Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-05
Synopsis of Preceding Chapters.

ily is reprimanded a. West Point for d,ellin:
and is withdrawn by his high-spirited father
His homecoming in the winter Of 1850 Is cele
hrated by an oldfssh,oaed Kentucky Christmas
daughter of Or. Holts lawyer, and J. Burnett
Malloy both of Cincinnati. The latter bring.
letters Of Introduction from Lanes partner. Mr.
Mcintyre; and is courteously received hui
a ,r.; the ieaousy of Norman Holt BY his at
Lane from the main party during a fox hunt
and at the Christmas har tie same evening If
fects an air of propri,torship diStastef1l t.
Daisy and obnoxious his rival. Norman Holt
nnt al i'll feeling is forgotten when ut midnight
punch. which ceremony is interrnrtrd hy mid
night messenger, WHO annnincrS the dangerous
Illness OF Judge Mclntyr". Investigation reveals
hiI financial affairs in hopeless tangIe AMI the
Holt fortune dissipatei. Iirnry and Norman en-
fer Lanes law Office In Cincinnati. Norman en-
lists as private In the ohio infantry. Malloy
through political influence is lieutenant in the
same company. and Henry Holt joins the con
astonishing party under Captain Wing tC
Rrileview in search of prominent rebels. Belle
accused of treachery. Brain fever saves him
frern trial and takes him 10 the Hospital
'h'rses against No-Fuan are disproved nv En-
Sheridan in capturing Henry Holt.
Between fiat wooded banks the broad
stream was sweeping, the Queen floating,
ncisoless. with the food. 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 officers
were at cards or chat Only a few appear
ed outside. A wooden shelf ran along the
rail. narrow seat, and upon this Norman
dropped and buried his face in his hands
lie could not yet go below and Join his
comrades. He craved to be alone if only
TO think a few moments. Three or four Of
hcers, wrapped in their overooats and
sprawling on big chairs or on blankets on
the deck We're sensibly preparing for pos
Side 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
appeared, but presently the door to the
cabin opened and the form of young off
Ger came quickly forth. The door slammed
after him, and he stood at the rail alone
Then in moment, a his eyes became ac-
cUstomed TO the darkness he glanced about
him. at the two or three recumhcnt forms
on one hand, at the lonely seated figure on
the other a moment more he stood ir-
resolute. then stepped quickly to the latter
and laid a heavy hand upon the shoulder
Norman looked up instantly. rose quickly
To his feet and stood at salute.
You know perfectly well. sir said the
officer. in cold, cutting tone you have
no business here. Go below-where YOU
belong"
A lump seemed to spring to Norman's
throat He essayed to speak but no words
would come. Silently he faced about and
ed YEARLY to the stairway. a few wards
forward. AT the foot he en- ountered the
sergeant major Just looking for you
Holt. Report to the colonel in the after
cabin at once, were the staff sergeants
crisp words.
The shortest way was up the stairs again
and in q trice he stood upon the deck from
which but the moment before he had been
so summary ordered. There stood the Of
ficer. mis- first lieutenant, his back toward
MS buSlly tearing a sheet of paper into
fragments and throwing them carefully
overheard. Dim was the light, Norman
Gouio see with suff1cient plainness that
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
nave sworn he was livid, trembling. and
the voice with which he spoke was harsh
ard shaking with mingled wrath and
dread.
II ordered you below, sir. How dare
you disobey?''
The colonel orders me back" was the
reply. as the dark eyes, mournful. but
burning with sense of indignity and
wrong-hghting. too. with strange interest
at sight OF the others evident a,arna-gazeu
straight into the steely blue. May l be
allowed to pass"
Fer a moment Malloy stood as though
half minded to again speak, but-a door
o2ened at the instant, Gaffney's jovial
brogue rang out on the night. ''Shure. ri
find him at wanst, colonel. Twill be glad
news to him-as il Is to me-
'Damnation.' Kissed Malloy, as he turned
and hurried away.
a moment later and the tall you,o .ol
der was standing at attention. cap in hand
In front Of the colonel, who seated at one
side OF the cabin, his adjutant stand ne by
the sofa, and other officers grouped about
him, le!surely looked up from the papers
he held in his hand.
Holt" said he, II have a letter from
Colonel Sheridan, one paragraph of which
VIII interest you He thanks us for the
prompt support given him the morning of
the nth before starting on his way TO
Bonneville. and says that but for his guide ,
he couldn't have nabbed the rebel scouting
party with their important papers, and,
referring to letters written, ahem-in your
behalf, says: / have heard so much in favor
Of that young soldier and was so well i'm
pressed with him that 1 have written urg-
Ing his being commissioned a first lieuten-
ant in my regiment. He may look for 1t
before the middle of July"
But before the middle of July the young
colonel had stepped un to the stars, and
babe goodby to the % Michigan. Before the
middle OF July Norman Holt was a pris-
oner under guard. ordered to face 81 gen
erai court-martial on trial for his life.
CHAPTER NIL.
Under the burning summer suns. over the
slaring pike. powdered and choked by the
limestone dust, thick and thirst provoking
their knapSdcks Whenevr they
dared, and wondering where on earth they
were going and wherefore, the Buckeyes |
with the Emmets at the tail of the column
much of the way. tramped YEARLY east
ward through landscape that under other |
conditions would have charmed the senses
wiz. its beauty. Beauregard having aban-
1u-'d C0rinth and scattered his forces. |
many going to strengthen Bragg about |
1t behooved the union leaders |
TO look out for the approaches to Nashville
and to take measures 10 check those enter |
prisinS troopers, Messrs. Forrest and Nor |
who skipped through the south like !
The lrishmans flea. and were here. there !
and everywhere among our communica lions. |
Ii was away toward the flag end of June |
hat the hardy. seasoned regiment includ- |
nG that hardswearing company, the En- /
NETS. found themselves smped near the |
railway. with Tullahoma not too many |
miles off to permit OF occasional unauthor- |
zed sorties. by squad, armed only with |
canteens. and here We're they hidden to |
watch the road, guard the railway bridge |
and see to it that Johnny Reb didn't rip |
lp the rails or burn the Howe truss right |
under their regimental noses. Then two
companies were sent up the track TO look
after the bridge at French:lan's creek and |
Two more across the right of way to pro- |
.ect the stone arch that carried the bike |
,ver braw!ing lictie mountain stream that |
,ame tumbling from the Cumberland Then |