Show A By Capt Charles King U S A Cckf4 Author of DoKRATES RANCH TEE COLONELS DAUGHTER MARIONS FAITH ETC w s DAOI Mo HM Copyright by J B Lippincott Company Philadelphia and 1 = ti published by special arrangement with them rime wlicn first sho look her survey of tos who were to 0 her fellow trav elers at the transfer on the Missouri sho decided that hero was ono against vhoui It would be necessary to guard tho ipproaches She had good and sufficient reasons for wanting no young man a attractive at-tractive in appearance a this ono mating mat-ing himself interesting t pretty Nellie She had decided on their journey ha already e cided what was Nellies future was to be eYe indeed would she have taken ner to tho gay frontier station whither Bbowas now on routo had not that future fu-ture hen already settled to her satisfaction satisfac-tion Nellie Travers barely out of school a betrothed and willingly s to the man she her devoted elder sister had especially chosen Rare and most un likely of conditions she had apparently I fallen in love with the man picked out for her by somebody else She was engaged en-gaged to Mrs Bayners fascinating fnend Mr Steven Van Antwerp a scion of an old and esteemed and wealthy family and M a Antwerp who had been educated abroad and had a Heidelberg Heidel-berg scar on his left cheek and dork lustrous eyes and wavy hair almost raven was a devoted lover though fully fifteen years Miss Nellies senior Full of bliss and comfort was 1lr Rayners soul as she journeyed westward t rejoin her husband at the distant frontier post sho had not seen since tho early spring Army woman as she was born and bred under the shadow of the flag a soldiers daughter soldiers wife she had other ambitions for her beauti t ful Nell Worldly to tho core she herself her-self would never have married in the army but for tho unusual circumstance I of a wealthy subaltern among th < jfficers i of her fathers regiment Tradition had it that Mr Rayner was not among tho iumber of those who sighed for Kato Travers guarded smiles Her earlier victims were kept adangling until Ray ner to succumbed and then were sent adrift She meant that no penniless sub I alt ° r should carry off her baby sister they had long been motherless and a season at the seashore had done her work welL Steven Van Antwerp with genuine distress and loneliness wetback wet-back to his duties in Wall street after seeing them safely on their way t the west Guard her well for me ho whtspered Mrs Rayner I dread thoso fellows in biflas Andlio shivered shiv-ered unaccountably as he spoke Nellie was pledged therefore and this I youth in tho Pullman was not ono of those fellows in buttons s far a Mrs I Rayner knew but she was ready t warn him off and meant to do s until ito i I to her surprise she saw that ho gavo no symptom of a desire t approach By I noon of the second day she was as determined I deter-mined to extract from him some sign of interest as sho had been determined te 4 resent it I can in no wise explain or account for this Tho fad i stated without remark I I t What on earth can we b stopping so long here for was Mrs Rayners somewhat some-what petulant inquiry addressed to no one in particular There was no reply Miss Travers was busily twitching tho cars of the kitten at the moment and sparring with upraised finger at tho threatening paw Do look out of tho widow Nell and see UTher is nothing to see Kate nothing I I noth-ing but whirling drifts and a big water tank all covered with ice Brrrrl how j I cold it looks she answered after cld loks anser vainly flattening her face against the inner pane I The must b something the matter t though persisted Mrs Rapier We have been hero full five minutes and we nr behind time now At this rate well I never get to Warrcncr tonight I do wish the porter would stay here where lIe belongs I The young man quietly laid down his book and arose UI will inquire madam he said with grave courtesy You shall know in a moment How very kind of youV said the lady Indeed I must not trouble you Im I sure the porter will be here after a while I And even as sho spoke and a he was pulnJ on an overcoat the train rumbled i rum-bled oft again Then came an exclamation exclama-tion this time from the younger Why Kate Look see all the men t and horses Why they are soldiers cavaly Oh how I lovo t see them again But oh how cold they look frozen I Who can they be said Mr Rayner all vehement interest now and gazing eagerly from tho window at the lowered heads of the horses and the muflled Cg in blue and fur What tires can they b doing in the field in such awful weather I cannot recognize one of them or tell officers from men Surely that must b Capt Wayne and Maj Stannard Oh what can it meanT The young man had suddenly leaped I t the window behind them and was gazing out with a eagerness and interest inter-est little less apparent than her own 1 but in a moment the train had whisked them out of sight of tho storm beaten troopers Then he hurried t tho rear Rindow of the car and Mrs Rayner a hastily followed Doyou know themF she kc Yes That was Maj Stannard I is his battalion of the th cavalry and they have been out scouting after renee rene-e Cbeyenncs Pardon me madame 1 must go forward and see who have boarded the train Ho stopped at his section and again she followed him her eyes full of anxiety i anx-iety He was busy tugging at a flask in his traveling bag You know them D you know I have vou heard Df > any infantry being L out Pardon me for detaining ydu but I am very anxious My husband is Capt Raynor of Fort Warrencr No infantry have been sent madame Ihavo reason to know at least none from Warrcner And with that ho hurriedly bowed and I left her The next moment flask in hand he was crossing the storm swept platform and making his way t the head of the train I believe ho is an officer said Mrs I Rayner to her sister Who else would be apt to Irnow about the movement of the troops Did you notice how gentle his manner wasand he never smiled He has such a sad face Yet he cant b an officer or ho would have made him self known to u long ago Is there no name on the satchel1 asked Miss Travers with pardonable curiosity I curi-osity He has an interesting face not bandsouio And a dreamy look canio I into her deep eyes She was thinking uo doubt of a dark oval distingue faco with raven hair and mustache Tho I youth in the traveling suit was not tall like Stevennot singularly romantically romantical-ly handsome like Steven Indeed ho I was of less interest to her than to her married sister mare I Mrsl Rayner could see no name on the satchel only two initials and they revealed re-vealed little veale very lte havo half mind to at the e haI a minl peep flyleaf fly-leaf of that book she said Ho walked walk-ed just like a soldier but there isnt anything there to indicate what he is she continued with a doubtful glance at I the items scattered about the now vacant section Why isnt that porter here Ho ought t know who people areAs are-As though to answer her request in I and breath came the porter disheveled less He made straight for the satchel I they had been scrutinizing and opened it without ceremony Both ladies regarded I re-garded this proceeding with natural astonishment and Mrs Rayner was I about to interfere and question his right I jto I search the luggage of passengers when the man turned hurriedly towards I them exhibiting a little bundle of handkerchiefs hand-kerchiefs his broad Ethiopian face clouded with anxiety and concern I I The gentleman teL me to tko all I his handkerchiefs Wose got a dozen j frozen soldiers i tiobaKgage car sorno 1 bad and ito i of em mighty theyso tryin to make em comfortable until they get I to the fort Soldiers frozen Why do you take I them in tho baggage nrsuch a barn of 0 place Why werent they brought here where we could make them warm and care for them eaclaimed Ir Ray ner in impulsive indignation Laws maam never do in the world to bring frozen people into a hot car Sure to make their ears an nose drop oil that would Got to keep em in the cold and pile snow around cm That gentleman sittin herelie knows he continued lies an officer and him and the doctors workin with cm now I And Mrs Rayner vanquished by a 1 I statement of facts well known to her j yet forgotten in the first impetuosity oCher oC-her criticism relapse into the silence 1 of tempoiary defeat He is an officer then said Miss I Travers presently 1 wonder what he belongs t Not to our regiment Im sure Pob Ho knew Stan ably to the cavalry lo Maj nard and other officers whom wo passed there thereDid he speak t them I No there was no time We were beyond I be-yond hearing distance when he ran to the back door of the car and there was no time Iwfore that But its very odd Whats er odd Why his conduct I is s strange that he has not made himself known t us if hes an officer Probably he doesnt know your wenrc connected with the army Kate Oh yes ho does Tlie porter knows perfectly well and I told him just before he left Yes but ho didnt know before that time did he He ought t have known said Mrs I Rayner uncompromisingly At least ho should if he had taken the faintest interest I mentioned Capt Rayner s I that he could not help hearing This that Miss I statement being one llsl Travers could in no wise contradict it was one indeed that Mrs Rayner i I could have dispensed with as unnecessary unneces-sary the younger lady again betook I herself to silence and pulling the kittens I ears Even if he didnt know before continued con-tinued her sister after a pause in which she had apparently been brooding over i the indifference of the young man in question he ought to have made himself him-self known after I told him who I wa I Another pause Thats what I did it for she wound up conclusively And thats what I thought sid Miss Travers with a quiet smile However ho had no time then he was hurrying off to seo whether any of the soldiers had como on board Ho took his flask with him and apparently was in haste to offer some ono a din Im sure that is what papa used to do she added as she saw a frown gathering on her sisters faceWhat Tat papa did just after the wara time when everybody drank is not at all the proper thing now Capt Rayncr I never touches it and I dont allow it in I the house Still I should think it a very useful article when a lot of frozen and er haubted men are on ones hands said Miss Travers That was but a email I flask he had and Im Euro theyll need I more Thero came rush of cold air frorntlie o l front anti the sing g doorblewbpcn i ahead of the porter who was heard banging shut tho outer portal Then he hurried inCan I in-Can some of you gentlemen oblige I mo with some whisky or brandy he asked Wovo got some frozen soldiers I I aboard Two of em are pretty nearly gone Two of the card players dropped their hands and started for their section at once Before they could rummage in their bags for the required article Mrs Rayners voice was heard Tao this porter And she held forth a little silver ver flask I have more in my trunk if it is needed she added while a blush I mounted to her forehead as she saw the I quizzical smile on her sisters face 1 You know I always carry it in traveling travel-ing Nellieyin case of accident or illness I ness and Im most thankful I have it I nowEver s much obliged maam said the porter but this would bo only a thimbleful and I can geta quart bottle of this gentleman Where are they said the person thus referred t a he came down the aislo with a big brown bottle in his hand Come Jim lets go and see what we can do One of you gentlemen tko my place in tho game he continued contin-ued indicating the commercial gent two of whom nothing loath dropped into the vacated seats while the others I pushed on to the front of tho train The porter hesitated one moment Yes take my flask I shouldnt feel satisfied without doing something And please say to tho officer that Im Mrs Bayner Mrs Capt Rayncr of the infantry in-fantry and ask if there isnt something I i can do to help Yes naaam I will maam Oh ho knows who you arc I done told him last night lies goin to Fort Warrencr too And touching his cap away went the porter There Ho did know all along said I Mrs Rayner triumphantly I i most extraordinary Well is it the proper thing for people peo-ple in the army t introduce themselves when traveling How aro they to know it will b agreeable Agreeable Why Nellie its always done especially when ladies aro traveling travel-ing without an escort as we are The j commonest civility should prompt it and officers always send their cards by the porter the moment they find army ladies are on the train I dont understand this one at all especially But hero sho broke off abruptly Especially what asked Miss Nell with an inspiration of maidenly curiosity curios-ity Especially nothing Never mind now And here the baby began to fidget and stir about and stretch forth his chubby hands and thrust his knuckles in his eyes and pucker up his face in alarming contortions preparatory to a wail and after one or two soothing and tentative sounds ofslv li sh = sho from the maternal lips the matron abandoned the attempt to induce a second sec-ond nap and picked him up in her arms where he presently began to take gracious gra-cious notice of his pretty aunt and the kitten Two hours later just as the porter had notified them that Warrener Station would be in sight in five minutes the young man of the opposite section returned re-turned to the car Ho looked tired very anxious and his faco was paler and the sad expression more pronounced than before The train conductor stopped him to speak of somo telegrams that had been sent and both ladies noted the respect re-spect which tho railway official threw into the tone in which he spoke The card players stopped their game and went up to ask after the frozen men It was not until the whistle was sounding sound-ing for the station that ho stood before them and with a grave and courteous bow held forth r Rayners silver flask I was a blessing t ono poor fellow at least and I thank you for him madam he said I have been so anxious I wanted to anxous do something Did you not get my mo sage Mr she asked with intentional inten-tional l pause that ho might supply the missinc name Indeed there was nothing we could ask of you he answered totally ignoring ignor-ing the evident invitation I am greatly great-ly obliged to you for your kindness but wo had abundant help and you really could not havo reached the car in the face of this gale Good morning madam mad-am And with that he raised his fu I I traveling cap and quickly turned to his section and busied himself strapping up his various belongings Tho man must be a woman hater she whispered t is Travers Hos going be to get out here too Who can he There was still a moment before the train would stop at the platform and she I was not to bo beaten s easily Bending partly across the aisle sho spoke again You have been so kind t those poor fellows that I feel sure you must be of tho army I think I told you I am Mrs Rayncr of Fort Warrenqr May we not hope to see you there Itit is not probablo that we shall meet at all And with that ho turned away I CHAPTER H I ij J I I TJicirfettow traveler tntthePullmkn Even in thoexcitement attendant upor their reception at Ute station ncinier aits Rayner nor her sister could entirely recover cover from tho surprise and pain which the strangers singular words had caused singar wors cms So far from feeling in the least rebuffed I Mrs Rayner well understood from his manner that not the faintest discourtesy 1 was intended There was not a symptom I of rudeness not a vestige of irritation 015 i haste in his tone Deep embarrassment inexpressible sadness even she read in the brief glimpse she had of his paling face It all to her and fae was ul a mystery to the girl seated in silence by her side Both followed him with their eyes as ho hurried away to tho rear of the car and then with joyous shouts three or four burly fur enveloped men came bursting in the front door and the two ladies I I the baby and the kitten were pounced I t upon and surrounded by a group that I crew larger every minute Released I finally from the welcoming embrace of her stalwart husband Mrs Rayner found I time to present tho other and younger officers to her sister As many as half a dozen had followed tho captain in Isis I wild rush upon the car and while ho and his baby boy were resuming acquaintanceship ac-quaintanceship after a separation of I many long months Miss Travers found herself the center of a circle of young I officers who had braved tho wintry blizzard bliz-zard in their eagerness to do her proper homage Her checks were aflame with excitement and pleasure her eyes dancing danc-ing and despite the fatigue of her long journey she was looking dangerously pretty as Capt Raynpr glanced for aj 1 j moment from the babys wondering I eyes took in the picture like an instantaneous I instan-taneous photograph and then looked I again into Mrs Rayners smiling face I You wero wise in providing against possibilities as you did Kate he said with a significant nod of the head 1 Thero are as many a a dozen of them or at least there will bo when thetb gets back from the field Stannard is I out yet with his battalion Oh yes we saw them at a station east of hero They looked frozen to death and there are ever so many of the soldiers frozen Tho baggage car is full of them Didnt you know it Not a word of it Wo have been her for three mortal hours waiting at tho station and any telegrams must I havo been sent right out to the fort The colonel is there and ho would have all arrangements made Here Graham Foster Mrs Rayner says there are a lot of frozen cavalrymen forward in the baggage car Run ahead and see what is necessary will you Ill bo there in a minute as soon as weve got theso ladies I off the train Two of tho young gentlemen who had been hovering around is Travers took I themselves without a moments delay their senior The others remained to help officer Out into the whirling eddies of snow bundling them up in the big warm capes of their regulation overcoats over-coats the officers half led halt carried their precious charges The captainbore1 his son and heir Lieut Ross cscortcd Mrs Rayner two others devoted themselves them-selves exclusively to Miss Travers a fourth picked up the Maltese kitten Two or three smart trim looking in fantry soldiers cleared tho section of bags and bundles of shawls and the entire en-tire party was soon within the doorway of the waiting room whero a red hot coal stove glowed fierce welcome Hero the ladies were left for a moment while bustled into the all the officers again out storm and fought their way against the northwest gale until they reached the little crowd gathered about the doorway of the freight sheds A stout short burly man in beaver oveicoat and cap pushed through the knot of half numbed spectators and approached their leader I We have only two ambulances captain cap-tain that is all there was at the post when the dispatch came and there area are-a dozen of these men besides Dr Grimes all more or l s crippled and Grimes has both haVds frozen We must get them out at once Can wo take y ur wagon Certainly doctor Tako anything have I the storm holds tell the driver not to try to come back for us We can make the ladies comfortable here at the hotel for the night Some of the officers have to get back for duties this evening The rest will havo to stay How did they happen to get caught in such a freeze They couldnt help it Stannard had chased the Clyycnncs across tho range and was ordered to get back to tho railway rail-way I a twenty below when they started and they made three days chase in that weather but no ono seemed to care so long a they were on the trail Then came the change of wind and a driving snow storm in which they lost I the trail a a matter of course and then this blizzard struck them on the backtrack back-track Grimes is so exhausted that ho I could barely hold out until he got here He says ho never could have brought them through from Buff Siding but for Mr Hayne he did everything Mr Haynel Was he with them Ho was on the train and came in nt onco to offer his services Grimes says ho was invaluable But Mr Hayno was east on leave 1 know he was Ho was promoted t my company last month confound tho luck and was to have six months leave before be-fore joining I wish it was six years Where is ho now And the captain peered excitedly around from under his shaggy cap Oddly too his fact was paling He left a soon a I took charge I dont know where hes gone but its Gods mercy ho was with these poor fellows His skill and care have done everything for them Whero did ho get his knowledge I havo no idea said Capt Rayner gruffly and in evident ill humor He i the last man I expected to see this day or for days to come Is there anything any-thing else I can do doctor Nothing thank you captain And the little surgeon hastened back to his charges followed by some of tho younger young-er c r eager to b of assistance in raring Tor then disabled comrades Eayncr himself hesitated a moment then turned about and trudged heavily nadir along tho wind swept platform The train had pulled away and was out f sight in theiwhlrl of snow over tho w tU jrairies He went to i own V h substantial wagon and shouted to tho driver who sat muffled hi buffalo fur on the box Get around thero to the freight house and report to tho doctor There is a lot of frozen cavalrymen to bo taken out t the hospital Dont try to come back for u tonight well stay her in townSend I town-Send the quartermasters team in for tho trunks a soon as the storm is over and the road clear Thats all tle cer Then ho rejoined thin party at the waiting wait-ing room of the station and Mrs Rayner noted instantly that all the cheeriness had gone and that a cloud had settled on his face Sho was a shrewd observer I i and she knew him well Something more 1 serious than a mishap t a squad of soldiers I j sol-diers had brought about tho sudden j I I change Ho was 1 gladness all rejolc i i ing and delight whf > n r clasped her and his baby boy in his arms butten niinutea I before and nowsomething had occurred occur-red to bring him serious discomfort She rested her hand on his arm and looked questioningly in his face He avoided i her glance and quickly began to talk She saw that ho desired to answer no questions just then and wisely refrained Meantime Miss Travers was chatting blithely with two young gallants who liad returned t her side and who had I thrown off their heavy furs and stood revealed re-vealed in their becoming undress uniforms uni-forms Mr Rosshad gono to look over I tilerooms which the host of the railway hotel offeredfor tho useof the party tho baby was yielding to the inevitable and gradually condescending to notice the efforts of Mr Foster to scrape acI 1 quaintancc the kitten with dainty step 1 and ears and tail erect was making a leisurely inspection of the premises sniff I ing about the few benches and chairs with which tho baro room was burdened and reconnoitering tho door leading to the hallway with evident desiro to extend her researches in that direction Pres ently that very door opened and in came two or three bundles of fur in masculine shape and with them two shaggy deor hounds who darted straight at the kitten kit-ten There was a sudden flurry and scatter scat-ter a fury of spits and scratching a yelp of pain from ono brute with lacerated j nose a sudden recoil of both hounds and l then a fiery rush through tho open doorway door-way in pursuit of puss After the first gallant instinct of battle her nerve had i given out and she had sought safety in flight j Oh dont let them hurt her cried I Miss aver as she darted into the hal i and gazed desparingly up tho stairway Ito I-to the second story whither the dogs had I vanished like a flash Two of the young officers sped to the rescue and turned thin wrong way Mrs Rayner and the captain cap-tain followed her into tho hall A rush of canine feet and an excited chorus of barks and yelps were heard aloft then a stern voice ordering Down you brutes a sudden howl as though in response re-sponse a vigorous kick and an instant later bearing the kitten ruffled teni rfnd excited et unharmed itieasfnd wildly lxclt yet unhrrmQd there came springing lightly down the I stops the young man in civilian dress who was their fellow traveler on the I Pullman Without a word he gave his prize into tho dainty hands outstretched to receive it and never stopping an in stant never listening to the eager words of thanks from her pretty lips lie darted back an quickly a he came leaving Miss Travers suddenly stricken dumb II j Capt Rapier turned sharply on Isis I heel and stepped back into the waiting room Mr Ross nudged a brother lieutenant i lieu-tenant and whispered By gad thats awkward for Midas The subalterns who had taken the wrong turn at the top of the stairs reappeared there just as I I the rescuer shot past them on his way back and stood staring first after his I disappearing form and then at each other Miss Travers with wonder and I relief curiously mingled in her sweet face clung to her restored kitten and gazed vacantly up the stairs Mrs Rapier looked confusedly from one to the other quickly noting the constraint con-straint in tho manner of every officci present and tho sudden disappearance of her husband There was an cdd silence for a moment then she spoke Mr Ross do you know that gentleman gentle-man manI know who ho is Yes Who is he then Ho is your husbands new first lieutenant I Mrs That is Mr I I tenant rs Rayner liayne TlmtlIr Hayne she exclaimed growing suddenly pale 1 I Certainly madam Had you never seen him before sn I Never and I expected didnt expect ex-pect t see such a And she broke short off confused and plainly distressed i turned her husband abruptly and left tho hall a had i CHAPTER III rreiIiiis ui i t1 4 I Alone in the colonels presence The officers of Fort Warrener were assembled as was the daily morning custom in the presence of the colonel commanding It had long been the I practice of that veteran soldier to require re-quire all his commissioned subordinates I t put in an appearance at his office immediately I I im-mediately after the ceremony of guard I mounting Ho might have nothing t j say to them or ho mighehava a goad I dealr I and ho was a man capable of saying say-ing good deal l farveryfevr votda and I j meaning oxactlywhat h said It w j his custom td loolc u frornuhis writing as each officer entered and respond tot 1 to-t I to reanectful salutation tendered him J r j < with an equally punctilious Good mom i ing Capt Gregg or Good morning Mr Blake never omitting the mention of tho name unless a was sometimes tried a squad of them camo in together and made their obeisance as a body In this event the colonel simply looked each man in the face as though taking mental note o the individual constituents constitu-ents of the group and contented himself him-self with a Good morning gentlemen When in addition to six troops of his own regiment of cavalry theo were sent to the post a major and four companies of infantry some of the junior oflicura of the latter organisation had suggested t their comrades of the yellow stripes that a the colonel had no roll call it might be a matter of no great risk t cut the matinee on some of the fend ishly cold mornings that soon set in but the experiment was never designedly tried thanks possibly to the frank exposition ex-position of his personal views as expressed ex-pressed by Lieut Blake of tho cavalry who said Try it if you aro stagnating for want of a sensation my genial plodder plod-der but not if you value the advice of one who has been there s to speak The chief will spot you quicker than ho can a missing shioea missing horseshoe Johnny let me elaborate for your comprehension com-prehension and the next question will be Mr Bluestrap did you intentionally absent yourself and then how will you get out of it I The matinees s called were by nom no-m ans unpopular features of the daily routine The officers were permitted to bring their pipes or cigars and tako their i i after breakfast smoke in the big corny ofiice of the commander just as they I were permittedto enjoy the postprandial I whiff when at evening recitation in i the same office they sat around tho room chatting in low tones for half an I I hour while the colonel received the reports re-ports of hisadjutant the surgeon and the I old and the new officer of the day Then any matters affecting the discipline or I instruction or general interests of the command were brought up both sides of the question were presented if question arose the decision was rendered I then and there and the officers were dismissed dis-missed for the day with the customary Thats all gentlemen They left the j office well knowing thatonly in the event of some sudden emergency would they I b called thither again or disturbed in I their daily vocations until the same hour on the following morning Meantime I they mustPbS about their work drills if weather permitted stable duty no matter mat-ter what the weather garrison courts I boards of survey tho big general court that was perennially dispensing justice I at the post and the long list of minor but demands the I none the less exacting on I time and attention of the subalterns and i company commanders The colonel was a strict even severe disciplinarian but he was cool de liberate and just Ho worked his I 1 officsrsand thereby incurred the criti cisat of a few butheld the respect of all f lie had been a splendid cavalry commander com-mander in the field of all others whero i j his sterling qualities were sure to find responsive appreciation in his officers I and men on active and stirring campaigns I cam-paigns against the Indiansand among his own regiment he knew that deep in their heart the th respected and believed I be-lieved in him even when they growled at garrison exactions which seemed uncalled un-called for The infantry officers knew less of him as a sterling campaigner and were not so well pleased with his discipline I was all right for him to rout out every mothers son in tho cavalry at revsjlle because l all tho cay airy officers had to go to stables soon afterward that was all they were fit forbut what on earth was the uso of getting them tho infantry out of their warm beds before sunrise on a wintry morning and having no end of roll calls and such things through the day just II to keep them busy The real objection tho main objection to the colonels system was that it kept a fargo number of officers most of whom were educated gentlemen hammering all day long tan t-an endless routine of trivial duties allowing al-lowing actually no time in which they could read study or improve their minds but as ill luck would have it the three young gentlemen who decided to present to the colonel this view of the case had been devoting what spare time they could find to a lively game of poker down at the store and their petition for more time to themselves brought down a reply from the oracular lips of tho commander that became immortal on the frohtier and made the petitioners nearly frantic For a week tho trio was the butt of all II the wits at Fort Warrener And yet the entire commissioned force felt that they were being kept at the grindstone because I be-cause of the frivolity of these youngsters and they did not Iflco it All the same the cavalrymen stuckup for their colonel and the infantrymen respected him and tho matinees were business like and profitable They were rarely unpleasant i in any feature but tins particular mornj ingtwo days after tho arrival of Mrs I Rayner and her sister thero had been a i I scene of somewhat dramatic interest i and the groups of officers in breaking up I and going away could discuss nothing else The colonel had requested one of their number t remain a he wished to speak to him further and that man was Lieut Hayne Seven years had that young gentleman been a second lieutenant of the regiment of infantry a detachment of which was now stationed at Warrener Only this very winter had promotion como to him and of all companies in the regiment he was gazetted tb the first lieutenancy of Capt Ruyncrs For a while the regiment i regi-ment when by itself could talk of little else Mr Hayne had spent three or four years in tho exile of a little two company com-pany pos far up in the mountains Except Ex-cept the officers there stationed none of his confradcs had seen him during that time I I timeNo one of them would like to admit that he would care to see him And yet when once hi a while they gobtcrtalking l i amongthem2eLvcs about him and the was soraetfrcss conffdentiall i 1 question W Bretm cIfdelr askndof comrades whO dawn on leave l from that isolated station Hbw is Hayno doing o What is Hayne doing the language in which ho was referred tQ grew by degrees far less I truculent and confident than it had been I thither Officers of when he first went Ofccr other regiments rarely spoke to tho Riilers1 of Mr Hayne Unlike one o mle two others of their arm of the strvico this particular regiment of foot hioki the alfairs of its officers a regimental property prop-erty in which outsiders had no concern ery I they had disagreements they were kept to themselves and even in i a case which in its day had attracted widespread wide-spread attention the Rillcrs had long since learned to shun all talk outside It wna evident to other commands that I the liayne affair n a sore point and Iavnc afair pintd one on which the preferred silence i And yet it was getting to b whispered around that the Riders were by no means so unanimous as they had been in their opinion of this very officer They wero becoming divided among themselves and what complicated matters was the fact that those who felt their views undergoing un-dergoing a reconstruction were compelled com-pelled to admit that just in proportion us tho case of Mr Hayne rose in their of another offi estimation tho rcputatiorj l tlation reputatioI o that officer and I cer was bound to suffer ofcer I I was Capt Rayner I Between these two men not a word i had been exchanged for five years not a single word since the day when with ashen face and broken accents but with stern purpose in every syllable Lieut Hayne standing in the presence of nearly all the officers of his regiment I had hurled this prophecy in his adver sarys teeth Though it take me years I1 will live it down despite you and you will wish to God you had bitten out your perjured tongue before ever you told the lie that wrecked me Np wonder there was talk and lot of i in the Hitlers and all through the garrison when Rayners first lieutenant and suddenly threw up his commission retired to the mine he had located In Montana and Haynethe senior second I was promoted to the vacancy Speculation Specula-tion as to what would 0 tho result was I given a temporary rest by the news that orders had granted the war department < der I subaltern six months leave the first he I had sought in as many years I was i known that he had gone east but hardly j had ho been away a fortnight when thero caoio the trouble with the Cheyennes at the reservation leap for liberty by some fifty of the band and an immediate immedi-ate rush of the cavalry in pursuit There were somo bloody atrocities a there always are All the troops in the department depart-ment were ordered to be in readiness for instant service while tho officials eagerly watched the reports to eeo which way tho desperate band would turn and the next heard of Mr Hayne was the news that he had thrown up his leave aud had hurried out to join his company the moment mo-ment the eastern papers told of the I trouble It was all practically settled by the time he reached the department but the spirit and intent of his action could not 0 doubted And now hero ho was at V arner That very morning during the matinee he had entered tho ofiice unannounced walked up to the desk of the commander and while every voice but his in the room was stilled he I quietly spoke Permit mo to introduce myself colonel col-onel Mr llayne I desire to relinquish my leave of absence and report fordnty The colonel quickly arose and extended his hand Mr Hayne I am especially glad to see you and to thank you here for all your care and kindness to our men The dootortells me that many of them would have had to suffer thin loS of noses and ears even of hands and feet in some cases but for your attention Maj Stannard will add his thanks to mine when ho returns Take a seat ek for the present You are acquainted with tho officers of your own regiment doubtless i doubt-less Mr Billings introduce Mr Hayne to ours Whereat tho adjutant courteously greeted tho newcomer presented a small I party of yellow strapped shoulders and I then drew him into earnest talk abut the adventure of the train It was noticed I ticed that I Hayno neither by word I nor glance gave the slightest recognition I recogni-tion of the presence of the officers of his own regiment and that they a studiously studi-ously avoided him One or two of their number had indeed risen and stepped forward though to offer him the civil greeting due to one of their own cloth but it a with evident doubt of the result sult They reddened when lie met their tentative which was that of a gentleman gentle-man with a cold heal of utter repudiation I repudia-tion Ho did not choose t see them and of course that ended it Nor was his greeting hearty among the cavalrymen Thero were only a few present as most of the th were still out I I I in ths field and marching slowly 1 homeward home-ward The introductions were courteous and formal there was even constraint among two or three hut there was civility civil-ity and an evident desire to refer to his services in behalf of their men All such attempts however Mr Hayne waved aside by an immediate chansjuof the subject sub-ject It wa plain that to them too ho had the manner of a man who was at odds with the wprld and desired to make no friends Tho colonel quickly noted the general I silence and constraint and resolved to shorten it a much a possible Dropping his pen he wheeled around in his chair with determined cheerfulness I Mr Hayne you will need a day or two t look about and select quarters and I get ready for work I presume I Thank you colonel No sh I shall I I move in this afternoon and be on duty i tomorrow morning a the clm reply I There was an awkward pause for a moment Tho officers looked blankly from one to another and then began craning tficir necks to search for the post quartermaster who sat an absorbed i listener Then the colonel spoke again l i i appreciate your promptness sir Hayne but have yon considered that in choosing quarter according to your rank you will necessarily move somebody out Wo are crowded now and many of your juniors are married and the ladies will wt time to pact AnaTfTfous silenceasamv Capt Ray ner was gazintfafc his boot toes and tyI mgtoappcar utterly indifferent other leanedforward although eager to hear the answer A faint smile crossed Mr Haynes features ho seemed rather to enjoy tho situation 1 r I Have considered colonel I shall1 turn nobody out and nobody need be < ia commcdcd in tho least i Oh then you will share quarters asked tho with some of the bachelors akc colonel with evident relief i I No sir and the answer was stern intone nl tone though perfectly respectful I shall live a I have lived for years utj terly alopn ter 10LO i Ono could havchcard a pin drop in the I office oven on tho matted floor Tho I colonel half arose i Why Mr Haynothere is not a vacant cant set of quarters in the garrison You cnt st o quarer te grhon will have to move some one out if you decide to live alone There may b no quarters in the post sir but if you will permit me lean hvoj near my company and yet in officer quarters i How s sir In the house out there on the edgoof the garrison facing the prairie Ib is within stones throw of tho barracks of Company B and is exactly like thoso built for tho officers in her along the parade Why 1 Hayne no officers ever lived there It is utterly out of the way and isolated I believe it was built for the sutler years ago but was bought is by tho government afterwards Who lives there now Mr Quartermaster No one sir It is being used a atoll ore shop half a dozen of the company tailors work there but I can send them back t their own barracks The house is in good repair and as Mr Hayne says exactly like those built for officers use o And you mean you want to live the alone Mr Hayne I do sir exactly The colonel turned sharply to his desk once more Tho strained silt ace continued a moment Then ho faced his officers Mr Hayne will you remain a few moments I wish to speak with you Gentlemen that is all this morning And so the meeting adjourned While many of tho cavalry officcro strolled into tho neighboring club anj reading room it was noticed that their comrades of the infantry lost no timo at intermediate points but took the shor est road to tho row of brown cottage known as tho officers quarters Ths feeling of constraint that had sottlea upon all was still apparent in the group that entered the club room and for moment no ono spoke There was a general settling into easy chairs and picking up of newspapers without reference refer-ence to age or date No one seemed to want to say anything and yet every one felt it necessary to have some apparent excuse for becoming absorbed in othei matters This was s evident t Lieut Blake that he speedily burst into a laugh the first that had been heard and when two or three heads popped out from behind their printed screens to inquire in-quire into tho cause of his mirth that light hearted gentleman was seen sprawling sprawl-ing his long legs apart and gazing out of the windowafter theTgronps of infantrymen Infantry-men What do you se thats s intensely funny growled one of the elders among the dragoons Nothing old molo nothing said Blake turning suddenly about It looks too much hike a funeral procession for fun What Im chuckling at is the absurdity ab-surdity of our coming in hero like so many mutes in weepers Its none of our funeral Strikes me tho situation is damned awkward growled tho mole again Heres a fellow comes in whos cut by his regiment and has placed ours under lasting obligation before ha gets insido the post Well does any man hero know the rights and wrongs of tho case anyhow said a tall bearded captain a he threw aside tho paper which ho had no been reading and rose impatiently to his feet I seems to me from the little Ive herd of Mr Haync and the little Ive Een that there is a broad variation between facts and appearances He looks lie a gentleman gentle-man manNo ono docs know anything moro of the matter than was known at the time of tho court martial five years ago answered swered the mole Of course you have heard all about that and my experience is that when a body of officers and gentlemen gen-tlemen find after due deliberation ou the evidence that another has been guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman the chances are a hundred to one he has been doing something disreputable dis-reputable to say the least Then why wasnt he dismissed queried a young lieutenant The law says ho must be Tljats right Dolly pull your Ives and Benct on em and show you know all about military law and courts martial said the captain crusbingly Its ono thingfor a court to sentence and another for the president to approve Hayna was dismissed so fares a court could do it but the president remitted the whole thingThero Thero was moro to it than that though and you know it Buston said Blake Neither tho department commander com-mander nor Gen Sherman thought the evidence conclusive and they said sc > especially old Gray Fox And you ash any of these fellows hero now whether they believe Hayno was really guilty and Ill bet yon that eight out of ten will flunk at the question Andyetthey all cnthitndead Thata prima facie evidence of what they think Cut be blowed By gad if any mar asked rae to testify on oath ac to where the cat lay I should say he had cut them Did you see how ho ignored Foster and Graham this morning I did and I thought it damned ungentlemanly un-gentlemanly in him Those fellows did the proper thing and ho ought to have acinowled2edit broke in third officer This stow was commenced In THE SUXDAV HCIHLD Februry 23 Back numbers cii be obtained at this offlce1 ITO BE COSTIOTED NEXT suxniru |