Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-01-28
B LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON 81

port in person to the Adiutant General The
examining officer scanned him narrowly but
said nothing 0rmsby neither scanned nor spake
1t was the stranger who broke silence, asked for
light, and showed disposition to talk Ormsby
only shortly answered and then sought place
to sleep. Next morning, when very stylishly
dressed young woman, with deep-blue eyes and
fair hair, joined the stranger at Fortress Monroe
Ormsby wished he had been more cordial. She
was most attractive, and he hadn't seen pretty
woman since May.
Not until the following day did he see her
again. The case in which he was to testify was
not to be called at once. and even that linty
hearted War Secretary had granted him per.
mission to run on to New York So he had
wired to his father. He had the orders in his
pocket as he hurried away, rejoicing. lie would
take the p NJ. train and be at home for
Christmas dinner.
A lady with swimming, fearful blue eyes came
away from the War Department as he made his
exit and he knew her at once-the wife of that
volunteer officer who came with him from CITY
Point-and he was more than half disposed to
ask her il he could be of any service. lie hated
to woman-a pretty woman-cry. But the
sight Of him seemed unwelcome. With bowed
head she hurried away.
And so he was more than surprised when
three hours later, at Wizards, Just as he was
leaving his room and going down to late din.
ner he met her in the corridor face to face. He
was astonished when she who seemed to fec
from him at four o'clock now stopped and eager
ly accosted him.
"Forgive me-" she tremulousiy said, "but
know YOU arc Captain Ormsby. of General War
rens staff My husband belongs to his corps.
He came with YOU the boat from City Point,
and We arc in such trouble We were to dine at
Senator Harris tonight. and there has been
some dreadful mistake. They have arrested my
husband for another man a deserter, and they
insist on taking him to the boat for Fortress
/ ISM to he'=
sent carriage. Could you-would you-drive
! there with me? I have all his papers here. And
then we can take you to your train or-any-
| where"
| What staff officer and soldier could refuse such
a plea? Tn five minutes, through pelting rain
and the squashy mud of wartime Washington,
he was whiring away in close carriage with
Beauty in Distress palpitating at his side. They
| stopped at a dark and unfamiliar corner. The
door was quickly opened. Two men sprang in.
the door slammed behind Them and-that was
! all Lieutenant Ormsby could remember until.
deathly sick at his stomach, sore, bedraggled wet
to the skin, and robbed of his uniform coat, cap,
| overcoat-and their contents-he found himself
in dirty howell whittier still insensibe, some.
| time in the early morning hours he had been
carried out Of the mud and rain. Ornsby didn't
go home for Christmas dinner. Another officer
Travelled on his order, passed the scrutiny of the
| Provost Marshals people at the station, and
reached Philadelphia. at least, and left the train
before it was discovered that Lieutenant Percy
J.. Fenno, Two Hundred and Fiftieth New York
Volunteer Infantry, summoned to Washington
to explain matters the War Department found
most mysterious, had managed to escape. No
such officer left the city by road boat rail
way, said the Provost Marshal's people, but they
were silenced when it appeared that Lieutenant
r. B. Ormsby, til United States Infantry
whom they reported gone to Gotham by the 9
o'clock train, lying robbed and still dazed
and halfstupefed, victim of choroform, APP
parently in the hands of the police.
Then came the Rector and comparison OF
notes 'twixt father and son, then-mutual for
giveness.
Ten DAYS later the Secret Service landed their
fish, and as brilliant, daring, and successful a
bounty Jumper the war produced was ar
raigned before a military court and sent for a
long term of years to the Dry Tortugas. Holding
the rank and commission of first lieutenant of
volunteers, he had utilized his leave Of absence
to vast advantage financially, but to his ulti-
mate destruction. As for the lady in the case
but even the Rector's wife longer refers to
her. it is so much easier to forgive
Copyright by.J. b Lppincott Coz