Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-05-23
CHAPTER K.

CHAPTER z.
1t was 11:30 that night when Cor
poral Judkins, posting his relief, came
stumbling along the rough ground be-
low the "bench" and turned into the
fiat between the quartermaster' hay
stacks and the stables. No. he had
posted at the east gate and picked up
the shivering sentry who for two mortal
hours had been swearing and trotting
up and down in vain effort to keep
warm. No. 9, down among the shadows
of the stacks and stables, was not so
easy to find When at last his challenge
was heard, he leaped from the shelter
OF the very stack that had called forth
the colonel IS condemnation that evening
at stables, and, between cold and ex-
citement-or something, was incoherent
In his formula for receiving relief, and
had to be sharply prompted by the COR
poral in turning over his orders.
whats the matter with you, scully?"
snarled the corporal. "You talk as if
you'd been asleep. Turn over your or
ders, man, and don't keep us shivering
here
The tall soldier who was to relieve
him stood patiently, with his Garbine
at port. Silently he listened to the
lnumbled words: "Allow no one to APP
proaoh the Stables or stacks with light
ed pipe or cigar. Allow no vehicles to
be driven to or from the stables or
horses taken out except in presence of a
commissioned officer, stable sergeant or
noncommissioned officer OF the guard.
Be on the alert for fires and keep special
lookout for the sparks from laundresses'
quarters when they start their fires in
him short
you've got 'em twisted, but You
know them all. don't you, Hunter?"
The tall recruit nodded.
Take your post, !" said the corporal
"Fall in, Soully. Darned lot Of use
you'd be tonight. You smell as if you d
been drinking"
II wish had, bedad," shivered No.
2. $50 on, corporal, or we'll never get
thawed. And in moment more the
tramp of the footsteps died away and
Hunter was alone.
He was warmly clad, for in addition
to the fur cap and gauntlets heavy over
shoes had been added to the soldiers
equipment for winter duty dismounted,
and as there was every indication Of
snow the guard had been ordered to
wear them this night Then in Rays
troop they had knack of keeping hot
coffee in the kitchen on the bitter win
ter nights for the benefit Of their
guards, and though it reminded him
but feehly of the fragrant Mocha Of
other days and chimes it had oheered
him not little, and he felt alert and
vigorous and independent as he began
patrolling his lonely post Along the
bluff to the westward the black bulk Of
the barracks doomed up against the star
ry sky. Between him and them were
close at hand the huge haystaoks, and
then the scattered huts and cottages of
the married men. In one or two Of
these faint night lights were glowing.
Several children had been ailing, and
there were anxious hearts among the
lowly. But there were no little ones at
Merriweather's, yet dim light shone
from the southwark window.
What manner of man was Merri-
weather anyway? pondered the sentry,
as, pacing briskly up the open space
before the stables, he went over in mind
the adventure now nearly two weeks
gone by. Never once, by word or act,
had the sergeant shown the faintest in
tention to seek satisfaction for the blow
that had foored him. True, he never
spoke to Hunter, never seemed to see
him, and the accident to Stella and
himself might, despite all the sergeant's
protests to his captain, have been the
result of his design. Once, twice, Hun
ter had seen Mrs. Merriweather, but ut
such distance that speech with her
was out Of the question, even had he
sought it. But she had seen him and
looked long and meaningly at him, and
he could not but know it. For some
reason Merriweather saw fit to hide the
facts connected with his absence from
tattoo that night and, SO long as no
one in authority questioned, it was not
Hunters province to explain.
Keeping yigilant lookout on every
side as he paced up and down, the sol
der gave his thoughts free rein, He
was glad to be alone to think and plan.
There was no glamour about soldering
as he had found it, and it was useless
denying even to himself that he would
gladly have recalled his rash enlist
ment, but that being impossible grit
and pride asserted themselves and babe
him stand to his guns and give no sign.
Barring the inquisitive proddings Of the
men, he had had no active annoyanoes
after the first few days. Would be tor
mentors respected man who.was SO
free with his fsts-and his money. His