The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-06-13

III ueT KIM ana WlnSOme 1dce-W1tl
hand outstretched the moment sh
caught sight of him. "We wanted t.
come when we heard of it yesterday
Mr.. Gray" said Amy Lawrence, "bu
it was dark when we got back from see
ing the feet off, and uncle was too tiret
in the evening. Indeed, we are all very
very sorry!" And poor Billy never
heard or cared what the others said, sc
absorbed was he in drinking in her gen
tie words and gazing into her soft, dark
eyes. No wonder he found it difficult
to release her hand. That brief visit
filled with sweetness and sunshine
ought to have been a blessing to him
all day long, but Canker caught sight
of the damsels as they walked away
on the arms of the attendant cavaliers
Miss Lawrence more than once smiling
back at the incarcerated Billy-and
Canker demanded to be informed who
they were and where they had been, and
Gordon answered they were Miss Law
renee, of Santa Anita, and Miss Prime
of New York-and he "reckoned" they
must have been in to condole with Mr.
J Gray-whereat Canker snarled that
people ought to know better than to
visit officers in arrest-it was tanta-
mount to disrespect to the commander
1t was marvellous how many things in
Canker's eyes were disrespectful.
So he heard these stories with eager
ears and sent for Gray, and thought to
bully him into an admission or confes-
| sion, but Gordon's words had "stif-
fened" the little fellow to the extent
of Drawing Canker's anger and telling
him he had said all he proposed to say
when the colonel called him up the
previous day. The result of that was
his being placed in close arrest and in
formed that he should be tried by gen
eral court-martial at once. So he had
taken counsel, as was his right, and
counsel forbade his committing him
self in any way.
Then you refuse to divulge the con-
tents of that note and to say why YOU
were so eager to go on guard out of
your turn?" said Canker, oracularly.
That in itself is sufficient to convince
any fair-minded court of your guilt,
sir" Whereat Gordon winked at Billy
and put his tongue in his check and
Billy stood mute until ordered, with
much asperity, to go back to his tent.
But there were other things that
might well go toward convincing a
court of the guilt of Lieut.. Gray, and
poor Billy contemplated them with
sinking heart. Taking prompt adj
vantage of his position as officer of the
guard, he had caused the young pris-
oner to be brought outside the guard
house, and as heavy, dripping fog had
come on the wings of the night wind.
sailing in from the sea, he had led the
way to the sheltered side, which hap
pened to be the darkest one, of the rude
little building. and had there hidden
him tell his story. But Morton glanced
uneasily at IL sentry who followed close
and was lowering suspiciously about.
Il cannot talk about-the affair-with
that fellow spying" he said, with an
eager plea in his tone and sign of the
hand that Gray well knew and quickly
recognized. Keep around in front.
III be responsible for this prisoner"
were his orders, and, almost reluctant
ly, the man left. He was veteran SOL
der, and his manner impressed the
lieutenant with a vague sense of
trouble. Twice the sentry glanced
back and hesitated, as though some
thing were on his mind that he must
tell, but finally he disappeared and kept
out of the way during the brief inter
view that Immediately followed. The
prisoner eagerly, excitedly began his
explanation-swiftly banishing any lin
gering doubts Gray might have enter
tanned as to his innocence. But he had
come from stove-heated guard room
INTO the cold sea wind of the Pacific
INTO the floating wisps of vapor that
sent chill to the marrow. He was far
too lightly clad for that climate, and
presently he began to SILVER.
You are cold" said Gray, pityinply.
Have you no overcoat?"
Its at my tent never expected to
spend this night here. I've been be-
ore the summary court, fined for alb |
'ence, and thought that would end if
'ut instead of that I'm a prisoner and |
ne man who should be here is stalking
loout camp, planning more robberies.
ret I'd rather associate with the very
worst OF deserters or dead beats in
lde there" and the dark eyes glanced
lmost IN horror-the slender figure
nook with unmingled repulsion and
than with that smooth-tongued
neak and liar. There's no crime too
lean for him to commit, Mr.. GRAY
nd the men are beginning to know it.
hough the colonel won't. For Gods
axe get me out of this before morn
ig- And again the violent tremor
hok the lad from head to foot.
"Here-get insidel" said GRAY i'm
uisively. I'll see the adjutant at once ,
nd return to you in few minutes. IF
GU nave to remain until the matter can
e investigated by the general it might
e." ~
III would be-" vehementlv ;nter-
upted Morton, then breaking off short
though at loss for descriptiveness of