The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-22
and 1 viii give my word that / viii max,

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broad brlntncd felt hat Upon his head,
and Ills dark bright eyes looklng care
lcssy to right and left as he walked
bravely along. 4. 3B
out into the center OF the sun.dried
and glaring square marched tho little
band. Past Ill the troops, nrst from left
to right, SO that oil might view tho noted
Captain Brent.
ig'"Just us IL II was d COMPOUNDED dam
cling bear" grumbed he. half aloud, and
the men at his side coul1 not suppress
a grin. rs
lows, and mounts the steps TO the plat
FORM looking down with d high, and
mighty air on tho crowd OF soldlery be-
low. A chaplain Of tho church stands
rcndy to administer words OF comfort to
tho departing soul.
'.Thank you kindly, reverend SIR" says
Brent, "but as do not know where
am going, nor do YOU, 1t will be itnpossi-
bio for you TO give me proper In
Productions. Besides have never been
Inside OF one Of your houses OF worship
since l was old enough to do as / pleased,
cry mercy for my sins now that t Is
too late. l thank you kindly. for l know
that It Is we'll meant. but 1t is use.
less" A AZ
Tho chaplain stepped back somewhat
nonplussed at such unexpected logic.
Brent turned and looked down at the
adjutant who stood Just below him. .i
How long have we to walt hereY.3 ne
asked. ut Is dreadfully hot and I do
not see any cause for delay now that T
am hcre!' 800 !. " 81 4
1--WE are waiting for tho presence Of
This cxcellency the governor general.
was the reply, without whom no cero-
mony can take place." .4
\ SWELL why does he not Gomez He has
had warning enough. do not think that
II Is right or proper for one great man.
even though he be in authority. to keep
another waiting. 1t does not seem to me
courteous. especially under the circum-
stances"
The soldiers who heard him found It
Impossible TO repress smile, and even
the rigid adjutant twitched about the
mouth. /. O
Suddenly a figure In full uniform, with
tall white plume in his chapeau, hur-i
5ricd down the steps OF the palace, and
approached the colonel. I,
85&"I beg your pardon. Colonel Mercer
Good hcavens!" exclaimed the colo
mel. doesn't the man know that can
not receive any official communications
except through my adjntant?
But the parsonage was not 70 oe put
or. .s5
Colonel Mercer, II regret to inform you
that tho ceremony cannot go on. The
governor general Is not in the palace.
mot in the palace?" cried the colonel,
startled out OF his usual dignity. Then
where is her.
1--WE do not know, sir. His bed has
been slept in. but seems to have been
left flurriedly. and we cannot IND any
trace Of his exccllency!" !.
This is most unpleasant" murmured
the commanding officer. Z,
4M'"That depends on how you look at It, 4
said Brent to himself.
At this moment six sailors, armed with
rifles and escorting an officer IN uni-
form, with a hat for all the world like
led to the palace yard. I1o carried q pa
per In his hand and approached the coll
onel without the slightest hesitation. VI
'$g2. CHAPTER Nv. s "a
.$}' Colonel Mercer?" he asked, al he halt
ed few feet from the latter officer.
~ am that person." was the reply Of
that rather nonplussed Individual.
u am Instructed by Governor Fitz-
morris to give you this paper, which he
said would explain itself. That IS, he
added, that 1t would do so as far as he
was a Bile to make It.
''He looked up at Captain Brent and
gave him an almost imperceptible wink.
The demeanor OF the prisoner at once
changed from n somewhat discontinued
frame Of mind at the Ia ok of haste on
the part OF his captors to one Of abso-
Lutte Indifference to the outcome.
In the meantime Colonel Mercer was
reading the paper which had been handed
him with a countenance at once lndica-
tive Of extreme surprise and certain
proportion of fear.
This is evidently genuine" he said
tr,o nuybot CHI Fyy, t0a oo no 0 nda
1t to the officer with tho white-plumed
chapeau, who was the lord chamberlain.
The latter took the document and
quickly ran It over surprise growing
more and more plain In his face as he
proceeded. f@l
80. this is terrible!" he murmured.
'tMost unfortunate error, You will Of
all the necessary apologies, Colonel Mer-
cer."l
'.My province does not go beyond re-
leasing him, Sir William. The apology
must come from either you or his ex-
cellency the governor general ! simply
constitute the military guard" He smiled
.trumphantly at the other as he took the
and mounting 1t he said to- Captain
Brent:
my dear sir there appears to have
been some very unfortunate error COM
m!tted in taking you into custody. For
that, am thankful to say, ! am not
responsible. My painful duty Is now
over, and have the pleasant one Of
reading you the following communication
from his excellencyl Lord George Fitz-
morris, governor general OF the island.
'Regretting that he cannot be present
at the hanging r. asked Brent with a sar-
castle smile.
''Thero will be no hanging to-day" re-
piled Colonel Mercer, 6s.9
"Postponed on account OF the weather?
Isn't it hot enough for your demanded
Brent. who was now master made by
the soldier
"Ah, to he sure, beg your pardon, Is
this an official document you have?"
.Yes. IT Is from his excellency,"
"And you expect mo to understand It..
But never mind. you would not see the
funny side OF that remark without q de-
tniled explanation! Go ahead. proceed,
fire away, old mani" IIe leaned against
tho upright OF the gallows In q nonchal-
ant manner and took a cigar from his
pocket,
80 On board the Badger.
January IS. 1900,
Colonel w, II. Mercer. A, p, g., CONS
manding ll11th regt Of foot'
Il 49,, onIn n