Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-08-30
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Sacred Trust.
IOriginal.l

IOriginaIl
"a man who Will not respect n
brother officer in his domestic rcla-
TONS" said Lieutenant Pickering of
the United States artillery, deserves
to he cut
pickering. when you are thrown ex-
clusively into the society of your
friends wife, look out for your honor"
bugle call sounded. and Lieuten-
ants Pickering and Frogmore arose
aud started for the parade ground.
A year later, the two men having
meanwhile served ut different forts.
FrogmOre came out of Il railroad car
that was just about to leave when he
met Pickering getting in.
Hello, Pickering"
Hello, Frogmore."
"Going east?"
YES"
ANY objection to taking care on
LADY,"
Not the least. \ relation of yours?'
Yes. Get in, put down your traps.
and I'll introduce you"
| Pickering slowed away his belong
ings. then was introduced.
Nancy. this is one of my best
friends, Mr.. Pickering of the artillery
corps. Pick. old boy, this is my wife.
I'm going to intrust her to your charge.
Don't let her get away with YOU"
Pickering looked astonished. while
the lady greeted him with pair of
merry eyes and n smile fianked by
dimples. ANNE
why, Frog, didn't know you were
married"
Secret. Old man ready to shoot me
on sight. You're the only living being
who knows it. Seriously. old fellow,
l know you'll be good to her. Take
care of yourself. Goodby, Nan" And,
kissing the lady affectionately, he hur-
ried from the car.
What passed between Pickering and
Nancy Frogmore was secret which
Pickering at least kept secret. He GER
tainly did not run away with his
brother officers wife. Nevertheless
not long after this journey he was hor-
rified to receive an order to report at
Fort -. his horror coming from the
fact that FrOgmore was on duty Mt the
same fort. Pickering used every inhu-
ence to secure a change of the order.
but failed. He was obliged to go to
Fort - and meet his old friend Frog
more and, what was as embarrassing,
Frogmore's wife He was carrying
gripsack across the parade when whom
should he meet but FrogmOre himself.
"Old man." said the latter grasping
his hand warmly, I'm glad to see you.
OF course you're hungry. Don't go
to the mess for dinner. Come to my
quarters. Nan is there. She'll be de-
lighted to see you"
But I'm black with engine dust"
said Pickering, with scared look
Never mind that. I'll give you a
place to fix up In. Come along We
dine In ten minutes"
The two went to Frogmore's quar-
tiers, where, after Pickering had re-
moved the outer coating of dust. they
went down to the dining room. Nancy
: Frogmore advanced cordially. offering
Pickering her hand, which the latter
took and, after shaking 1t nervously
dropped all of sudden. Nancy
blushed little, but Pickering was sur
prised, after all that had occurred, that
she showed no well defined qualms of
conscience. The three sat down to
dinner, and the Frogmores were so
, hospitable, so jolly, that Pickering
WOulu nave lOTSOlten Ills lDIeHIlOLdl
though not contaminated injury to the
head of the house had not Frogmore's
, friendliness and trustfulness over
, powered him with shame. However,
! he was getting on pretty well when
suddenly Frogmore blurted:
2 81 say, Pick. have you kept your con-
, science clear with brother officers
wivesY'
! Pickering looked as though lie had re-
> Iceived bullet in his heart.
! Now, Bob began the lady.
Don't Bob me- L propose to have
the thing out right here. Pick. confid-
ing in your honor, left Nancy in your
p charge for a journey. Before it was
concluded you consented to run away
with her.
: Bob, you promised me-
I "Now, want you to understand that
a breach of honor like this would draw
down on you a cut from the whole
. army. Either you give me satisfaction
, or let the secret out to this garrison"
! Don't mind what he says, Mr.. Pick
ering," said Nancy Frognore, blushing
ike the red stripes of the colors that
could be seen from the window.
!. 1T was-confound It, it was all a