The Lamar register., 1917-03-14
Continued from page 81

'Ii. But MS reIusal 10 eAFlhlh IL
.>nn for taking advantage of his $50
-.r knowledge of the mine percepuh!y
,llucnced the members of the court
% doubt the statement of his purpose
70 coming to Washington.
Though the court-martial adjourned
without rendering its findings. he left
the courtroom ten years Older in mp
pearance than when he entered. The
regretful, commiserating glance of the
most friendly Of his Judges seemed
plainly to indicate what would be the
findings The thought Of voluntarily
resigning from the service had been
hard. To be cashiered was almost I'M
endurable.
Yet he walked out with his back
straight and his head well up. He
went directly to the White House and
sent in a written application for an
interview with the president 1t was
refused. He went to his lodgings and
spent the remainder of the day and
half the night drafting and redrafung
a concise statement of his argument
against Vandervyn's contract. This he
addressed to the president and
stamped for mailing. He wrote moth
ing with regard to his own case.
When. near morning he at last fell
asleep. he wns so near exhaustion that
lie did not waken until late. The hour
set for the reconvening of the court
martial had already come. He spran9
into his uniform with a CELEBRITY that
might have reminded a fellow officer
of revellle IN cadet barracks at West
Point
The worn soles of his highly pol
ished shoes beat 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.
II shall explain to the court" re-
piled Hardy. "If not delayed. | shall
be only a 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. IL 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 '"
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 uverted from his companion as If
to avoid contamination. Hardy sat
as stiffiy at the other extreme of the
seat.
The ride was short. The car made
a 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 reputedly dangerous pris-
Oner under arrest. At the entrance he
stepped behind, as II apprehensive that
Hardy might attempt to escape. A
doorkeeper conducted them along
corridor into a small waiting room.
He passed into the room beyond. but
reappeared In a 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 perplexity. 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 a beckoning 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 Hardyf'
Yes. sir"
The same who suppressed the late
insurrectiOn in the Sulus7'