The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-11-11
tooNTINUEp.J
CHAPTER v.


side. Help me off with
these" he said, "and bring a lamp
Come upstairs, Barker" There were
but two sleeping rooms aloft In the
little bachelor set. Into this room
marched Bob Lanier and threw open
the door of the single closet wherein
was hanging uniform and civilian garb
In some profusion. Ennis held the
lamp on high, and with his free hand
Lanier began throwing out the con-
tents-a new uniform dress coat, an
older one that had done duty for the
three previous years, two sack coats
or "blouses," etc. Then appeared a
suit Of evening clothes, carefully ham
died. The closet was well nigh emp
ty, and Lanier faced them with the
simple words, "It's gonew
whats gone" demanded Ennis.
why, that dark gray mixture sack
suit / brought from leave last year.
1t always hung way back in here"
"Who wants it now, I'd like to
known demanded Ennis.
"Our colonel. who accuses me Of cos
tuning Rawdon for his getaway"
Then Barker spoke: ITS only fair
to the colonel to tell the rest, Bob. Raw
don's box, that he left for safe keeping
with a friend in town, had not only
the suit you saw at the office, but
new fur cap with your name in it.
The day Of the storm Quinlan came
over to the guardhouse after his visit
here wearing a new cap instead Of his
old one, and Cassidy swooped on 1t,
thinking it yours, for 1t was here he
got 1t, and the name in that cap was
Rawdon. 1t leaked out somehow.
Fitzroy hunted the story down."
1.-THE name was burnt out when Cas-
sidy brought it back to me-" said La.
nier slowly. "He claimed that in
lighting his pipe
Poor Cassidy lied every way he
could think Of to save you," said Bar
ker ruefully. Its the young cad you
befriended and helped along that's
tricked you in the end"
"Roped Rafferty, in, too, suppose"
said Schuchardt.
Rafferty,, doubtless, to the extent Of
bribing or wheedling him out Of Bob's
new cts
But those were not mine that Fitz-
roy hadw burst in Lanier.
"Of course not. He's left you a worn
suit in place of the new. Where'd he
steal that one, l wonder? There isn't
another officer of your size and build
at the post. But, here; I've got to go
back and report, and my report will
be in these words: Mr.. Lanier will be
robbed too" And Barker made for
the stairs.
zone moment" called Ennis. you
said Bob wasn't the only man this fell
low had tricked. Do you mean He
paused suggestively.
81 mean-yes-that there's more than
one man and there's at least one poor
girl in the garrison to mourn that fell
lows loss, and be d to him" And
with that Barker was gone.
Button listened to his adjutant's re-
port with something almost like
sheer. Stannard and Sumter heard it
with grave faces, but without word.
Snaffle, who had drifted in, sniggered
with obvious triumph.
Gentlemen" said the colonel, 'you
have not heard the half Of what l
know, and every day brings something
new. This comes in from Laramie to-
day, brought with the mail that lay
over at the Chugwater during the
storm. Read that, Stannard." And
Stannard took the paper and glanced
over it, blinked his eyes. shifted and
said, T've heard about that case.
and I'll take Lanier's story any day
against that fellows affidavit"
"Major Stannard," said Button Sc
verely, "you are speaking contemptu-
ously Of your superior officer"
"Colonel Button" answered Stan
nard, with high held head. but with
firm hand on his temper, 81 am speak
ing contemporary Of my superior Of
ficer's informant, not Of the COM
handing officer of Fort Laramie. If
you care to look you will see that
he quotes, not asserts, that this mon
ey was advanced to Mr.. Lowndes on
Mr.. Lanier's statement that the young
man was summoned home by the Sc
rious illness of his mother and that
he, Mr.. Lanier, would be responsible
for the transaction. Mr.. Lowndes has
never repaid it, and Mr.. Lanier when
appealed to four weeks since not only
refused to make it good. but abused
and cursed me for simply asking for
what was my own"
Every good, gentlemen" answered
Button, rising in obvious chagrin. ut
is quite evident in your opinion Mr..
Lanier is a prosecuted saint and am
an abandoned sinner, but just as soon
ms I can reach Omaha this case shall
be laid before general court mar
Nal