Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-05-09
her, just as the sergeant, staggering to
his feet, held forth feeble hand as

AAAAO " OoAkGSn5f VIC VI pCbh u0SdA buo
spirited music of the tattoo. The doors
of neighboring cottages began to oYen
and soldier forms, enveloped in the long
capped overcoats, FASTENED forth. Irreso-
lutte, bewildered, hardly knowing what
he did and far from knowing what he
ought to do, Trooper Hunter hurried
from the spot, breasted the slope to the
"bench" on which was spread the gar.
rison proper, and found full two-thirds
of his troop already gathering in front
of their quarters awaiting the signal to
form ranks-the quick, stirring assem-
bly,.
"Did you see Doyle? He was looking
for you, Hunter" chirruped little
Pathfinder. you're blowing, man.
Where you running from?"
But Hunter made no reply. Hooking
the collar of his overcoat and buttoning
it throughout, he stepped quietly to the
point where the center of his troop usu-
ally formed for roll call. for his place in
ranks was close behind a tall corporal
who marked the left of the first platoon.
The first sergeant, silent and solitary,
his swinging lantern in his hand, stood
few yards away, gazing out across
the dim parade at the bright lights in
the distant quarters Of the officers. The
soldierly form of the second lieutenant
could be dimly discerned a few, yards
beyond the sergeant To the rightsand
left. in front of the other barrack build
ings, big black groups Of men were
gathered and sergeants' lights were
cleaning, all awaiting the next signal.
Suddenly it came, quick, ripping. mer-
ry. Fall in" were the hoarse words
growled from half dozen soldier
throats The groups quickly resolved
themselves into two long columns Of
files that faced to their left the instant
the music ceased and stood motionless
while, with the ease and rapidity of
daily practice, the sergeant called the
roll.
The noncommissioned head of the sor-
rel troop twice repeated one name in q
questioning, surprised tone, then faced
his lieutenant and reported, Sergeant
Merriweather absent, sir" The officer
acknowledged the salute, said, "Dis-
miss the troop. !" and. facing about,
found himself confronting the unexpect-
ed apparation of Captain Ray and heard
i'll the soft dialect of tho Blue Grass his
captain s words:
"Send Trooper Hunter to me, ser-
geant, directly you dismiss"
| And while Lieutenant Scott went
away to report the result of roll call to
the adjutant and the sergeant again
faced his company Hunter felt his heart
sink within him. Already Merriweath-
er, then. had managed to get word to
his captain, and the captain was there
to wreak vengeance on him, the luckless
offender In violation of the strictest
articles of war he, Hunter Gray, had
\ struck down his superior officer and was
now to suffer the penalty of the law
"You hear, Hunter, the captain wants
you. Then Break ranksl Marchp'
was the order, and the troop, cohesive
and compact but the moment before,
dissolved at the word and fell to pieces,
leaving the new member standing all
alone. For one moment he remained
there to pull himself together; then,
nerved to face the worst, strobe out to
meet his fate, his heart humping in his
/ breast.
Hunter" said the captain, Ibid I
not understand you to say that you were
a total stranger west of the Missouri
and that you had neither friends nor
enemies ont here?"
Eyes sir, (" was the troopers reply,
| hi hor1 cti1 Oft tto
Then how did you come to know
that prisoner i'll the lot brought in by
| the sheriff."
Hunter was silent.
You admit having seen him beforel''
81 do, sir.
@Where and when?"
Before Joined the regiment, Sir.
met him With another man at Pawnee. -
Captain Ray was silent moment.
He stood scrutinizing in deep concern
/ the pale, clear cut face before him.
"When vouched for you in the adj
jutant's office the day OF your enlist
ment, I felt somehow that you were q
truthful man and not runagate, and /
4 don't wish to be disappointed in you l
don want to find man with clouded
record III my troop. What do you know
about that robbery"
Nothing more than everybody else,
sir--that it took place and that But
here again he hesitated.
well, that what, Hunter" said Cap
tain Ray, noting the soldier significant
| pause.
Nothing more, sir. / met one of the
/ prisoners at Pawnee in q restaurant
some few weeks ago. never saw him
before, and I've never seen him since
except that day
Ray stood calmly studying his man.
II told you it was taking chances to en-
list an applicant who looked az though
he might have been man Of high social
standing, !" said he presently, "and you
looked me in the eye and said shouldn 7
regret taking you in my troop You've
been with me barely week, and al
ready you are the object of suspicion.
How long will it be before hear you
directly accused of something to make
me deeply regret my overconidence?'
Hunter started as though to speak,