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

way managed to fall under the ban
Of his extreme displeasure.
At the Office were presently assem-
bled the colonel. the adjutant, the
quartermaster. the post surgeon, and
to them came Paymaster Scott. AT
the ''store" were gathered half the
commissioned officers. At Sumter'E
there kept coming and going success
sion Of sympathetic callers, who Lett
even more mystified than when tieg
arrived. Miriam had had a fright In
the dark on their return home and
screamed. No! Sumter thought Mrs.
Sumter would need no help, yet he
was so much obliged to the several
who asked If they couldn't do some
thing"
Another house was virtually closed
to question. To the disappointment of
many and the disapprobation of few,
Bob Lanier had closeted himself with
his classmate and most intimate
friend, dad" Ennis; then. after brief
colloquy with Barker. the adjutant
had caused big card to be tackeS
on his door whereon was crayoned In
bold black letters BUSY" But AT
quarter past IL the assistant sur
geon, DR.. Schuchardt, called, as was
known, for the second time and en-
tered without ceremony. When the
officer of the day canfN tramping along
the board walk at 1890 and turned in
at the gate he struck the panel with
the hilt Of his saber. Ennis came to
the door. but came with gloomy brow
~ am ordered by Colonel Button te
ask certain questions of Lieutenant
Lanier," said the official.
Flows that. doc% called Ennis
over his massive shoulder Can yOnr
patient see the officer Of the dayT'
mot yet, with my consent" came
the stout answer.
"Shout your questions, captain"
sang out the patient, with much toe
little humility Of manner, yet Lanier
knew Curbit well and knew his mis-
sion to be unwelcome.
SIS Trooper Rawdon in hiding any
where about your quartersT
"He is not, If I know it."
"Have you seen him-tonight"
An instant's pause then, II don't
know whether have or not"
"You don't know?" exclaimed Curbit,
puzzled and beginning to bristle.
81 don't know" repeated Lanier.
Suppose the colonel tells me to eI-
plain that" began Curbit, but Dr..
Schuchardt set his foot down summari-
ly.
"Here," said he. "this things got to
stop. Lanier's in highly nervous and
excited state. He doesn't know whom
he has seen since he got home in ar
rest"
"Well, the old man wants to see that
young Rawdon forthwith, for many
people believe he's skipped"
"You can track anything but ghost
in this new fallen snow"
Curbit lowered his voice. THAT'S eH-
actly the trouble, doctor Go to the
back of the quarters and see for your
self. His trail starts and ends here"
In all its history Fort Cushing had
never known such day Of bewilder-
ment as that which followed Guard
mounting was held as usual at a. NJ,
and Colonel Button, awaiting in his
office the coming of the old and the
new officers of the day, directed his adj
jutant to drop his own work at their
entrance and give attention to what
took place.
All eyes were on the two burly cap
tains who entered at $50, fur capped
fur gloved, in huge overcoats and arc
and stir.
blizzard coming" said Scott as be
glanced at the sullen skies.
II report as old officer Of the day,
SIR" said Curbit, with brief salute,
rendering the guard report book.
The colonel went straight to busi-
ness.
"No sign Of Trooper Rawdon?"
"No, sir"
"His horse and kit all right?r
Gall right. sir"
"Police notified to watch all trains
and stagesT'
Eyes, sir"
There was impressive silence in the
office.
Eight men had gone with Sergeant
Stowell as escort to the paymaster
when, nearly four weeks earlier, he
had set forth on his trip. Then the liz
tie iron safe was full of money. Seven
men had come back with him, when,
as the safe was well nigh empty, tse
paymaster said he hardly needed an
escort. OF the eight who started, four
were "casuals" who belonged to com-
panies stationed at Fort Frayne, wen
up in the Indian country, and there
they remained when the duty was
over. OF the seven who came with
Stowell, three belonged at Fort Frayne,
corporal and two men Of Captain
Raymond's troop, and they came fortk
fed with the orders of their post COM
mander, a copy Of which was now In
Barker's hands.
what I don't understand" said the
colonel, whirling his chair to the right
about and addressing the paymaster,
''is how or why those men should be
down here"
''It seems simple" answered Scott