CON
slder himself absolved from its mild
obligations. But the boast of the Del
ia Sig had ever been that no one of
its membership had ever turned deaf
ear to fellow in need of aid. Who of
It's orlglnators ever dreamed of such a
thing as its drifting into and becoming
factor in the affairs of the regular
army?
NO wonder Gray stood for a moment,
the paper still in his hands, irresolute.
even disturbed. Not to answer the APP
peal meant to run counter to all the ten
cts of bis fraternity. TO answer might
mean arrest and court-martial for de-
liberate disobedience of orders. Canker
mas no more mercy than an Indian. 1t
was barely 4S hours since he had been
publicly warned by an experienced old
captain that he would find no guard
IAN angel in Squeers 1t would Sc
riously mar his prospects to start now
with Squeers down on him." and as
that iynx-eyed commander was ever on
watch Tor lnfractions of orders, Billy
well knew that he could not hope to see
and talk with the prisoner and Canker
not hear of it. To ask permission of
tanker would only make matters worse
he was sure to refuse and then re-
emphasize his orders and redouble his
vigilance. To ask the consent of the
officer OF the day or the connivance of
the officer of the guard was to invite
them to court arrest and trial on their
own account. He couldn't do that even
ia oblige brother Delt. If only Ned
craven were officer of the guard some
thing might be done--he was a college
man, too, and though not 'Delt," but
rather of rival set, he would under
stand and possibly help. Guard mount
was held toward dusk, and that was
TOUR hours away, at least The prison
er's note and tone were urgent. IAN idea
occurred to Billy: What if he could
get Gordon to let him go on this
very evening? 1t wasn't his tour. He
had marched off" only two DAYS be-
iore, as he well remembered, for Canker
had roughed" him up and down about
that little error in copying the list of
prisoners from the report of the pre-
vious day. Moreover, he had counted
on gong to town right after "retreat."
dining at the Palace, an extravaganza
not TO be thought of at other times.
so as TO be on hand when the Primes
and Amy Lawrence came down to din
ner. lie had planned it all-even to the
amount of surprise he was to exhibit
when he should discover about when
he had finished his own dinner that !
they were just beginning theirs, and
the extent and degree of pleasurable
emotion he might venture on showing
Us ne hastened over to greet them.
ana accepted their offer to be seated
win them, even if he had been so I'M
KIND as to dine beforehand, instead of
with them. He had set his heart on
having chat with Miss Lawrence as
part recompense for all he had lost
'hat morning, and all this he was think
Oh While still fumbling over that dis
,urolng note. Time was getting short
700 there was no telling how much
'onSer they might stay. Mr.. Prime
iad brought his only daughter all that
'ohg journey across the continent on
'ne assurance that the boy he loved.
with whom he had quarreled. and
Shom, in his anger, he had sorely re-
ouked, had enlisted there in San Fran
'isco and was serving in regiment nj
ne great camp west of the city. He
lad come full of hope and confidence.
ie mad found the young soldier de-
crioed. and in his bitter disappoint-
Aoht' he declared there was no re-
9M2'ance to justify The report sent him
y 'he boys own uncle. W no vowed bc
i"u met him with comrades on tho
nam street of the city. that the recog-
i'oh was mutual. for the boy had dart
q around the first corner and escanod
lis companions were scattered bv tbc
me Mr.. Lawrence turned to tbe snot
iter a brief, fruitless search, but pri.