Evening star., 1903-07-28

presently Corporal Donovan would be
bringing Trooper Schultz of &C. Troop
straight across the parade in search of
him. Tho major allowed his sentry
No. to be relieved at night. Mullins
thanked the saints with pious fervOr that
no moro ladies would be like to fit across
his vision, that night at least when dim
ly through the dusk. against the spangled
northern sky. he sighted another figure
crouching across the upper end of his post
and making straight for the lighted
trance at the rear of the lieutenant's quar-
ters Some one else. then. had interest at
Blakely S-Sone one coming stealthiiy from
without. minute later certain wakeful
ears were startled by moaning cry for
aid
Just what happened and how IT happened
within the minute led to conflicting stories
on the morrow. First man examined by
Major Plume was Lieutenant Truman of
the infantry. who happened to be officer of
tho day. He had been over at Blakely's
about midnight, he said; had found the pa
tient sleeping under the influence of sooth-
ing medicine, and after a whispered word
with Todd. the hospital attendant. had tip
toed out again, encounterng Downs. the
leutenants striker. in the darkness on the
rear porch. Downs said he that
cited he couldn't sleep at all. and Mr..
Truman had come to the conclusion that
Downs excitement was due in large part
to local influences totally disconnected with
the affairs of the early evening. Downs
was lrshman who loved the "craytur"
and had been known to resort to unconven-
tional methods of getting it. At IL o'clock.
said Mr.. Truman, the striker had obviously
been printing Now, Plumes standing or
ders were that no liquor should be sold to
Downs at the store and none to other sol
diers except in pony" glasses and for use
on the spot. None could be carried away
unconsumed The only legitimate spirits,
therefore. to which Downs could have ac-
i cess were those in Blakely's locked closet
spirits hitherto used only in the preserva-
ton of specimens, and though probably not
much worse than the whisky sold at the
store, disdainfully referred to by votaries
as "Blakely's bug juice" Mr.. Truman
therefore, demanded of Downs the posses
sion of the lieutenants keys. and. with ag-
grieved dignity of mien, Downs had
ferred him to the doctor, whose suspicious
had been earlier aroused. Intending to
visit his sentries after the change OF guard
at 1:3O Truman had thrown himself into
reclining chair In his little par Or, while
Mrs. Truman and tho little Trum.lns slum-
bered peacefully aloft. After reading an
hour or SO the lieutenant fell into a doze,
from which he awoke with a start. Mrs
Truman was bending over him. Mrs. Tru-
man had been aroused by hearing voices in
cautious yet excited colloquy in the
shadows of Blakely's back porch. She felt
sure that Downs was one and thought from
the sound that he must be intoxicated. So
Truman shuttled out to see, and somebody
bending double in the dusk scurried away
at his approach. He heard rather than
saw. But there was Downs, al least slink-
Ing back into the house, and him Truman
| halted and accosted. Who was 1nat with
YOU he asked, and Downs thickly swore
he hadn't seen a soul. But all the wlule
Downs was clumsily stuff1ng something into
side pocket. and Truman. Selling his
hand. dragged it forth into the light. It
was one Of the hospital sx-ounce bottles,
bearing label indicative Of glycerine To-
ton. but the color of the contained fluid
belied the label A sniff was sufflcient.
Who gave you this whisky7" was the next
demand. and Downs declared twas a hos
pital "messager'' that brought 1t over.
thinking the lieutenant might need it. Tru-
man. filled with wrath. had dragged Downs
into the dimly ughteu room to the rear of
that In which lay Lieutenant Blakely, and
was there upbraiding and investigating
when startled by the stifled cry that, rising
suddenly on the night from the open mesa
Just without. had so alarmed so many in
the garrison. OF what had led to 1t he had
then no moro idea than the dead.
Corporal Donovan. next examined, said
he was marching Schultz over to relieve
Mullins on No: 8. Just after half-past three.
quarters Of Captains Wren and Cutler,
which was about where No generally
half way between the flagstaff and the