Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-10-06

clerk. and Rafferty,. Lanier's soldier
servant, or striker" as then called,
were still half dazed
One more unfortunate. the driver of
Fosters sleigh. was in trouble. Not
until two hours after the dance had he
turned up with the missing equipage,
a cock and bull story. and a case of
what the corporal called jag" He
swore that, having got chilled through.
waiting. he just thought to get one
hot whisky at the store. Sentry No.
s said he'd mind the team while the
driver went in, and the next thing he
knew they'd run'd away. hell for
leather" and he. their driver. had to
follow two miles to Flint's ranch,
close to town. where he might have
taken nip or two more" 1t was his
FIRST offense and Foster forgave. 1t
should be remarked. however. that No.
6 declared that it was not he with
whom the driver left the sleigh, but
two ''fellers"-i. e., troopers-who hap
pened to be near the store
There were sorrow and estrangement
at Sumter'S. Never before, as Mrs.
Sumter declared, had Katherine ever
had a secret from her mother. More
over, Miriam Arnold was affected in
precisely the same way. She shrank
from all mention of that mysterious
affair of Friday night.
Wednesday night when Sergeant
Fitzroy returned to the post and asked
to see the colonel that officer, who was
at dinner. sent answer that he would
be at the office at o'clock and, fur
Their, sent word to Captain Snaff1e to
be there at the same hour.
A spell Of sharp cold had followed
the blizzard. The young people of the
garrison were out in force at night
rejoicing in the snow sports. The men
had made some famous slides over at
the bluffs. and the children along the
officers lines were playing hide and
seek about the drifts and tunnels at
the northward end of the parade.
Captain Sumter had been sent for
and was admitted to a five minute talk
came away with grave and troubled
face to ten minutes conference with
his gentle wife that left her sorely
worried and distressed.
ASK Kate" he said as once more he
set forth into the night. 1--WE got to
tramp and think this over before / do
anything further" And at that mo-
hol b.
talk awhile with Mrs. Stannard.
1t was just about quarter of 8.
The lights at the office were still burn
ing, for the colonel had intimated that
he might be back. Barker was bend
ing over his desk and wondering why
the colonel should be colloguing with
Snaffle, Crane, Sergeant Fitzroy and
sending for Cassidy and Quinlan. That
was a queer outfit Of Snaff1es at best.
1t seemed odd that the most pronounc-
ed "BritiSher" in barracks should be
sergeant in the troop commanded by
the nearest thing to an Irishman
among the captains.
Barker was busy with these refec-
| tons when the colonel once more en-
tered. The adjutant rose, but at
signal resumed his seat and waited
Full fifteen minutes the colonel went
striding up and down the long apart
ment. Twice he muttered something
about it's taking Snaffie and his ser
geant an unusually long time to do a
simple thing, and at last, as the trum-
peters were heard, with much stamp
ing Of feet and blowing of hands,
gathering for the old time nightly
walk around" that preceded tattoo
roll CALL Button abruptly turned on his
adjutant and said:
Barker, how long have you known
Mr.. Lanier?"
Ever since he joined, sir"
"And you knew him in his cadet
daysw
eyes, sir"
"And you told me you never heard
of his writing to newspapers"
"Never sir" answered Barker. II
believe it impossible for him to have
had anything to do with those-inf1am-
matory articles about the campaign"
"You consider him absolutely square
above lie-or a trick of any kindY'
Barker faltered just one minute.
What did the colonel mean by trick?
Mischief there had been once or twice.
Tricks had been played, and one only
this last summer during the campaign
"a trick, too, that If truth were told
Lanier should have known about. At
least it had been played for his bene-
f1t and had pulled the WOOL over the
colonel's eyes.
II consider him as square a man as
I know and utterly above lie of
any kind" was the final answer.
"And yet you hesitate. You know
or have heard rumors," said Button
suspiciously.
II have heard rumors and ISLANDERS,
Colonel Button" was Barker's prob
ably injudicious reply.
"Well, here" said Button impulsive-