Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-02-06

cape. He could hear men running to-
ward them, and his eyes caught the
yellow, bobbing light of lantern. His
hand reached out and touched the
body over which he had fallen, feeling
a military button. and the clasp of
belt-it was "a soldier then who had
been shot. Could she have done it.?
Or 6fd 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 1t came
to trial. These thoughts flashed
through his mind swiftly; then the
light Of the lantern cleaned In his
eyes. and he saw. the faces clustered
about.
"All right. Mapes," commanded the
man with the light. Let the fellow
up until get 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 shot?
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. 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 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 hint"
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?"
Il dropped it when I fell over the
Lieutenant's 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
Not so awful much" he replied,
haltingly, now come ter think bout
1t. T was a mighty dark night, an 1
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
lust as got up yere, this teller come
tearin' long, an 1 naturally grabbed
him. That's the whole of ito
what have you got to say. Ham
!in?"
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
sace showing white in the glow of the
lantern.
L told you before l had nothing to
say. will talk tomorrow" he re.
turned quietly. 81 submit to arrest"
I 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 a de-
tall of the guard. 1t had all occurred
20 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 q mystery probably it1was mere
" the delirium Of a, sorely wounded
man, although the fellow, may have
disliked him sufficiently for that kind
Of revenge. or have mistaken him for
another in the poor light. At any rate
the unexpected identification helped
iim to play his part, and il the Lieu.
tenant lived. he would ter acknowl
edge his mistake. There was no o. "a.
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 Or the
walk, their skirts futtering as they
waited anxiously to learn the news
but he could not determine if she was
among them, Voices asked questions