The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-11-06


upon him, a gun-muzzle pressing him
back as he attempted to rise.
"Be still, ye hell hound" was the
gruff order, cor I'll blow yer to king.
dom come! Sergeant of the guard,
quick here! Post Number Ski"
Hamlln lay still, half stunned by the
shock OF his fall, yet conscious that
the delay, this mistake of the sentry.
would afford her ample chance for es-
cape. He could hear men running to-
ward them, and his eyes caught the
yellow, bobbing light OF a lantern. His
hand reached out and touched the
body over which he had fallen, feeling
q military button, and the clasp of
belt-it was a soldier then who had
been shot. Could she have done It.
Or did she know who did? Whatever
the truth might be, he would hold his
tongue; let them suppose him guilty
for the time being; he could establish
innocence easily enough when it came
to trial These thoughts flashed
through his mind swiftly; then the
light of the lantern cleaned in hts
eyes, and he saw the faces clustered
about.
"All right, Mapes," commanded the
man with the light. Let the fellow
up until get a look at him. Who the
hell are your"
Sergeant Hamlin. Seventh Cav
airy"
"Darned If it amt. Say. what does
all this mean, anyhow? Who's shoti
Turn the body over. somebody. BY
God! It's Lieutenant Gaskins!"
Hamlin's heart seemed to leap into
his throat and choke him; for an In,
slant he felt faint, dazed, staring down
into the still face CHASTITY under the
rays Of the lantern. Gaskinsl Then
she was concerned in the affair; he
| really had seen her hiding there
against the wall. And the mans eyes
were open, were staring in bewilder-
ment at the faces. The Sergeant Of
the Guard thrust the lantern closer.
Lift his head, some O. yer, the
mans alive. Copley, get some water.
an two Of yer run fer the stretcher
leg 1t now. Well have yer out O.
here in minute, Lieutenant. What
happened, sir? Who shot yer?"
Gaskins' dulled eyes strayed from
the speakers face until he saw Ham
lin, still firmly gripped by the sentry.
His lips drew back revealing his teeth,
his eyes narrowing.
That's the one" he said family.
you've got him!"
One hand went to his side in a
spasm of pain, and he tainted The
Sergeant laid him back limp on the
grass. and stood up.
"Where is your gun, Hamlin?"
II dropped it when fell over the
Lieutenants body. 1t must be back of
YOU"
Some one picked the weapon up
and held it to the light. turning the
chambers.
1.-TWO shots gone, Sergeant"
I'VE heard three; likely the Lieu
tenant got in one of them. Sentry
what do you know about this?"
Mapes scratched his head, the fin
gers Of his other hand gripping the
| prisoners shoulder.
mot SO awful much" he replied
haltingly, now l come ter think bout
it. IT was mighty dark night, an
never saw, ner heard, nuthin' till the
shootin' begun. | wus back o. officers
row, an them pistols popped up yere
by the corner o. the barracks.
jumped an yelled; thought 1 heert
somebody runnin' an let drive. Their
lust as l got up yere, this Teller come
tearin long. an 1 naturally grabbed
aim. That's the whole of it."
what have you got to say, Ham
linz"
Nothing"
"Well, yer better. Yer in mighty
bad box, let me tell YER" angered BY
the others indifference. what wal
the row about?"
The cavalryman stood straight, hi!
face showing white in the glow of thu
lantern.
81 told you before I had nothing t.
say. ] will talk tomorrow" he re
turned quietly. 81 submit to arrest"
Il reckon yer will talk tomorrow
and be damn glad o. the chance. Cor
poral, take this fellow to the guard
house, an stay there with him. Her,
comes the stretcher, an the Doctor"
Hamlin MARCHED off silently through
the black night, surrounded by de
tail of the guard. 1t had all occurre,
so suddenly that he was bewildere,
yet, merely retaining sufficient cor
seriousness of the circumstances t
keep still. If they were assured h
was guilty, then no effort would b
! made to trace any others connecte
} with the affair. Why Gaskins shoul
have Identified him as the assassi
: was mystery-probably it was mere
ly the delirium of a sorely wounde
man, although the fellow may hav
dlsliked him sufficiently for that kin
of revenge, or have mistaken him 70
another in the poor light. At any rat
r the unexpected Identification helpe
him to play his part, and. If the Lie,
tenant lived, he would later acknow
, edge his mistake. There was no occi
? sion to worry: he could clear himse