The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-10-21


Watts" said quiet voice, at sound OF
which Sergeant Fitzroy whirled about
and turned. If possible thing, full
shade redder. There at the gate stood
Lieutenant Lanier. There. dozen
yards away. but trudging fast as dig
nifty would permit. came the officer OF
the day.
A jerk Of the head to the corporal in
response to his instant salute, and that
young soldier, much relieved. strobe
away to join his men. Then Captain
Curbit turned on Sergeant Fitzroy.
"You told me nothing of the facts in
this case, sir. Lieutenant Lanier says
the colonels message, while he rode
to stables. Pardon me, Miss Dora.
Come this way. sergeant"
And there was nothing for it but to
obey. Abashed, Inundated. rebuked
and in her presence, where he had
looked but a moment before to humble
and humiliate his rival, Fitzroy could
only lift his hand in salute, follow the
| captain out of earshot and there make
| his plea as best he could, leaving
Lanier and the silent young trooper,
Dora and her grave faced old father,
| in possession Of the field.
For a moment they watched Fitzroy.
Hell give you no more trouble. l
fancy" said Lanier in low tone to the
veterinarian. 'I'll say good night
again. Miss Dora" And he walked
cheerily away, but Mayhem looked
after him long and anxiously.
maybe not-maybe not" he mutter-
ed. with Borrowing shake Of the head,
"but few men can give more trouble
than him when he's minded, and 1
reckon he's minded now"
Nearly six long months went the reg
iment a-field on the hardest campaign
Of its history. Then at last by way Of
reward it had been ordered into big
Fort Gushing for the winter. The
new station was blithe and merry with
Christmas preparations. Half dozen
fair visitors had come from the distant
east. The band was good, the dancing
men were many, the dancing floor was
fine, and the dance they were having
on Friday night. Dec. 16. was all that
even an army dance could be until
just after II o'clock. Then something
happened to cast a spell over every
body.
Bob Lanier was officer Of the guard.
Bob had asked the colonel to let him
turn over his sword to brother Off
Ger, who, being in mourning could not
dance, and the colonel had CURLY said
no. The colonel's wife was amazed.
Six girls were sorrowful, and one was
cruelty hurt. She was under parental
orders to start for home on the NOR
row. She liked Bob Lanier infinitely
more than she liked her fathers die
tum that she must like him not at all.
AS for Bob Lanier, the garrison knew
he loved her devotedly even before she
knew it herself.
OF course she came to the dance.
AS the guest of Captain and Mrs.
Sumter, she even had to go up and
smile on the colonel and his wife, who
were receiving. She and Kate Sum-
ter had been classmates. roommates.
at Vassar, and Kate. born and reared
in the army. had never been quite con-
tent until her friend could come to
visit the regiment-her fathers home.
A winsome pair they were, these
two sweet girl graduates" Of the
June gone by. while the regiment
was stirring up the Sioux on the way
to the Big Horn and Yellowstone.
Everybody had lavish welcome for
them, and to Miriam Arnold the
month at Fort Gushing had been quite
a dream Of delight until there came a
strange and sudden missive from her
father bidding her break off visit
that was to have lasted until February
and all relations with Lieutenant Rob-
ert Ray Lanier.
For reasons of his own Mr.. Lanier
had made no avowal Of his love to her.
even though he had disclosed it to
every one else. Bob had his enemies
frank men generally have. He could
hardly believe the evidence Of his ears
when just after sunset roll coll he had
confidently approached the colonel
with his request and had received the
coloneps curt reply.
Everybody by half past 10 had heard
OF 1t. Nobody was very much sur
prised when In the midst Of the lovely
'Lorelei' waltz group of young Off
GERS near the doorway opened out, as
it were, and Bob Lanier. officer Of the
guard, came gracefully gliding down
the room. Miriam Arnold's radiant,
happy face looking up into his. 1t was
joy to watch them dance together.
but not to watch the colonel's face
when he caught sight of them. Ex-
cept Lanier every officer present was
In full uniform. without his saber.
Lanier was in the undress uniform of
the guard. but with the saber--not the
long. curved. clumsy. steel scabbarded
weapon then used by the cavalry. but
a light Prussian hussar sword that he
had evidently borrowed for the occa-
sion, for 1t belonged to Barker. the ad.
jutant, as Barker realized to mis- cost
when the commander summoned him.
"Mr. Barker, you will at once place
Mr.. Lanier in arrest for quitting his
guard and disobeying my ORDERS"