Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-03-22
Copyright. 1902. By e. W. billing ham Co.
CHAPTER XXI.-CoxrrSuEp.

kttAPIER ANl.-CoNTINUED
'sWell, we'll said the colonel, they
have been prompt, You can get to
Acqua by noon. can't you?"
Not if he goes back by way of Old
Scoffers," remarked a field officer.
though fully. Fred, don't you imagine
the chief wants to smooth things bit
before you tell Stanton all about il %
Don't go back, Benton. Just let
him sweat It'll make him more civil
another time" began an impetuous
comrade, 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.
Tor already he had won the faith of
even such martial iconoclasts as the
Black Hats. This means something
more than mere difference due to i'll
temper" said he You are wanted
for purpose, Benton. 1t is-about
Iadue, 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 20 bump up against Stan
ton just now,"
Yet he rode back 20 headquarters
and, surely enough, found his chief
there. CHI fing and suspicious. What's
stanton want of you?" he blurteJ out
You havent-You didn't-make q
row about what | said Monday night.
Cad you? We were all s-grained
then. and | didn't happen to think You
had to look me up and so-got lost"
have certainly written to a friend
at Washington asking for other duty.
SIR, said Benton firmly, though his an
ger had vanished and given place
40 sadness and anxiety Il did not
get lost, however. / obeyed orders.
and under similar circumstances should
do so again"
We told you / didn't understand
the matter at the time or I shouldn't
have said, perhaps, what did" broke
IN Old ScOf1er, both hurt and troubled.
II 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. lie 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 Scoffer's vehement assertion. en-
larSed, 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.
For moment each studied the other.
and the menace in Stantons frown
reused the spirit CT fight in Bcnton's
not too pacific temperament What
business has a 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 i'm the
Badgers mind. His father. the squire.
had once trounced a brother-in- law for
less. The bump Of characterization was
rising even before the secretary's 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
tarned almost purple
You viii be wise 10 keep your tenn
per, young sir, If you wish TO keep your
csmmission. You owe your escape
from rebel hands. ! am told. to certain
members OF DR.. Chiltoa's family. of
Charlottesville
No answer
1T Is 50. is 81 not?"
One member Orly. sir"
Lieut.. L9due was your intimate
~ end at hone. ! believe" Stanton
vas tapping me desk with a long
rs'ler-an ominous sign. said they who
knew him.
"He was. sir"
Was IL 20 square accounts with tho
Cniitons you sought % shield himY"