The sun., 1910-02-06
.PUFFUM'S
ID "REMINISCENCES
The Court-Martial.

my sister Laura enthusiastically.
Susanna was the beautiful daughter OF
Senator Laphoon whom had rescued
from the blizzard 10 my own despite; but
who bad atoned, To her own satisfaction
ut least, for her constant rudeness TO me
\ by swearing eternal friendship for my
sister. Singularly enough, the two girls
were much alike in form and feature.
why do you ask that?" retorted with
grave displeaslre. Didn't just explain
10 you that 1t was matter OF the closest
ccnfidenceP Do you think l would be
loyal to my Congressman, Mr.. Gizer, or
10 his colleague and friend, John Darr, IL
II should thus publish IL in the streets OF
, Askelon? fear, my dear, must learn to
be more reserved with you
y Don't. brother" pleaded Laura peni-
tently. Il won't say a word about IL, IL
you forbid. l only thought that Susanne
might secure the interest Of her father.
: She says he will do anything she asks
"But why should you want her TO be
interested; and why should she interest
herseIf?"
y Whereat Laura with toss turned ST.
lcntly to her writings through which she
obliged the Newtown Clarion and served
: the world at large.
20 OF course she knew that knew why as
wen as l knew myself. There are many
things which for the sake OF harmony
must go without saying in so small home
ae ours. / knew that laura was secretly
frettcd by the devotion Of the Hon. John
Darr and that she hoped so to bring mat
ters about that he would transfer this de-
votion to Susanne; and she knew that
Knew 1t.
" Tknew too that the disfavor with which
Mr.. Gizer regarded Darr's pretensions was
3 moving cause with her. but you may
be sure that she would never admit, even
10 herself that she knew that either she
orr knew it.
Shall 60 further and admit my own
insincerity in being 50 stiff against the
inclusion Of Miss Laphoon in my conf
dence? l protest liked her too little
TO have been influenced by jealousy,
and yet did feel that would like her
even less should Laura's precious trans
for prove successful.
This then was the secret from which
In the interests Of a purely impersonal
Arnity had barred Miss Laphoon John
D&rf's sister was the wife Of Capt. Seth
Francis of the Regular army. serving
In the Philippines. The Captain had
reoently been court-martialled there for
the offence OF striking his superior officer,
Col. Muckenhaupt, and the findings Of
the court, which it was assumed must
recommend expulsion or worse, were
now on their way over the Pacific on a
8overnment transport for the approval
of the President. Similarly Mrs Francis
was speeding home in the opposite direc-
tion by way OF the Suez Canal in the wild
hope that she might arrive in time to give
) &R1oh confidential Information to the Presi-
dent as would constrain him to dis
approve the conviction and perhaps
uuash the proceedings.
y Now Gen. Muckenhaupt. the Colonel's
brother, was chief Of the bureau of foreign
scrutiny at the War Department.
y partisan and a martinez whose service
IN the secret branch had been such as to
make him regardless of civil rights aud
firm In the belief that the end justifies the
means, il was feared by both Mr.. Darr
and Mr.. Gizer that should he become
awsre Of Mrs. Francis's purpose he would
take any and every means possible to
Accordingly they had assigned to me
the task Of finding out whether he had any
tntimation OF Mrs. Francss mission
IN order that IL he had they and ] might
counterplot against his inevitable plot
ting. The time was short: the race would
be close, but with the odds favoring
the lady. Therefore must up and about
the job. abandoning for the nonce the
snanifold doings which made up my
routine work.
.Good-by, sister" I said, with mock
gravity. Il did not feel that should
70 into danger without letting you know
hope you have not thought me severe
- my structures OF your friend Miss
Lsph9on. The tenderness that comes
20 heart about to be steeled to strife
constrains me TO say that should / not
you understand?'
-oh. run along. said Laura. her pen
plump into trouble we'll have to fish you
out
It was my harsh fate to be depending
on this jesting promise before twenty
four hours had passed.
ii.
1t was about o'clock that afternoon
when went TO the offices OF the foreign
scrutiny bureau on the top floor of the
War and Navy Building, the best time.
by the way, fer official business, since
from that hour the hustle Of sightseers
and visitors has ceased for the day. I
was primed, too, with business OF the
proper sort.
A constituent OF Mr.. Gizer's had written
that he had knowledge Of the secret
process by which a very efficient smoke
tcso POWOei was ludue ny IOTelku JOV-
ernment, which he was willing 10 reveal
TO those most concerned for a considera-
ton. I had just explained this errand
b the clerk in the outer office, without,
however, mentioning the name OF my
Congressman, when an insistent ringing,
coupled with impatient growls from the
inner room, sent this functionary flying
into the presence OF his chief.
Even while the ringing continued the
telephone on his desk. just vacated, be-
gan TO tinkle. Before it could jangle
emulously had the receiver on and up
20 my ear.
Hello, Glawstick," said q mans voice.
sthis is Braden. Tell the chief that have
Just learned from a sure source that Mrs
f.. you understand. caught the French
liner at the last moment, as we feared.
Her ship is due at Quarantine tonight
There will be no trouble about inter-
cepting her wire to D., you twig, nor in
my meeting her tomorrow at the station.
In lie low meanwhile. All is as simple