The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-11-25

w
don told me he must have the money.
My uncle had fatty refused to send
me more. There was left me only one
way, and that was through my Cousin
Miriam. We'd almost been brought
up together. But l knew If ! could
see her she would help me.
"Rawdon had changed into citizens
clothes in town. and had pawned my
overcoat. so he lent me his cavalry
overcoat and fur cap. drove me and
Cary out to the fort and left us at the
store. We were chilled from the ride
and drank more. Rafferty, told me
Mr.. Lanier was officer Of the guard
We filed Rafferty, up, for Cary had
made up his mind he was going to
Rawdon's wedding In cts instead Of
soldier clothes. and he was bent on
borrowing suit Of Lieutenant La
nier's. He swore he'd return them
the next day, and Rafferty, let him
have them. Then he and / went I'D
the rear fence and caught sight of No.
e-Trooper Kelly. Cary went ahead
TO fix things as he said. Kelly was
suspicious. Cary to quiet him told him
he was Lieutenant Lanier; that we
were helping Rawdon get ready for his
wedding.
He made Kelly drink to Rawdon's
happiness. and drink three or four
times. and finally left him with a half
full flask up the row toward Major
STANDARDS. Then we went to Captain
Sumter's. Kelly told Cary the serv.
ants were In at Captain Snaffle's. The
door was open. Cary watched below
while l hunted for my cousins room.
l found Il easily. l knew they had
sent her money and orders to come
home. Uncle had written me as much.
l found her desk knew 1t well of
old. and then. TO my horror. heard
her voice. and in a second she was in
the room. She gave one awful scream.
though l tore of my cap and begged
her to know me. but she fell in a
faint. Others were coming. broke
out of the back window and slid and
scrambled down the roof to the shed
and so to the ground. l heard men
come running. so / dived into the coal
shed, where the sergeant grabbed me
In the dark. and had to make him let
60 and-said l was Lieutenant Lanier.
Later i crawled through a hole in the
fence and started for the store, scared
out Of my wits. Right at the next gate
l crashed into two men. picked my
self and cap up and ran again, caught
Cary at the store just jumping into
sleigh, and we dashed those horses ev-
cry inch Of the way, left them at
ranch gate and ran to the station
Rawdon presently came. and he took
me to Omaha. He, too, had to get
away or be thrown into the guard
house."
You have that overcoat with you
vet, believe-that cavalry coat"
ITS all ! have had to wear. sir"
was the answer as. rising. he took the
garment from the arm of his chair and
laid 1t upon the table. exposing a rent
or cash. whereupon Captain Sumter
took from an envelope a silver of vel
low cloth and fitted 1t into the gap.
This" said he, II found on the hook
Of the storm sash, and this" laying
beside it a rusty sheath knife, Twas
der the dormer window" Then, turn
ing the overcoat inside out, he dis
Llayed on the back lining in stencil the
name "Rawdon."
And now" said Riggs. I'VE will
hear the accused"
ut isn't necessary" began Button.
at Is necessary, Colonel Button. OF
course Mr.. Lanier is not obliged to
speak. but few matters remain to be
cleared up. There is yet the time hon
ored problem Of who struck Billy Pat
terson?
1.-The matter is quite simple" said
Ianier. IL went direct from the dane
Ing room to my quarters. The fire was
low, and went back to call Rafferty,.
He didn't answer. so ] had to lug In
Dome fuel. His overcoat hung in the
Kitchen, and l put that on, and as l
opened the back door there came the
scream from up the row. l saw others
running toward Captain Sumter's as
started from the back gate. Then
man rushed past me, and then some.
body sprang from Captain Snafiie's
yard. and went headlong. / was on
my feet In a second. but he had me
round the neck, ordering me to sur
render. I let him have two hard ones
right and left Somebody else collided
with US. We all went down. The
last man was up first and ran away
with the f1rst cap he could reach, and
l followed. knowing now 1t wasn't fire,
but robbery Then when ! realized no
life was in danger l remembered i
was in arrest, dropped the chase and
went straight to my quarters. Both
hands were bruised and left badly cut.
am sorry, Of course, to have struck
Sergeant Fitzroy, but the language he
used was vile. and 1t seemed to me the
only way to convince him / was not
Trooper Rawdon."
Colonel Button. have you any ques-
tionsT' demanded Riggs.
"Why didn't you tell me thisT de-
manded Button.
ct Oh ho vlad fn calnnal