Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-06

synopsis of Preceding Chapters.
Norman Holt, favoritc son Of an old |
Kentucky family, is reprimanded at West |
P2int i0r d4eisinf ana iS wltndraWm 0g ms
the winter Of 1860. is celebrated by an old
fashioned Kentucky Christmas gathering.
Among the guests are Daisy Lane, daugh-
ter Of DR.. HIolts lawyer, and J. Burnett
Malloy,, both Of Cincinnati. The latter
partner, Mr.. Mcintyre, and Is COurteously |
received, but arouses the Jealousy of Nor
man Holt by his attentions TO Daisy Lane.
party during fox hunt and at the Christ
mas ball the same evening affects an air
Of proprietorship distasteful to Daisy and
obnoxious to his rival, Norman Holt; But
all Ill feeling Is forgotten when at midnight
all surround pr. Holt to drink the Christ,
mas punch, which ceremony ia interrupted
BY midnight messenger, who announces
the dangerous Illness of Judge Mclntyio.
Investigation reveals his financial affairs
IN a hopeless tangle and the Holt fortune
dssipated Henry and Norman Holt enter |
Holt enlists as private I'm the ONO infantry. |
NJ tllOy, through political influence Is Hst-
tenant In the same company and Henry |
Is ordered to conduct a skirmishing party |
under Captain Wing to Bellevlew IN search |
Wing captured aud Norman accused of
trea"hery; Brain fever saves him from |
trial and takes him to the hospital al:
Engart. Norman rejoins his regiment and |
aids Sheridan In capturing Henry Holt.
Between fat wooded banks the broad
stream was sweeping, the Queen floating,
noiseless, with the flood. Below, the men
had been comforted with coffee and hard |
tack and were doing off on their blankets.
In the cabin two or three parties of OFF,
GERS we're at cards or chat. Only few
appeared outside wooden shelf ran along
this Nor
man dropped and buried his face in his
hands. lie could not yet go below and join
his comrades. He craved to be alone IL
only to think few moments. Three or four
officers, wrapped in their overcoats and
sprawing on big chairs or on blankets on
the deck were sensibly preparing for possl-
Bile work on the morrow by sound sleep at
night. There was no one to say him nay,
at least there was none when he first APP
pearei but presently the door to the cabin
ope. d and the form OF a young officer came
quickly forth. The door slammed after
him, and he stood at the rail alone. Then
In moment, his eyes became accus-
toned to the darkness, he glanced about
him, at the two or three recumbent forms
on one hand, at the lonely seated figure on
the other. A moment more he stood irreso
Lutte. then stepped quickly to the latter and
lHlu II DtdNy manu- upuu Nut NOI-
man looked up instantly, rose quickly to his
feet and stood at salute.
"You know perfectly well. SIR" said the
officer in a cold, cutting tone, you have
no business here. Go below-where you be-
long"
lump seemed to spring to Normans
throat. He essayed to speak, but no words
would come. Silently he faced about and
OH ba MOI pointinp
wearily to the stairway "A few yards for
ward. At the foot he encountered the SER
geant major. Just looking for you, Holt.
Report to the colonel in the after cabin at
once" were the stan sergeant's crisp words.
The shortest way was up the stairs again
and In a trce he stood upon the deck from
which but the moment before he had been
80 summarily ordered. There stood the Off
Ger, his first lieutenant, his back toward his,
busily tearing sheet of paper into frag-
ments and throwing them carefully over
board. Dim as was the light Norman
could see with sufficient plainness that a
letter of size was being reduced to scraps.
But why should Malloy start and grasp
, the little wooden pillar of the covered way
as he turned and faced him? Norman
could have sworn he was livd trembling,
and the voice with which he spoke was
dread.
II ordered you below, sir. How dare
you disobey?'
THE colonel orders me back" was the
reply, the dark eyes, mournful, but
burning with a sense OF indignity and
wrong-lighting, too, with strange interest
at sight of the others evident alarm-gazed
straight into the steely blue. MAY / be
allowed to pass"
For a moment Malloy stood as though
half minded to again speak, but--a door
opened at the instant, Gaffney's jovial
brcgue rang out on the night. "Shure, I'll
find him at wanst, colonel, Twill be glad
news to him-as 1t is to me-"
"Damnation." Kissed Malloy, as he turned
and hurried away.
A moment later and the tall young SOL
dier was standing at attention cap in hand,
I'm front of the colonel, who, seated at one
side OF the cabin. his adJutant standing by
the sofa, and other officers grouped about
him, leisurely looked up from the papers
he held in his hand,
Holt" said he, II have a letter from
Colonel sheridan, enc paragraph of which
will interest you. He thanks us for the
prompt support given him the morning OF
the 27th before starting on his way "a
bonneville and says that but for his guide
he couldn't have nas0ed the rebel scouting
party with their important papers, and, re-
ferrng to letters written, ahem-in your
behalf SAYS: L have heard so much In
favor of that young soldier and was so wei
impressed with him that ! have writer
urging his being commissioned a first lieu
tenant In my regiment, He may look FOL
II before the middle of July"
But before the middle OF July the youus
colonel had stepped up to the stars an'
bade goodbye TO the Second Michigan
Before the middle OF July Norman Ho
was a prisoner under guard, ordered Il
face a general court martial on trial for hi
life.
CHAPTER XIII.