The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-09-20

not fancy, and Button was one of these.
 About the only officer not to put in an appearance in the club room at the store the next morning, out of doors. afoot, in saddle or adr1ft in snow, was Lieutenant Lanier. About the first officer Button wished to see was Bob and about the last was Blake. Yet such was the freakishness of fate that the first map to hail him. with i'll time jocularity, was Blake, and the last of his officers whom he was destined that day to set eyes on was Bob Lanier.
 If it had not been for the startling announcement about the paymaster Colonel Button would have fought that matter out with the doctor then and there. First. however, he had to send forth bis mounted men by see=es in search of the missing officer and party. This done. he had once more summoned Schuchardt. Then he sent for Ennis and had what they termed a ''redhot row"
 In his exasperated frame of mind Button had been ready to believe al- most any story at the expense of La nier, and-such is the perversity of human nature-it added to rather than
 
 senior surgeon should promptly cor roborate the statements of both Schu- chardt and Ennis and further assume personal and entire responsibility for the episode of Saturday afternoon in Laniers quarters That episode had started many a tongue, and one of Buttons henchmen, thinking to win favor at the fountain head by mention of new iniQu1ty on the part of The culprit, had deftly enlarged upon it. Snaff1e, of course, was the fellow at fault, and he justified it on the plea that Lanier was demoralizing two men of his troop. The story he told was that Lanfer had been carousing at his quarters with certain enlisted mem bers of the guard \
 Nor had Sumter himself much time for domestic duties before the order came for him and his troop to turn out to aid in the search.
 Mrs. Sumter had not half finished what she had to say concerning Mir 1am when the summons came that called the captain forth to join the searching squadron. but he had heard enough to increase the anxiety in his fine. soldierIy face. He went up with Mrs. Sumter and looked critically over the damage to the window in what had been Miriam's room. She had moved per force to the front-to Kath- erine's-room Saturday night. for to- ward sunset the storm sash was torn out Of tho north dormer, and the win dow blew in with crash.
 It was easy to see how and why the storm sash had failed to withstand the buffeting In his frantic haste and panicky flight the intruder of Friday night had wrenehed a hinge from it's fastening. The sash had sagged at the wdndward end. and the rest was easy for rude Boreas.
 .fThat sash is probably somewhere down in the back yard, sergeant Sumter quietly remarked to faithful Kennedy 9It's under fifteen feet of snoyV,5 but when it comes to tunneling look after it. see that it isn't injured. and call me as soon as you find ft.''
 Mrs. Sumter knew the reason of his instructions.
 It must have been after 12, for or derly call and mess had sounded in front of the adjutant's office when one of the hospital attendants came foun- dering up the row from Laniers and made his way to Sumter's door little note in his hand Mrs. Sumter an swered the maids knock at the door of Miss Kate's room, into which the damsels were now doubled To the disappointment of that somewhat vola- tile domestic Mrs. Sumter closed the portal before proceeding to open the missive. but her announcement. From Mir Lanier." caused Miriam Arnold to sit bolt upright. It read:
 Dear Mrs. Sunter-Ive been living since Saturday mainly on your kindness and good of you to take such care of your in- carcerated sub. and I'm ashamed to have sent no earlier thanks. but we've been banked in until this morning. ] reckon they'll find the paymaster's outfit showed under somewhere down toward Nebraska safe. but possibly starving. I'm all alone with nothing to read. If you have any thing moral, instructive and guaranteed to soften the unrepentant sinners heart don't send it. but tell me how you all stood the storm I hope Miss Arnold is entirely recovered. Yours. most sincerely,
 R. R. LANIER.
 'eThe last thing man mentionsein a note is the first thing he wants an swered," said Mrs Sumter sageIy. 'tWhat shall tell him for you, Mir iam?'
 ''TeH me what is to be done to him. was the sole reply as the girl settled back dejectedly. upon the pillows.
 I've tried to. child" answered her hostess kindly. patiently. 'HThere isn't court 1p the army that would sen tepce him to more than a brief eonine- ment to limits and neprimand'' Yet Mrs. Sumter spoke with much less confidence than on Saturday Had not her husband had to tell her his appli- cation for leave was withdrawn, and why? Had not pr. Larrabee admitted to her that the colonel spoke of mis- deeds far more serious for which La nier must suffer?