Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-02-04
CHAPTER XVI.


1t was dreary waiting, for every IN,
usual sound reaching me brought with
1t throb Of fear. That my fate was
already practically settled | knew, but
how long the delay might be remained
q problem. Fox, / felt convinced,
would use whatever influence he pos
sessed to delay action, and there was
Q faint hope In my mind also that No
reen might even make plea to higher
authorities In my behalf. / dare not
believe she would, but the vague
dream OF such thing REQUIRED again
and again to my mind.
To learn all could dragged the
box to position below the window,
and standing on it, managed to gain
a narrow glimpse without, the vista
revealing a flap of dirty tent cloth
and part OF an army wagon backed up
against the building, leaving barely
enough space for the guard to pace
back and forth the length of his beat
could see his blue-clad legs, with the
white stripe, cross and recross In
front Of me. I tested the strength Of
the iron grating with my hands, but
the bars were firmly imbedded and
immovable.
The sun must have been we'll down
In the west when Fox returned.
had been expecting him. trusting to
his friendly interest. and with a feet
ing hope that Noreen might commits
sion him to bring me some further
message, Yet the moment / looked
into his face, Swallowed by the fading
light, ! realized that he brought no
encouraging news, MY heart sank,
but kept smile on my lips.
Il expected to be out Of here be-
fore now" said meaningly; yet I
judge from your expression there is
no reprieve."
And no hope Of one, Wyatt" he an
swered regretfulIy. The evidence
against you is too strong. The delay
in converting a court has been caused
by the scarcity Of officers in camp.
Our forage trains are just beginning
to return, but it is now so late that
Colonel Pickney has decided to hold
you prisoner until morning. I waited
until the order was issued before com
ing here. The court-martial is set for
eight o'clock"
Il am thankful for even that delay.
There is, presume no doubt as to
the result?"
None, so far as / can learn. You
are soldier, Wyatt, and may as well
face the truth. l have urged mercy
on Colonel Pickney, until he finally
ordered me to drop the subject, He
is strict disciplinarian, q bit of a
martinez, indeed, and inclined to take
the advice Of regular army officer
in such matters, rather than rely on
volunteers. Has Raymond any spe-
cial reason to dislike your"
"only that ] impersonated him iI'
this masquerade"
Bah! that was mere chance, the
selection Of his name from the army
list. The fellow is naturally vindic'
tive enough, but surely could not har
Dor personal dislike over SO small q
matter" He paused hesitatingly, as
though doubtful OF the propriety Of
pressing an inquiry. Il trust you will
pardon me, Wyatt, but | have won
dered If there was not some trouble
existing between you relative to the
friendship OF Miss HARDWOOD"
THAT would appear impossible"
replied, somewhat surprised. for my
being with her was entirely acciden
tai"
Yes, so she insists: but / know
Raymond is deeply interested in thu
girl Someone told me be actually
proposed to her at West Point, and
sought this detail in hope of meeting
her again. The occurrence which
aroused my suspicion that he felt I
personal grudge against you was THU
II know he promised her to use nil
influence to have you sent to Charles
: ton for trial, but instead he urget
Colonel Pickney to exercise his owl
authority. l CHANGED to be in the mex
! room. and overheard. have not seer
: the young lady SINCE"
> Ny mind worked rapidly. Tha
Raymond was treacherous was prob
ably true. Noreen had. treated hin
with marked coIdness. There coult
be no great degree OF intimacy between
! them, or she would have chosen hin
/ in this emergency rather thaA Captain
. Fox. But she had revealed to neithel
. ofieer the fact of our marriage;
was not so much as suspected.
: (To BE CoNTINUED.)