The Press., 1904-03-10

he was attended by a private soldier
acting as orderly. 1t had been Private
O'Rourke up to certain Tuesday
morning. Then Private Higgins hum
bly, followed at the regulation distance
without the change being noticed. Pri-
vate Higgins had been Sergeant Hig-
gins for two years before the coming
Of Captain Trent Then cause had
been found for reducing him to the
ranks. On this morning the girl was
ready and waiting, and she and the
captain rode straight away and did not
draw rein until reaching the boiling
spring among the hills. Then they
dismounted for rest, and Higgins
came forward to take care of their
horses. Even then the captain did not
remark the change. 1t was fifteen
minutes later. as he sat with his back
to a rock and smoking cigar, that
Private Higgins suddenly appeared be-
fore him with leveled revolver and
quietly said: ...
Captain Trent, have a bit of bust
ness with you, and If you raise any
row about it I'll shoot you through
the head"
'Is it you, Higgins?" asked the off,
Ger as he turned.
''It's me, sir, one Of the men you
broke acted as orderly today that
/ might kill you. Give me the slight
est excuse and I'll do it You have
your revolver, but it is not loaded. 1
tempered a bit with your man last
night. Now put your hands behind
you or this little lady, who is keeping
SO quiet, will see case of killing"
Captain Trent was no coward, but
he knew when he was beaten. When
his arms were thrust behind him they
were made fast with buckskin thongs
brought for the purpose. Then his
ankles were bound, and Private Hig-
gins lighted a cigar and sat down and
said to the girl. who had been SO sur
prised and frightened that she had not
said word:
81 beg your pardon, miss, but there Ii
naught for you to fear. You see, Cap
tain Trent and I are both military re-
formists, only we go about it in a diff
ferent way"
"But you don't mean to kill himp' ex-
claimed the girl as she clasped her
hands.
81 hope l shan't have to, miss, being
I've got him fast bound. think 1t viii
be sufficient If tell you what sort Of a
man he is and he does the listening.
Just hear me, MISS"
Higgins, I'll have you shot for this"
threatened the captain as he began to
realize the position he was placed in.
You never will, captain" quietly re-
piled the man. In the first place,
may think best to shoot you before
60, and in the next I'm going to desert
and bid you find me if you can. Keep
a quiet tongue and don't provoke me.
I've felt like. numbering you for the last
two months. Now for my story, miss"
The girl listened. She knew nothing
Of military matters. She had never
heard of bulldozing and bullyragging
and official spite. Private Higgins took
up case after case and related incident
after incident. Not understanding the
nature of things, his relation would not
have made such an impression upon the
girl but for the captains attitude be-
fore her. He quite lost his temper and
became profane, abusive and coarse to
q degree. He showed side of his ma
ture that she had never suspected and
that shocked and astonished her. Pri-
vate Higgins stated his case from be-
ginning to end, and he stated it fairly
and wound up by saying: .....,
You see, miss, that 1t Is case Of
military reform. Captain Trent felt
called upon to reform Company Il, and
/ felt called upon to reform him. I've
got to desert and become an outlaw to
do it, and I'm thinking might as well
go the whole way and leave him dead
behind me-" ...
"But you won't do that" she pleaded.
"You may have been wronged. but you
won't do murder?'
'"Then it's owing to your own sweet
self, young lady, but God help you IL
you ever become the wife of such a
man. I'll go without harming him,
and I'll say goodby and heaven bless
you"
He rode away without look back,
and when the echo of his horses foot
steps had died away the captain said:
blanche, the man is a scoundrel and
liar. He told you nothing but lies.
You surely can't believe him."
She rose up and passed behind him
and united the knots at his wrists.
With his freed hands he loosened those
at his ankles and rose up and said:
blanche, tell me that you don't be-
lieve what he said. Tell me-
go and resignw she interrupted him
as she turned away to mount her horse
and ride back to the ranch alone.