Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-09-20
CEAp'r;.E ~

anu dropping INTO the char from which
he had risen. he laughed long. bat not
loud. And Jean, OF Jack A!arat. as
the inen called him. who WAS listening ut
the door of tho next room. heard the
major say:
WHY. tho follow dropped right into
my hands. iIa. ila. iia. oh. | have him
now; / have him right here" and he
held up a thumb and finger and pressed
them together as il he were i,iiveriziig
something. lie was about To resume his
writing. when Judge Loring came in.
looking very much troubled.
Why. Judge, YOU look rs if yoa had
seen a ghost said the major.
And | feel as if 1 might soon see one.''
replied the judge. dropping into Tie chair
to which the major waved him.
What do you mcan?'
II mean that before the sun rises again
We shall have such Il storm as has not
swept the Sound for many IL day"
We'll. what of that? Fort Clark can
stand Il tornado: and if it cannot why it
will he no great loss
Il am not thinking about the Fort or
the people on land.' said the Judge.
The reason for his VISITORS anxiety
dawned on the majors foggy brain, ana
he FASTENED TO say:
'Oh. yes. your daughter. but surely
there can he no danger on the Sound;
and then You know the bark Arrow may
still be ont ON the Pacific"
II think she has come through the
straits. | have just seen the captain OF
Il cutter that has come to anchor under
the hcadlands; and he reports that early
this morning he SAW Il bark beating down
Admiralty Inlet. off the southern point
of Whidby's Islanl.'
'Oh, we'll. she will he here by dark.
If not. Captain Ford Knows where he
can come to anchor
mo. Major, that is just the trouble.
The Sound is 50 deep. and the shares so
bold. that it is Il difficult thing to find
anchorage
The judge got up and looked ont the
window. The distant line of the Cas-
cadcs was blotted out. and black cloud
banks. like sooty a~valanches. We're sweep
Ing over the valleys and hills.
Major Germor got up and consulted Il
barometer hanging ON his Office wall. The
mercury was falling rapidly. but he did
not tell the judge. nor was there need
to do so, for he had been too long in that
land not to know its varying moods.
Captain Ford is IL good sailor; none
better on the Pacific" said the major.
'He knows all about these waters. and L
think we can trust him to come in all.
right. l haye been very much provoked
today" continued the major, Tic doubt
with the intention of liverting the mind
of his guest from the storm gathering
without. 81 had to reduce to the ranks
and place under arrest one of my SER
geants."
"Ah. indeed" said the judge.
"Yes: Il fellow l should like to have
aided. for, strange as it may seem, our
families :..e connected by marriage"
What is the mans name?'
"Morton-Colin Morton. The East got
too hot for him. and like many others, he
preferred to enlist, and thus have his
identity swallowed up rather than run
the risk of going to prison. l wish the
fellow was Mt some other post; but as a
soldier l must do my duty. Eth! we'll, sir,
what do You want:'
The majors exclamation and inquiry
We're called out by the appearance at the
office door CT n tall, handsome young
man, bearing on the sleeves of his blue
coat the chevrons Of a quartermaster SER
gcant.
II am Sergeant Robert Bracebridge,"
said the soldier. removing his cap, and
SO displaying The high. snowy forehead
AM crisp. curling yellow hair.
well, Sergeant Robert Bracebridge,
what. the de-deucs do you want:' asked
the major.
II wish, sir, to be reduced to the ranks.
Here is my application, with the reasons
for my request therein given.'
Robert B%racebridge landed the appli-
cation to the major. and the major tore
o,,n, 31a nu,a1n,n .,,J ~ ~ ne n ~Ioya,
that it was the production of A man of
no ordinary education.
Having been appointed at the same
time and for the same reasons as my
friend. Colin Morton. l annot with re-
spect to myself, retain Il position for
which the commanding officer chooses TO
deem him unworthy
This the major mu,nblcd over as his
protruding eyes went down the page.
Dashing the sheet angrily on the desk,
he asked:
What does this mean. sir:"
Certainly no disrespect TO you or any
other superior officer replied Robert
Bracebridge. whose calmness and good
breeding were in striking contrast with
the brutal bearing OF the ling
officer. ~ believe | have the right TO so
back to the ranks il / 50 desire it,"
You have no right 10 ID anything
here, sir, that does NOT meet with my APP
prevail. or that is in violation of military
order and discipline. Go 10 The adjutant.
-ir. and report Yourself snGcr ar"rsr.'
'i>srhaos .hetflnp- CG 5a- 49, tt3ia re
sae person / should reuor1 10. SAID i.oo-
est B%racebridgc, who i'll this matter was
quite right.
why. what is wrong with youy' asked
Colin Morton, when the sergeant of the
guard conducted in his friend.
Nothing, but that ] choose to be in
the same boat with you." laughed Robert
Bracebridge, pointing to the place on his
arm from which the sergeant's cheveron
had been cut.
did they break you"
mo; 1 resigned, and for having done
so the major has seen fit to order me IN
Inv, =, o,,..t DIT avs ,,;,fti thot ftnlin