Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-11-10
CHAPTER xxI.-(Continued.)

The second was telegram to the
commanding general, til division,
til corps, and bore the singular re-
semblance to one received on almost
the same ground some seven months
previous:
Secretary of War desires to see
Capt. Benton of your staff at once.
Take first boat intermediate COM
manders notified. No delay.
-. THOMAS, Adjutant- General
Well, we'll" said the colonel, "they
have been prompt! You can get to
Acquia by noon, can't you?"
Not if he goes back by way of Old
Scoffer's,' remarked field officer,
thoughtfully, Fired, don't you imagine
the chief wants to smooth things bit
before you tell Stanton all about it?"
Don't go back, Benton. Just let
him sweat. It'll make him more civil
another time" began an impetuous
eomrade. but stopped short at sight
OF the cloud in Benton's eyes, the anx-
ious look in the colonel's fine, clearcut,
soldierly face. 1t was the latter who
spoke again, and without interruption.
for already he had won the faith of
even such martial iconoclasts as the
Black Hats. This means something
more than mere difference due to ill
temper" said he. you are wanted
for purpose, Benton. 1t is--about
Ladue, do you think?'
Fred had already risen. 81 shouldn't
be surprised" he answered, thinking
uncontrollably of the words Of his
washington informant, God help the
man that has to bump up against Stan
ton just now!"
Yet he rode back to headquarters
and, surely enough, found his chief
there, CHI fing and suspicious. What's
Stanton want of you?" he blurted out.
"You haven't-You didn't-make a
row about what l said Monday night,
did you? We were all cross grained
then, and didn't happen to think you
had to look me up and so-got lost.
L have certainly written to friend
at Washington asking for other duty,
sir" said Benton firmly, though his an
ger had vanished and given place
to- sadness and anxiety. 81 did not
get lost, however. I obeyed orders,
and under similar circumstances should
do SO az in"
I've told. you 4 didn't understand
the matter at the time or shouldn't
have said, perhaps, what did," broke
in Old Scoffer, both hurt and troubled.
j IF you're going to start in on your
army career with the idea that you're
never going to get hauled over the
Goals, you've mistaken your profess
sion" Scoffer knew he had been
in the wrong. He wanted to undo
the wrong. He simply didn't know
how, and Benton wouldn't help him.
And SO they parted enemies, if any
thing, and, preceded by the story of
Old ScofSer's vehement assertion, en-
1arged, of course, in transit, that he
had more friends in the south than
in the army" Benton reported the
following day at the war department,
and was shown into the presence of the
angering secretary.
1t was dull December morning.
1t followed close on the heels of dire
disaster; and, with the stories rush
Ing in upon him of contention, dis
loyalty, and disruption at the front,
the Iron Secretary was stung and
goaded by the evidences of triumphant
plot and treason all about him and
among the cities safeguarded at the
rear. Two prominent households with
IN easy rif1e-shot of his desk were now
shown in
respondence with leaders of the rebel
!. cause at Richmond. The heart of the
secretary was hot within him and
hardened against this young staff offic-
er OF fighting corps, who, ushered
into the severe and repellent presence,
stood silently at guard.
For moment each studied the other,
and the menace in Stanton's frown
reused the spirit of fight in Benton's
not too pacific temperament. What
business has man to look at me as
though he thought ought to be hang
ed, no matter if he is war secretary?"
was the question uppermost in the
Badgers mind. His father, the squire,
had once trounced brother-in-law for
less. The bump OF INSTRUMENTATION was
rising even before the secretarys first
question.
How came you so late, sir?"
And the bump was in his throat, as,
flushing to the brows, the Badger an
swered:
Possibly because was kept waiting
an hour outside, sir"
Stanton's veins seemed to swell to
thrice their natural size, and his strong
face, fringed by the iron-gray beard,
turned almost purple.
You will be wise to keep your tenn
per, young sir, if you wish to keep your
commission. You owe your escape
from rebel hands, am told, to certain
members of DR.. Chilton's family, of
Charlottesville"
No answer.
1t is SO. is it not?"
One member only, sill"
Lieut.. Ladue was your intimate
friend at home, I believe" Stanton