The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-09-17

0OAOnSt ouIIOA was AOQp1uS A4<f0s yet at what? Lanier,s offense had not been grave. It had happened half a dozen times that the officer of the guard, making his rounds and visiting sentries in the course of a dance even ing, would casually drop in by one door and out by another, taking turn or two on the floor perhaps pe-ssjust wa1tzing in and waltzing out,7 as they said
 stDisobeyed his orders fat1y," sug- gested Captain Snaf1e.
 eDisobeyed no order" said Sumter as stoutly. simply did what many another has done, and nobody hurt Nor would Lanier have been noted, perhaps, if he had not first asked to turn oyer his sword to Trotter."
 Not ten minutes after Lanier went out, and went silent, but in unspeak- able wrath, Paymaster Scott came dawdIing in, and though but casual visitor at the post, just back that day from tour of the northWard camps and forts along the Indian border, he saw at "a glance that something had gone auiss. The colonel was labori- ousIy waltzing; three or four couples were mechanically following suit, but most of the men were gathered about the DuH0E4 ana most or Ia2 FWOhGu huddled at the dressing, room door, and Scott, marching over to pay his respects to the coIoneEs wife, noted in- stantIy the trouble in her serious face. Captain Snafle was speaking with her at the moment. Mrs. Snaffle was at her side. 'sWhy did they tell her at allg' Mrs. Snafie was asking. with much spirit and obvious effort to con- trol a racial tendency to double the final monosyEla bles. 'tSure they might have known 'twouId se-frighten the life, out of her
 .esc-frighten MhoY' asked Scott. Snaf1e shot a warning glance at his wife.
 s.It's Bobby Lanier, paeejor. only you mustn't sp-refer-to it.
 .eLanier? Oh, yes, thought it was Bob I saw awhile ago streaking it across the parade Whats Bob got to do with frightening folk?"
 sSomething very unfortunate has happened, major" said Mrs. Button. tsMr. Lanier was officer of guard and asked to attend the dance. MT. Trotter offering to take charge of the guard Colonel Button felt compelled to de cline. and-he came anyway. You know, of course, that couldn't be over looked"
 Hm, said scoth graye1y and re dective1y. stAnd who is so fright ened P
 .sMiriam Arnold. a very charming girl who is visiting the Sumters. h. deed, 1t looks as though she cared for him. It's no secret that he's in love with her"
 8i But at the moment Mrs. Sumter was seen coming forth from the dressing ropm Half dozen women were upon her at once with sympathetic inquir- ies She came straightway to Mrs Button.
 esYou will forgive my girls for not saying good night She cordially spoke Miriam has been quite upset by a letter from home, and this little -episode-tllis evening, which she canif9t understand as we do. has so unstrung her that Mrs. Foster offered to send them over home in her sleigh The side door had been barred, but MT. Horton pried it open, for them, so they had no need to come this way and face every body-and explain"
 .sYou know how sorry I am,' said Mrs. Button. Of course they are ex- el1sable for leaving as they did. Why, $ where are the others going g
 The music had suddenly stopped. Some one among the women, with startled eyes and pa1ing face, sprang up saying, Its fire" Almost at the same instant the colonel and Scott reached the yeranda without. A dozen officers were there, intent and listen ing. T tell you I heard it plainly said one of their number, .tand the Foster sleigh isn't back
 
 colonel. Whats the troub1e?'
 "A cry for help, or something, over yonder.''
 There presently appeared round the corner of thezbuildiRg the.sergean the guard, and with him a burly sol dier, bleeding at the nose. One hand covered damaged eye; with the other he saIuted Captain Snafne,