Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-02-16

81 Could Not impose on Your Gene
rosity."
department. that led him to believe his
resignation and application for leave
of absence would be at once favOrably
acted upon by his commanding officer
at Vancouver barracks. This, i'll some
circumstances, might have been con-
sidered sufficient excuse for his con-
duct Eut his refusal 10 explain his
reason for taking advantage OF his Sc
cret knowledge OF tie mine porceptibly
influenced the members Of the court
to doubt the statement Of his purpose
In coming to Washington.
Though the court-lnartial adjourned
without rendering its findings, he LETT
the courtroom ten years older in APP
pearance than when lie entered. The
regretful, commissioning glance of the
most friendly of his judges seemed
nlainly to indicate what would be the
findings. The thought of voluntarily
reSigning from the service had been
hard. 70 be cashiered was almost IN
endurablp.
Yet he walked oct with his back
straight and his head we'll up. He
went directly to the White House and
sent in q written application for an
interview with the president. It was
refused He went To his lodgings ana
spent the remainder Of the day and
half tie night drafting and redraftinz
concise statement OF his argulnvn
against Nandervyn's contract. This 't
addressed to the president ant
stamped for mailing. He wrote moth
ing with regard to his own case.
When, near morning, he at last fell
asleep, he was so near exhaustion thai
he did not waken until late. The houl
set for the recOnvening of the court
martial had already come. He sprans
into his uniform with celebrity thai
might have reminded Il fellow officer
Of reveille in cadet barracks at West
Point.
The worn soles of his highly pol
ished shoes beat q tattoo on the car
petless old stairs by which he descend.
ed to the street. He did not turn to
go in for belated breakfast at the
meager table of his landlady. He
FASTENED along the few feet of narrow
hall to the street door. AS he drew
it open, another man in uniform
stepped into the doorway and con.
fronted him. The other officer saluted
Hardy responded mechanically. For
all his cool look, he was aStOnished
The man before him was the presi.
dents military aide.
captain Floyd Hardy?"
"At your service"
"YOu should now be in attendance
upon the cOurt-martial, stated the
aide with cold severity.
u shall explain to the court" re-
piled Hardy. eff not delayed, l shall
be only few"
"You will come with me-" interrupt
ed the aide, still more severely. "Your
conduct has been brought to the at
tention of the president. It is to be
seen, sir, whether you will continue to
refuse to answer the inquiries of your
superiors."
Hardy went white, but his jaw set
firm with grim resolution. He stepped
out beside the aide, and crossed the
sidewalk to the waiting motor. AS
they were whirled away over the sleety
asphalt, the aide sat with more than
military stiffness, his head and body
half averted from his companion as il
to avoid contamination. Hardy sat
as stiffiy at the other extreme of the
seat.
The ride was short. The car made
q sudden turn, and curved around to
the executive offices Of the president.
Hardy looked at his companion, per-
picked. The face of the aide showed
only the stern watchfulness of one
who has a reputedly dangerous pris-
oner under arrest. At the entrance he
stepped behind, as if apprehensive that
Hardy might attempt to escape.
doorkeeper conducted them along
corridor into a small waiting room.
He passed into the room beyond, but
reappeared in few moments and
signed to Hardy to enter.
Hardy stepped into the room, and
the door was closed behind him. The
aide and the doorkeeper had remained
outside. Hardy looked around with a
frown of perplexieg. Across the room
a man sat writing at businesslike
desk. There was no one else pres
ent.
The man turned in his swivel chair
and abruptly made reckoning ges-
ture. Hardy's hand went up in salute
as he stepped forward. He was in the
presence of the commander in chief of
the army and navy.
The president looked him up and
down with a severe glance.
you are Captain Floyd Hardy?"
Eyes, sir"
"The same who suppressed the late
insurrection in the Sulus?"
II happened to be in command at