Waterbury Democrat., 1901-04-30

airs, ain't he? Whats he belong to ?"
 "-th infantry" answered Clarke, shortly, not liking the strangers looks, words or manner, and then pushed on; but the stranger fol- lowed, out of sight of the sentry now, and wanted to continue the conversation.
 "Sure he ain't in the cavalry?n asked the same man.
 "Cocksure!" was the blunt reply. What's it to you, anyhow?"
 "Oh, nothin'; thought I'd seen nim before. Know his name?''
 Names Benton, far as I know. Come on, Hunter" said Clarke, ob- viously unwilling to stay longer in such society, and little more was thought of it for the time being; but now the provost-marshal's assistant wished further particulars. Was there anything unusual about the questioner's teeth? And hundred men looked up in surprise and sud- denly rearoused interest.
 ssYes, sir," said Clarke, "one tooth was missing, upper jaw, next the big eye-tooth," and as the witness stood down the general and the question ing officer beaned on each other and smiled.
 An adjournment was necessitated during the early afternoon. Lieut.. Rays statement was desired, also that of Private Connolly, of the arr tillery, and an effort had been made through the officers of the cavalry at Paco to find some of the recruits who were of the detachment now quite frequently referred to in that command as "the singed cats" But it transpired that most of them had been assigned to troops of their regi-, ment not yet sent to Manila, only half the regiment being on duty foot duty at that-in the Philippines. The only man among them who had travelled with Foster from Denver as far as Sacramento was the young re- cruit, Mellen. He was on outpost, but would be relieved and sent to Ermita as quickly as possible.
 Connolly, said the surgeon at the Cuartel de Meysic, was too i'll to be sent thither, unless on matter of vital importance, and Sandy Ray, hastening from Maidie's bedside in
  the tidings that a recess had been ordered, and that he would be sent for again when needed.
 It was after three that witnesses of consequence came up for examina- tion. Dr. Brick had got the floor and was pleading for post-mortem at once. In this climate and under such conditions decomposition would be so rapid, said he, that "by tomorrow his own mother couldn't recognize him." But the provost-marshal drawled that he didn't see that fur ther mutilat-on would promote the possibility of recognition, and Brick was set aside.
 It was quarter to four when young Mellen was bidden to tell whether he knew, and what he knew of, the deceased, and all men hushed their very breath as the lad was conducted to the blanket-shrouded form under the overhanging gallery in the open patio. The hospital steward slowly turned down the coverlet, and Mellen, well-nigh as pallid as the corpse, was bidden to look. Look he did, long and earnest ly. The little weights that some one had placed on the eyelids were lifted; the soft hair had been neatly brushed; the lips were gently closed; the delicate, clear-cut features wore an expression of infinite peace and rest; and Mellen slowly turned and, facing the official group at the neigh boring table, nodded.
 You think you recognize the de- ceased?" came the question. If so, what was his name?"
 "T think so, yes, sir. It's Foster at least, that's what heard it was."
 Had you ever known him?-to speak to?"
 "He was in the same detachment on the train. Don't know as I ever spoke to him, sir,'' was the answer.
 "But you think you know him by sight? Where did you first notice him?''
 Think it was Ogden, sir. didn't pay much attention before that. A man called Murray knew him and got some money from him. That's how l | came to notice him. The rest of us hadn't any to speak of"
 
 or to notice particularly after you left Ogden? Did he sit near you?" was the somewhat caustic query.
 s'No, sir, only just that once"
 "But you are sure this is the man you saw at Ogden?"
 Mellen turned uneasily, unhappily, and looked again into the still and placid face. That meeting was on 9 glaring day in June. This was a clouded afternoon in late October and nearly five months had slipped away. Yet he had heard the solemn story of the murder and had never, up to now, imagined there could be q doubt. In mute patience the sleep ing face seemed appealing to him to speak for it, to own it, to stand be- tween it and the possibility of it's be- ing buried friendless, unrecognized.
 "It's-it's him or his twin brother, sir," said Mellen.
 "One question more. Had you heard before you came here who was killed?"
 "Yes, sir. They said it was Foster"
 And now, with pencils swiftly ply ing, several young civilians were edo