Warren sheaf., 1903-07-23
/. CHAPTER Nv.

> . 10 Z 5E&f :
I. Many a time has it happened in
the old days of the old army that
the post adjutant has begged to be
allowed to go with some detachment
sent after Indians Rarely has it
happened, however, that, without
any request from the detachment
commander or of his own, has the
post adjutant been ordered to go.
No one could say of Beverly Field
that he had not abundantly availed
himself of every opportunity for ac-
tive service in the past. During his
first two years with the regiment he
had spent more than half the time
in saddle and afeld, scouting the
trails Of war parties or lnarauding
bands, or watching over peaceful
tribe when on the annual hunt.
Twice he had been out with Ray,
which meant liberal education in
plainscraft and frontier duty. Twice
20 times, probably, had he said he
would welcome chance to go again
with Capt. Ray, and now the chance
had come, so had the spoken order,
and, SO far from receiving it with re-.
joicing, it was more than apparent
that he heard it with something like
dis1nay.
But Webb was not the man to
either explain or defend an order,
even to a junior for whom he cher
ished such regard. Field felt in
stinctively that it was not because
of wish expressed in the past he
was SO suddenly bidden to take the
field. Rays senior subaltern, as he
has been said, was absent, being on
duty at West Point, but his junior
was on hand, and Ray really did not
need, and probably had not applied
for, the services of Mr.. Field 1t was
all the majors doing, and all, rea-
soned he, because the major deemed
it best that for the time being his
young adjutant should be sent away
from the post. Impulse prompted
Field to ask wherein he had offended
or failed. Reflection taught him,
however, that he would be wise to
ask no questions. 1t might well be
that Webb knew more Of what had
happened during the night than he,
Beverly Field, would care to have
mentioned. .=E"
# You can be ready, can you not?'
asked the major. +.
Z Il am ready now, sir,'' was the
brief, firm reply, but the tone told
! unerringly that the lad resented and
in heart rebelled at the detail '.To
whom shall I turn over the post
i fund, sir?"
IT do not care to have you trans
fer funds or anything, Field. This
is but temporary affair, one that
will take you away perhaps fort
night .s... 2
l. II prefer that it should be perma-
] nent, SIR was the young, officers
sudden Interruption and, though his
eyes were blazing, he spoke with eff
fort, his face still white with mingled
sense of indignity and Indignation.
'''Gently, Mr.. Field,' said Webb, with
unruffied calm, even while uplifting
hand in quiet warning. ''We will
/ consider that, if need be, on your re-
turn. Meantime, if you desire, will
receipt to you for the post fund or
any other public money!
THAT is the trouble, sir. The best
can do is give you an order for it.
Post treasurers, as a. rule, have not
| had to turn over their funds at four
o'clock in the morning., which state
ment was true enough, however in
/ judicious it might be to bruit it.
Nlild-nlannered commanding officers
sometimes amaze their subordinates
by most unlocked for and unwelcome
! eruptiveness of speech when they
| feel that an unwarrantable liberty
! has been taken. Webb did not take
fire. He turned icy.
1.-THE quartermaster's safe can be
opened at any moment, Mr.. Field,'';
said he, the blue gray eyes glitter.
ing, dangerously. Il presume your
! funds are there
1T was because the quartermaster
1 would not open it at any moment
| that I took them out and placed them
7. elsewhere Z hotly answered Field. and
not until then did Webb remember
that there had been quite fiery talk,
followed by hyperborean estrange-
ment,, between his two staff officers,
i and now, as the only government safe
at the post was in the office Of the
/ quartermaster, and the only other
one was Bill Hays big .'Phoenix'' at
the store, it dawned upon the major
that it was there Mr.. Field had
1 stSwed his packages Of currency-a
!; violation Of orders pure and simple
4 and that was why he could not pro-
duce the money on the spot. Webb
] reflected. If he let Ray start at dawn
I and held Field back until the trader;
i was astir, it might be eight o'clock
1 before the yonngster could set forth.
& By that time Ray would be perhaps
q dozen miles to the northward, and
with keen-eyed Indian scouts noting
the march OF the troop and keeping
Mgilant watch for possible strag-