Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1913-05-08


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. Gaskins! 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 a 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
spasm of pain, and he tainted. The
Sergeant laid him back limp on the
grass, and stood up.
Where is your gun, Hamlin?"
Il dropped 1t when fell over the
Lleutenant's body. 1t must be back OF
you"
Some one picked the weapon up,
and held 1t 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 I'm
gers of his other hand gripping the
prisoners shoulder
Not so awful much" he replied.
haltingly, now come ter think bout
it. II was a 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. l
jumped an yelled; thought l heerd
somebody runnin' an let drive. Then
just as got up yere. this Teller come
tearin' long. an / naturally grabbed
him. That's the whole of It."
What have you got to say, Ham
lin"
Nothing"
We'll, yer better. Yer in a mighty
bad box. let me tell YER" angered by
the others indifference. what was
the row about?"
The cavalryman stood straight. his
face showing white in the glow Of the
lantern.
II told you before had nothing to
say. will talk tomorrow" he re-
turned quietly. II 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. Here
comes the stretcher, an the doctor"
Hamlin marched off silently through
the black night, surrounded by de-
tail of the guard. 1t had all occurred
so suddenly that he was bewildered
yet, merely retaining sufficient con-
seriousness of the circumstances to
keep still. II they were assured he
was guilty. then no effort would be
made to trace any others connected
with the affair. Why Gaskins should
have identified him as the assassin
was a mystery--probably 1t was mere
ly the dellrium of sorely wounded
man, although the fellow may have
disllked him sufficiently for that kind
Of revenge, or have mistaken him for
another In the poor light. At any rate
the unexpected Identification helped
him to play his part, and, II the Lieu
tenant lived. he would later acknowl-'
edge his mistake. There was no occa-
sion to worry; he could clear himself
of the charge whenever the time
came. half his company would know
he was in barracks when the firing be-
gan. There were women out on the
walk. their skirts fluttering as they
waited anxiously to learn the news,
but he could not determine II she was
among them. Voices asked questions.
but the corporal hurried him along.
without making any reply. Then he
was thrust roughly into a stone-lined
cell. and left alone. Outside in the
corridor two guards were stationed.
Hamlin sat down on the iron bed,
dazed by the silence, endeavoring to
collect his thoughts. The nearest
guard, leaning on his gun, watched
carefully.
(TO BE CONTINUED)