The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-09-08
CHAPTER xix--con,irued.

"LePionary you are charged on your
own confession, DO you still insist
tina, you were the sole instigator and
leader OF the mutinyf"
Yes my colonel"
you have no statement TO make, no
explanation 10 ofrcr?"
None"
Colonel Destlnn leaned forward on
hlr elbow Aud suddenly II seemed
80 the man beside him that he had
ceased TO interrogate he was
pleading with n smothered passionate
energy,
Captain Arnaud, you were with me,
You were the sole survivor OF my star.
Have you anything to say for this
manr
There was brief silence Il seemed
az though Arnaud had not heard He
WAS still staring In front OF him. and
full minute passed before he lifted
his eyes slowly. reluctantly TO Des-
tlnn's face
~" And then suddenly he half
arose, hls hands gripping the edge OF
the table. 't--l-haye-" He stopped
His blank gaze had passed on, II rest
ell on the prisoners gaunt untroubled
features and lit mp with flame OF
awakened recollection, He relapsed,
"No. | have nothing TO say" he said
slowly aud distinctly
II seemed that the heat became
icnscr more sitting There was no
sound hut the soft maddenlng huzz OF
the flies In the circle OF sunshine.
Colonel nestlnn drew himself UP stit'ly.
Then | have no option but to pass
the highest sentence on you. Lee
giouary" be said ''rhcre IL only one
mitigation which lies in my power
know that you are a brave man.--you
whaji die ~ oae You viii he Shot
uulsauad~~at daybreak~~hy your, ean..
radcs"
Il thank you. Colonel nestiun."
The major looked up Shyly Through
out he had been conscious Of something
NhN'th passing htNNtFH llitSt TWO
men hr saw now that they gazcd at
each other unaiuchlngly with tina, In.
tcnslty which seeks below the surface
for the inexplicable,
The sergeant came forward and
touched the Condemned man on the
shoulder He turned at once with
llttc whimsical shrug of apology.
bowed tremendously 70 the whole
court aud to his own horror the major
realized that he had returned the 81.
lutte. He glanced anxlously around
him, and recognized on the faces OF his
companions The same uncertainty and
h'wilderneut. pcstlnn looked at no
one
Ricnard Name'rss was led out into
the sunoh'uc, With His passing the
shirt ot tenSlon passed also; there re
turned the old torpor touched with the
lStulant irritation OF exhausted nerves
that have been too highly strung.
Colonel pcstlnn picked up his kept
rnd, without greeting, strobe out OF
the courthoussa The rest followed. Rut
a. they reacted The door they hest.
tatai, Someone had laughed. II wa.
no usual sound; In the heavy stiffness
II rang shrtli and unnatural They
turAed and saw that Desire Armand
had not moved He sat at the table
with his hands spread cut before him
and laughed
The major shrugged bis shoulders.
II have seen II coming" he said re-
gretrully II have seen Il coriins a
hong timr Nh, this terrible country
this terrible. beautiful country, 1t il
pstiahle and his peor wife, Wei.
shall give our friend the doctor, hint.
Me will know better"
He too went cut but the laughter
followed him II drif;CI on, on - the
courtyard. aud rose with the stlaiag
waves VI neat TO the windows Of the
whitewaseed room where Colonel nee-
tim sat with his forehead pressed
agsinst bis clsnched hands, listening.