Evening star., 1901-02-09
CHAPTER XXH.

When officer and a gentleman, in the
presence and hearing of other officers and
gentlemen, especially when they are of
such high rank as the commander Of an
army in the field. refuses his hand and ac-
knowledges a presentation to another Off
GER supposedly a gentleman, with the sig
nificant remark, Il know the man." it
means only one thing: He knows him so
well that he will have nothing to do with
him. Holt did not conduct the newcomers
to Sheridans headquarters Without
other word he returned to his map The
general saw instantly that there was bit
ter feud between the young men that even
in his presence could not be forgotten.
ignoring IT entirely, he chatted moment
with the colonel until Malloy had partially
regained color and composure; then in
quired after his father, the senator; and.
Mr.: Holt being still busy, turned them
to the aid-de-camp. When they were
gone Norman arose. laid the paper before
the general and stood half expectant of re-
"a buke or reprimand, but none came. Like
Grant. Rosecrans took no notice of minor
affairs when great ones demanded his at
tentiun few quick questions were all
he asked. TO fords and wood roads. and
whether light guns could be run through
, the forest along the western foothills Then
briefly bidding Norman hold himself in
readiness for important service, and with
"a hint as TO silence, wished him all success
and said good afternoon.
That evening, summoned to the head
quarters of the corps commander. Norman
Holt found assembled some men already
famous in the Army of the Cumberland.
Central figure in the group. blunt, out
spoken, burIy. sat McCook, map his
knee and objursation on his lips. He who
loved a square fight and asked no favor.
had been hidden to hold the foe instead OF
hammering him. The exasperations of
10 nd CT mil Ja5 in
his heart. and he longed for opportunity to
show what his men could do when not over
Tapped and outnumbered, had hitherto
occurred. He wanted to hit, not clinch,
and here We're orders that he should maneu-
ver-occupy the attention of Hardees crack
corps prevent their sending aid to other
fellows thirty miles away. whom Thomas
would fall upon and crush. Much of the
same mind was the fierce little, black-eyed
division commander. striding up and down
the room, listening with obvious impatience
to the explanations of the suave Garfield,
courteous, plausible, conciliatory, If not en-
t!ely convincing. The candles on the rough
pine table fared and fiickered in the breeze
that stirred the cheap curtains and swept
through the tawdry Tennessee living room.
l. one of the farm houses not far from
the outskirts of the little town. Two or
three staff officers sat copying orders at
an adjoining table; another at the hall door
way in low-toned converse ton with
the commander of the cavalry escort, wait
Ing in the mud without. 1t had begun to
rain again. 1t seemed as though 1t always
rained when the Army OF the Cumberland
needed to march, and it never rained but
IL poured Norman Holt, dismounting and
giving the reins TO orderly, entered the
uarrow hallway and briefly said: Il am or
dered to report here to General Sheridan,
Lieutenant Holt, adjutant. -th Kentucky"
The stan officer returned his salute look
ing Curipusly, almost intrusively, at him.
The story of that afternoons episode was
already dleak. and men do not trif1e with
fellows who, even in the presence of the
commander. stand TO their convictions as
had Norman Holt
The general is engaged just now. I'll
announce you in moment / think I've
heard Bob Enyart speak of you, Mr. Holt
My names Warden. Let me present YOU
to Capt. O'Conpor. Your old friend Gaff-
ney, by the way, was here not long ago
and Gen. Garfield heard his explosion. too"
Holt smiled gravely. Sorry l came too
late" said he ''Gaffney is sore at being
overslaushed. and don't blame him. But
fe's too good a soldier 10 have his chances
spoiled by angry talk
Well he charged 1t all to Malloy and 1
fancy Gen. Sheridan wasn't sorry to have
Garfield hear that much, ANYHOW And
the aid-de-camp looked keenly at the Ken
tuckian. as though in hopes of hearing his
views on the subject OF Malloy.
But that reply was. at least. not verbal
Holt had been long enough an officer to
learn that one Of the curses of the Camp Is
the tendency TO gosslp-the frequency of
misquOtation. Say nothing you would not
nave epedteu-tspeclaIy IN garDied FORM
a good rule for staff officer. Norman
wondered at the generals aid that did not
seem TO know It, Meddling in the affairs
or other men is bad enough In the line il
IS worse in the staff. Warden showed that
he felt the tacit rebuke. He looked bit
nettled. but promptly said Il beg pardon
but of course you realize that Gaffney has
been proclaiming this and-other matters
from the hOusetops."
Then came Sherdan's voice. quick i'm
patient. and with IL Sheridan himself right
az Warden's elbow. Isn't Holt here yet?
It's hign time-oh. come right in Holt
We've been waiting,
so have /. SIR said the Kentuckian.
as he followed his little leader into the
office. There at nod from McCook he
closed the door behind them. which War
den liked still less. 1t left him obviously
out of the conference.
Know who that Is. I s'pose?' said he
shortly. to the cavalry officers That's
r. Hott-who was charged with misguiding