10
THE SCBANtfON TRIBUNE SAlTJDllAY MOItNTNGr.' JULY 21, 1594;
.ifliCMTIO94BYYKt,:j..8.lll',trtC0Tr Cfix
CHAPTER 1
A strange thing happened at tho old
fort during tho still watches of tlio
night Even now, at 9 in the morning,
no one seemed to bo in possession of tho
exact circumstances. Tho officer of tho
day was engaged in mi investigation,
and all that appeared to bo generally
known was tho buld statement that tho
BOntry on Ko. 5 had tired at somebody
pr other about half after 15; that ho had
Bred by order of tho officer of tho day,
who was on his post at tho time, and
lb at now ho flatly refused to talk about
fiie matter.
Garrison curiosity, it is perhaps neod
lees to say, was rather stimulated than
lulled by thifl announcement. An un
usual number of oflioers were chatting
about headquarters when Colonel May
uard came over to his office. Several
ladies, too, who had hitherto shown but
languid interest in the morning music
of the band, had taken tho trouble to
stroll down to the old quadrangle, os
tensibly to see guard mounting. Mrs.
Haynard was almost always on her
piazza at this timo, and her lovely
daughter was almost sure to be at the
gate with two or three youug fellows
lounging about her. This morning,
however, not a soul appeared in front
of the colonel's quarters.
Guard mounting at the fort was not
held until 9 o'clock, contrary to the
somewhat general custom at other posts
In our scattered army. Colonel May
nard had ideas of his own upon the sub
ject, and it was his theory that every
thing worked more smoothly if ha had
finished a leisurely breakfast beforo be
ginning office work of any kind, and
neither the colonel nor his family cared
o breakfast before 8 o'clock. Iu view of
the fact that Mrs. Mayuard had bortio
that name but a very short time, and
that her knowledge of army life dated
only from the month of May, the garri
son was disposed to consider her entitled
to much latitude of choice iu such mat
ters, even while it did say that she was
old enough to be above brideliko senti
ment The women folk at the fort were
of opinion that Mrs. Mayuard was GO.
It must be conceded that sho was over
40; also that this was her second entry
Into the bonds of matrimony.
That no one should now appear on tho
colonel's piazza was obviously a disap
pointment to several people. In some
way or other most of tho breakfast ta
bles at the post had been enlivened by
accounts of the mysterious shooting.
The soldiers going the rounds with the
"police cart," the butcher and grocer
and baker from town, the old milk woman
With her glistening cans, had all served
as newsmongers from kitchen to kitchen,
and the story that came in with the
coffee to the lady of the house had lost
nothing in bulk or bravery. Tho groups
of officers chatting and smoking in front
of headquarters gained accessions every
moment, while the ladies seemed more
absorbed in chat and confidences than iu
the sweet musio of the band.
What fairly exasperated soino men
was the fact that the old officer of the
day was not out on the parade whero ho
belonged. Only the new incumbent was
standing there in statuesque pose as tho
hand trooped along the line, and tho fact
that the colonel had sent out word that
the ceremony would proceed without
Captain Chester only served to add fuel
to the flame of popular conjecture. It
was known that the colonel was holding
a consultation with closed doors with tho
old officer of the day, and never before
since he came to the regiment had tho
colonel been known to look so pale and
strange as when he glanced out for just
one moment and called his orderly. The
soldier sprang up, saluted, received his
message, and, with every eye following
him, sped off toward the old stone
guardhouse. In three minutes he was on
his way back, accompanied by a cor
poral and private of the guard in full
dress uniform.
1 "That's Leary, tho man who fired tho
shot," said Captain Wilton to his senior
lieutenant, who stood by his side.
1 "Belongs to B company, doesn't he?"
queried the subaltern. "Seems to mo I
have heard Captain Armitago say ho
Was one of his best men. "
"Yes. He's been in tho regiment as
long as I con remember. What on earth
can the colonel want him for? Near as
I can learn, he only fired by Chester's
order. "
"And neither of them knows what ho
fired at"
. It was perhaps 10 minutes before Pri
vate Leary camo forth from tho door
way of the colonel's office, nodded to
the corporal, and raising their white
gloved hands in salute to tho group of
officers the two men tossed their rifles
to the right shoulder and strode back to
the guard.
Another moment, and tho colonel
himself opened his door and appeared
in the hallway. Ho stopped abruptly,
turned back and spoke a few words in
low tone, then hurried through tho
groups at the entrauco, looking at no
man, avoiding their glances nnd giving
faint and impatient return to tho sol
dierly Balutatioiis that greeted hiin.
The sweat was beaded en his forehead,
his lips woro white and his face full of
a trouble and dismay no man had over
seen there before. He spoko to no one,
but walked rapidly homeward, entered
and closed the gate and door behind
him. .
For a moment there was silence in
, the group. Few men in the service
, were better loved and honored than tho
, Veteran soldier who commanded the
th infantry, and it was with genu
ine concern that his officers saw him, so
doeply and painfully affected, for af
fected he certainly was. Nover beforo
had his cheery voice denied them a cor
dial "Good morning, gentlemen." Nev
er before had his bluo oyes flinched Ho
had been their comrade and commander
In years of frontier servico, and his
bachelor homo had been tho rendezvous
of all genial spirits whou iu garrison.
They had missed him sorely whon ho
Went abroad ou long leave the previous
year and wore almost indignant when
they received tho news that ho had met
his fato in Italy and would return mar
ried; "Sho ' was tho widow of a
wealthy New Yorko who had been
dead somo thveo years only, and though
over 40 did not look her years toniascu
lhio eyes when sho reached the fort in
May.
After knowing her a week tho garri
son had decided to a man that tho colo
nel had dono wisely. Mrs. Mayuard was
charming, courteous, luuidsomo and ac
complished. Only omong tho women
were there still a few who resented their
colonel's capture, and somo of these, ob
livious of tho fact that they had tempt
ed him with relations of their own, were
sententious and severe iu their con
demnation of second marriage, for tho
colonel, too, was indulging in a second
experiment Of his first only ono man
in tho regiment besides tho commander
could tell anything, and he, to tho just
indiguutiou of almost everybody, would
not discuss tho subject. It was rumored
that in tho old days when Mayuard was
senior captain and Chester junior sub
altern in their former regiment tho two
had very littlo in common. It was
known that tho first Mis. Mayuard,
while still young nnd beautiful, had
died abroad. It was hinted that tho res
ignation of a dashing lieutenant of tho
regiment, which was (synchronous with
her departure for foreign shores, was
demanded by his brother officers, but
it was useless asking Captain Chester.
He could not tell, and wasn't it odd?
hero was Chester again, tho only man
in tho colonel's confidence in an hour of
evident trouble.
"By Jove! What's gouo wrong with
tho chief?" was tho first exclamation
from one of tho older officers. "I never
saw him look so bvuken. "
As no explanation suggested itself,
they began edging in toward tho office.
Tho door stood open, a handbell banged,
a clerk darted in from tho sergeant ma
jor's rooms, and Captain Chester was
revealed seated at tho colonel's desk.
This in itself was sufficient to induce
several oflicers to stroll in and look in
quiringly around. Captain Chester,
merely nodding, went ou with some
writing at which ho was engaged.
After a moment's awkward silence
and uneasy glancing at ono another
tho party seemed to arrivo at tho con
clusion that it was timo to speak. Tho
band had ceased, and the new guard
had marched away behind its pealing
bugles. Lieutenant Hall winked at his
comrades, strolled hesitatingly over to
tho desk, balanced unsteadily on ono
leg, and with his hands sticking in his
tronsers pockets, and his forago cap
swinging from protruding thumb and
forefinger, cleared his throat, and with
marked lack of confidence accosted his
absorbed superior:
"Colonel gono home?"
"Didn't you seo him:" was tho un
compromising reply, and the captain
did not deign to raise his head or eyes.
"Well er yes, I supposo I did,"
said Mr. Hall, shifting uncomfortably
to his other leg and prodding tho floor
witli tho too of his boot.
"Then that wasn't what yon wanted
to know, I presume, " said Captain Ches
ter, signing his name with a vicious dab
of tho pen and bringing his fist clown
with a thump ou tho blotting pad, while
ho wheeled around in his chair and
looked squarely up into tho perturbed
features of tho junior.
"No, it wasn't," answered Mr. Hall
in an injured tone, whilo an andiblo
snicker at tho door added to his sense of
discomfort. "What I mainly wanted
was to know if I could go to town. "
"That matter is easily arranged, Mr.
IIall. All you have to do is to get out
of that nncomfortaMo and unsoldierly
position, stand in tho attitude iu which
you aro certainly moro nt homo and in
finitely more picturesque, proffer your
request in respectful words, and thero
is no question as to tho result. "
"Oh, you're in command, then?" said
Mr. Hall, slowly wriggling into tho po
sition of tho soldier and flushing through
his bronzed cheeks. "I thought tho colo
nel might bo only gono for a minute. "
"Tho colonel may not bo buck for a
week, but you bo hero for dress parado
all tho same, and Mr. Hall I" ho call
ed as tho young officer was turning
away. The latter faced about again.
"Was Mr. Jerrold going with you to
town?"
"Yes, sir. Ho was to drive me in his
dogcart, and it's over hero now."
"Mr. Jerrold cannot go at least not
until I have seen him. "
"Why, captain, ho got the colonol's
permission at breakfast this morning."
"That is true, no doubt, Mr. Hall."
And tho captain dropped his Bliarp nnd
captions manner, nnd his voico fell as
though in sympathy with tho cloud that
settled on his face. "I cannot explain
matters just now. Thero aro reasons
why tho permission is withdrawn for
tho timo being. Tho adjutant will noti
fy him." And Captain Chester turned
to his desk again us tho new officer of
tho day, gunrdbook in hand, entered to
mnko his report
"Tho usual orders, captain," said
Chester as he took tho book from his
hand and looked over the list of prison
ers. Then, in bold nnd rapid strokes,
he wroto across tho pago the customary
certificate of the old officer of tho day,
winding up with this remark:
"Ho also inspected guard and visited
Kintries botwoon 8 and 8:35 a.m. Tho
Bring at 8:30 a. m. was by his order."
Meantime thoso officers who had en
tered and who had no immediate duty
to perform woro standing or seated
around the room, but all observing pro
found Biltmco. For a moment or two no
sound was heard but tho scratching of
tho captain's pen. Then, with somo em
barrassment and hesitancy, ho laid it
down and glanced around him.
"Has any ono hero anything to ask
any business to transact?" v
Two or throe mentioned some routine
mattors that required tho action of tho
post commanded but did so reluctantly,
as though thev preferred to await the
ordors of the colonel himself. ""Captain
Wiltxtn indeed spoko his sentiments:
"I wanted to see Colonel Mayuard
about getting two men of my company
relieved from extra duty, but as he isn't
here I fancy I had hotter wait "
"Not at all Who are your nion?
Have it done at oitce, Mr. Adjutant,
and supply their places from my com
pany if need bo. Now, is thoro anything
else?"
The group was apparently "nonplus
ed," as tho adjutant afterward put it,
by such unlocked for complaoeuco on
tho port of tho usually crotchety senior
"Ias any one here anything to ask!"
captain. Still, no ono offered to lead
tho others and leave tho room. After a
moment's nervous rapping with his
knuckles on tho desk Captain Chester
again abruptly spoko:
"Gentlemen, I ain sorry to incom
mode you, but if thero bo nothing moro
that you desiro to seo me about I shull
go ou with somo other matters, which,
pardon ino, do not require your pres
ence. "
At this very broad hint tho party
slowly found their legs, and with much
wonderment and not a few resentful
glances at their temporary commander
tho officers sauntered to tho doorway.
There, however, several stopped again,
still reluctant to leavo in the face of so
pervading a mystery, for Wilton turned.
"Am I to understand that Colonel
Mayuard has left tho post to be gouo
any length of timo?" ho asked.
"IIo lias not yet gone. I do not know
how long ho will bo gono or how soon
ho will start. For pressing personal rea
sons he has turned over tho command
to mo, and if ho decide to remain
away of course somo field officer will be
ordered to come to headquarters. For a
day or two you will have to worry
along with me, but I sha'n't worry you
moro than I can help. I'vo got mystery
and mischief enough hero to keep mo
busy, God knows. "Just nsk Sloat to
come back hero to me, will you? And,
Wilton, I did not mean to bo abrupt
with you. I'm all upset today. Mr. Ad
jutant, notify Mr. Jerrold at once that
ho Kiust not leave tho post until I have
seen him. It is the colonel's last order.
Tell him so."
CHAPTER IL
Tho night beforo had been unusually
dark. A thick veil of clouds overspread
tho heavens and hid the stars. Moon
there was none, for the faint silver cres
cent that gleamed for a moment through
the swift sailing wisps of vapor had
dropped beneath tho horizon soon after
tattoo, and tho mournful strains of
"taps," homo on tho rising wind, seem
ed to signal "extinguish lights" to the
eutire firmament as well as to Fort Sib
ley. There was a dance of somo kind at
tho quarters of ono of tho staff officers
living far up the row on the southern
terrace. Chester heard the laughter and
chut as the young officers and their con
voy of matrons and maids came trip
ping homeward after midnight IIo
was a crusty old bachelor, to use his
own description, and rarely ventured
into these scenes of social gaycty, and
besides he was officer of the day, and it
was a theory he was fond of expound
ing to junior that when on guard no
soldier should permit himself to bo
drawn from tho scene of his duties.
With his books and his pipo Chester
whiled away the lonely hours o.! tho
early night and wondered if tho wind
would blow up a rain or disperse tho
clouds entirely. Toward 1 o'clock a light,
bounding footstep approached his door,
and tho portal flew open as a trim built
young fellow, with laughing eyes and
un air of exuberant hoaltlt and spirits,
camo briskly in. It was Rollins, tho
junior second lieutenant of tho regiment
and Chester's own and only pet so said
the envious others. Ho was baroly a
year out of leading strings at tho Point
and as full of liopo and pluck and mis
chief as a colt. Moreover, ho was frank
and teachable, said Chester, and didn't
come to him with the idea that ho had
nothing to learn and less to do. Tho
boy won upon his gruff captain from tho
very start, and, to tho incredulous de
light of tho wholo regiment, within six
mouths tho old cynic had taken him into
his heart and home, and Mr. Rollins
occupied a pleasant room under Ches
ter's rooftrco nnd was the sole accredited
sharer of tho captain's mess. To a
youngster just onterlug service, whoso
ambition it was to stick to business and
mnko u rocord for zeal and efficiency,
thoso were manifest udvautages.
Thero were men iu tho regiment to
whom such close communion with a
watchful senior would have been most
embarrassing, and Mr. Rollins' prede
cessor as second lieutenant of Chester's
company was one of these. Mr. Jerrold
was a happy man when promotion took
him from under tho wing of Crusty
Jake nnd landed him in Company B.
Moro than that, it came just at a timo
when, after four years of loneliness and
isolation at nn up river stockade, his
new company and his old ono, together
with four others from the regiment,
were ordered to join headquarters and
tho band at tho most delightful station
in tho northwest. Horo Mr. Rollins had
reported for duty during tho previous
autumn, and hero they were with troops
of other arms of tho servico, enjoying
tho close proximity of all the good things
of civilization.
Chester looked up, with a quizzical
smile, as his "plebe" camo in:
"Well, sir, how many dancos had you
with Sweet Alice, Ben Bolt? Not many,
I fancy, with Mr. Jerrold monopolizing
everything as usual. By gad I somo good
follow could mako a colossal fortuno in
buying that young man at my valua
tion and selling him at his own. "
"Oh, come, now, captain, " laughed
Rollins, "Jcrrold's no such slouch as
you mako hiin out He's lazy, and he
likes to spoon, and ho puts up with a
good deal of potting from tho gills
whowouldu'tif hocould get it? but ho
is jolly and big heartod and don't put
on any nirs with us, at least and tho
moss like him first rate. Talu't his
fault that he's handsonio and a regular
Jady killer. You must admit that he
till
had a protty tough four years of it up
there at that cussed old Indian grave
yard, and it's only natural ho should
enjoy getting hero, where thero are the
aters and concerts and operas and dances
and dinners"
"Yes, dances and dinners and daugh
ters, all delightful, I know, but no ex
enso for a man's neglecting his mani
fest duty, as ho is doing and hns been
ever since we got here. Any other timo
tho colonel would have straightened him
out but no use trying it now, when both
women in his household aro as big fools
about the man as atiybody in town
bigger, unless I'm a bom idiot." And
Chester roso oxcitedly.
"I suppose he had Miss Renwick pret
ty much to himself tonight?" ho pres
ently demanded, looking angrily and
searchiugly at his jimUtr, as though half
expecting him to dodgo tho question.
"Oil, yea Why not? It's pretty evi
dent sho would rather dnneo and bo
with him than with any ono else. Ho
what caii a fellow do? Of courso v ask
her to dance and all that, and I think
ho wants us to, but I cannot help feel
ing rather a boro to her, even if sho is
ony 18, and thero are plenty of pleas
ant girls in tho garrison who don't get
any too much attention, now wo'ro so
near u big city, and I like to bo with
them."
"Yes, and it's tho right thing for you
to do, youngster. That's ono trait I de
spiso in Jerrold. When wo were up
thero at tho stockade two winters ago
and Captain Gray's little girl was there,
ho hung around her from morning till
night, and tho poor littlo tiling fairly
beamed and blossomed with delight.
Look at her now, man! IIo doesn't go
near her. Ho hasn't had tho decency to
tako her a walk, u drive or anything
siuco wo got hero. IIo began from the
moment wo camo with that gang in
town. He was simply devoted to Miss
Bcaubien until Alice Renwick came.
Then ho dropped her like a hot brick.
By tho eternal, Rollins, ho hasn't got
off with that old lovo yet, you mark
my words. There's Indian blood in her
veins and a look in her eyo that makes
me vrigglo sometimes. I watched her
last night at parade when she drove out
hero with that copper faced old squaw,
her mother, ror all her trench aim
Italian education and her years in New
York and Paris that girl's got a wild
streak in her somewhere. She rat thero
watching him as tho officers marched to
tho front, and then her, as ho went up
nnd joined Miss Renwick, and thero
was a gleam of her white teeth and a
flash in her black eyes that made mo
think of tho leap of a knife from tho
sheath. Not but what 'twould servo
him right if she did play him somo dev
il's trick. It's his own doing. Were any
people out from Wn?" ho suddenly
asked.
"Yes, half a dozen or so," answered
Mr. Rollins, who was pulling off his
boots and inserting his feet into easy
slippers, whilo old "Crusty" tramped
excitedly up and down tho floor. "Most
of them staid out here, I think. Only
one toam went back across tho bridge."
"Whoso was that?"
"Tho Suttons', I believe. Young
Cub Sutton was out with his sister and
another girl."
"There's another d d fool!"
growled Chester. "That boy has $10,000
a year of his own, a beautiful home that
will be his, a doting mother and giste?
and everything wealth can buy, and yet,
by gad, he's unhappy because he cau't
be a poor devil of a nontenant, with
nothing but drills, debts and riflo prac
tice to enliven him. That's what brings
him out here all tho timo. He'd swap
places with you in a minute. Isn't ho
very thick with Jerrold?"
"Oh, yes, rather. Jerrold entertains
him a good deal."
"Which is returned with compound
iuterost, I'll bet you. Mr. Jerrold sim
ply makes a convenience of him. lie
won't make love to his sister becanso
tho poor, rich, unsophisticated girl is as
ugly as she is ubiquitous. His majesty
is fastidious, you seo, nnd seeks only
tho caress of beauty, and while ho lives
thero at tho Suttons' when ho goes to
town, and dines and sloops nnd smokes
nnd wines there, and uses their box nt
tho opera house, nnd is courted nnd flat
tered by t ho old lady becauso dear Cubby
worships tho ground ho walks on, and
poor Funny Sutton thinks him adorable,
ho tuni9 his back on tho girl nt every
fiance becauso sno can i ilaneo and
leaves her to you fellows who have a
Donscicnco nnd porno idea of decency.
IIo gives all his devotions to Nina
Bcaubien, who dances like a corypheo,
and drops her when Alice Renwick
comes, with her glowing Spanish beauty.
"Oh, d u it, I'm un old fool to got
worked up over it as I do, but yon young
fellows don't see what I kw. You havo
not seen what I'vo seen, and prny God
you nover may! That's where tho shoe
pinches, Rollins. It is what ho reminds
mo of, not so much whnt ho is, I sup
pose, that I got rabid about. IIo is for
all tho world liko a man wo had in tho
old regiment when yon wero in swad
dling clothes, nnd I never look at Ma
mie Gray's sad, whito faco that it
doesn't bring back a girl I knew just
then whoso heart was broken by just
such a shallow, selfish, adorable scoun
No, I won't use that word in speaking
of Jerrold, but it's what I fear. Rol
lins, you call him generous. Well, so
he is lavish, if you liko, with his
money and his hospitality here iu tho
post Money comes easily to him and
goes, but yon boys misuse tho term. I
call him selfish to tho core, becauso ho
can deny himself no luxury, no pleas
ure, though it may wring a woman's
life or, moro than that, her honor
to givo it him." The captain was
tramping up and down tho room now,
as was his wont when excited. His faco
was flushed nnd his hand clinched.
Ho turned suddenly and faced tho young
er officer, who sat gazing uncomforta
bly nt the rug in front of tho flreplaeo:
"Rollins, somo day 1 mny toll you a
story that I've kept to myself all these
years. You won't wonder at my feel
ing as I do nbout theso goings on of
your friend Jerrold when you hear it
all, but it was just such a man as ho
who ruined ono woman, broke tho heart
of another and took tho sunshino out
of tho lifo of two men from that day to
this. 'Ono of them was your colonel,
tho other your captain. Now go to bed.
I'm going out" And, throwing down
his pipe, regardless of tho scattering
sparks and ashes, Captain Chester strodo
into tho hallway, picked up tho first
forago cap ho laid hands on and banged
himself out of tho front door.
Mr. Rollius remained for somo mo
ments In the samo nttitudo, still gr.zing
abstractedly nt tho nig and listening to
tho nervous tramp of his senior officer
on the piazza without Then ho slowly
and U.oghtfully wont to his room,
where his perturbed spirit was soon
soothed in sloop. His conscience being
clear and hid health j,Jct, there wero
no deep cares to keep him tossing on a
restless pillow.
To Chestor, howovcr, sloop was im
possible. Ho tram'ped tho piazza a full
hour beforo he felt placid enough to go
and inspect his guard Tho scurries
were calling 3 o'clock and tho wind had
died away as ho started .oh his round.
Dark as was tho night, ho carried no
lantern. Tho main garrison was well
lighted by lamps, and tho road circling
tho old fort was broad, emooth and bor
dered by a stono coping wall whero it
skirted tho precipitous descent into tho
river bottom. As ho passed down tho
plank walk West of tho quadrangle,
wherein lay tho old barracks and tho
stono quarters of tho commanding offi
cer and tho low one storied row of bach
elor dens, ho could not help noting tho
silence and peace of tho night.
Not a light was visibln nt any window
as ho strode down tho line. Tho chal
lenge of the sentry at tho old stono tow
er sounded unneccH::arily sharp and loud,
and his rcFpon.soof "Officer of tho day"
was lower than usual, as though rebuk
ing tho unseemly outcry. Tho guard
came scrambling out and formed hur
riedly to receive him, but the captain's
inspection was of tho briefest kind.
Barely glancing along tho prison corridor
to seo that tho bars wero in place, ho
turned back into tho night nnd made
for tho lino of posts along the river bank.
'The sentry nt the high bridge across tho
gorge and tho next one, well around to
tlio southeast flank, werj successively
visited and briefly questioned us to their
instructions, nnd then the captain plod
ded sturdily on until ho came to tho
sharp bend nround tho outermost unglo
of tho fort and found himself passing
behind tho quarters of the commanding
officer, a substantial two storied stone
house, with mansard roof and dormer
windows.
The road in tlio rear was kodio 10 feet
below tho hrtel of tho parado inside tho
quadrangle, and consequently, as the
houso faced tho parade, what was tho
ground floor from that front became
tho second story at tho rear. The
kitchen, Ktwreroom and servants' rooms
wero on tiiis lower stage and opened
upon tlio road, an outer stairway ran up
to tho center door ut tho back, but at
tho east and west flanks of tho house
tho stono walhi stood without port or
window except thoso above tho eaves
tho dormers. Light and air iu abun
dance streamed through thu broad Vene
tian windows north am south when
light and air were needed. This night,
as usual, all was tightly closed beiow,
all darkness aloft as ho glanced up at
tho dormers high above his head. As ho
did so his foot struck t. sudden and
sturdy obstacle. IIo stumbled and pitch-'
ed heavily forward and found himself
sprawling at full length upon a ladder
lying ou tho ground almost in tho mid
dlo of the roadway.
"D n these painters!" ho growled
between his sot teeth. "They leave their
infernal mantraps around in the very
hope of catching mo, I believe. Now,
who but a painter would havo left a
ladder iu such a place as this?"
Rising ruefully and rubbing a bruised
kuco with his hand, ho limped painful
ly ahead a fow :;teps until ho camo to
tho side wall of tho colonel's house.
Hero a plank walk passed from tho road
way along the w jtcrn wall until almost
on a lino with the front piazza, whero
by a flight of steps it was carried up to
tho level of tho parade. Hero he paused
a moment to dust off his clothes and
roarrungo his belt nnd sword. Ho stood
limning against the wall and facing tho
gray stono gable cud of tho row of old
fashioned quarters that bounded tho
paracto upon tho southwest. All was
still darkness and silence.
"Confound this sword!" ho muttered
again. "Tho thing mado rattle and
racket enough to wako tho dead. Won
der if I disturbed anybody at tho colo
nel's?"
As though in answer to his sugges
tion thero suddenly nppeared, high on
tho blank wall beforo him, tho reflec
tion of n faint light. Had a littlo night
lamp been turned on in the front room
of tho upper story? Tho gleam camo
from tho north window on tho side. IIo
saw plainly tho shadow of tho pretty
laco curtains looped loosely back. Then
tho shado was gently raised, and thero
was for an instant tho silhouette of a
slender hand and wrist nnd tho shadow
of a lace bordered sleeve. Then the light
receded, as though carried back across
the room, waned, as though slowly ex
tinguished, und tho last shadows showed
the curtains still looped back, tho roll
ing tshado still raised.
"1 thought fo, " ho growled. "Ono
tnmUo like that is enough to wako the
seven sleepers, let alono a lovesick girl
who is probably dreaming over Jer
rold's parting words. Sho is spirited
and bluo blooded enough to havo moro
sense, too, that superb brunette Ah,
Miss Alice, I wonder if you think that
fellow's love worth having? It is two
hours since ho left you moro than that
and here you aro awako yet cannot
sleep, want moro air and havo to come
and raise your shado. No such warm
night cither. " Theso wero his reflec
tions as ho picked up his offending
sword and moro slowly and cautiously
now groped his way along tho western
terraco. Ho passed tho row of bachelor
quarters and was well out beyond tho
limits of tho fort beforo ho camo upon
tho noxt sentry No. C and recoguized
in the sharp "Who comes there?" and
tho stern rattle of tho bayonet as it
dropped to tho chargo tho well known
challongo of Private Leary, ono of tho
oldest and most reliable soldiers in the
regiment.
"All right on your post, Leary?" ho
asked after having given tlio counter
sign.
"All right, I think, sor, though if
the captain had asked mo that half an
hour ago I'd not havo said so. It was
so dark I couldn't see mo hand afore me
faco, sor, but about half past 2 I was
walkin very slow down back of tho
quarters whin just eloso by Loot 'nan t
Jcrrold's back gate I scon somethin mov
iu, an as I conio softly along it riz
up, nn snro I thought 'twas tho loot'u
ant himself, whin ho seemed to catch
sight o' mo or hoar luo, an ho backed
insido the gate an shut it Iwnssure
'twas ho. 'ho was so tall an slimliko,
an so I uiver said a word until I got to
thinkiu over it an then I couldn't
spake. Sure if it had ' been tho loot'u
ant ho wouldn't have backed away from
a sintry he'd 'a' come out bold on giv
en tho countersign but.. I didn't think
o' that It looked liko him iu tho dark,
an 'twas his quarters, an I thought it
was him until I thought ng m, an then,
sor, I wiut back und coarched tho jard,
but lliuro was no ono there."
"Hml Odd thing that, Leary 1 Why
didn't you challongo nt first?"
"Suro, sor, ho lept insido tho flnce
quick as ivor we set eyes on each other.
He was bendiu down, an I thought it
was oue of tho hound pups whon I first
sighted him."
"And ho hasn't been around since?"
"No, sor, nor nobody till tho officer
of tho day came along."
Chester walked away puzzled Sibley
was a quiet tuid orderly garrison. Night
prowlers had never boon heard from,
especially over hero at the south and
southwest fronts. Tho enlisted men go
ing to or from town passed across tlio
big high bridge or wont at onco to
their own quarters on tho cast and
north. This southwestern terraco behind
tho bachelors' row was tho most seclud
ed spot ou tho wholo post, so much so
that when a firo broke out thero among
tho fuel heaps ono sharp winter'B night
a year agono it had well nigh enveloped
tho wholo lino beforo its existenco was
discovered. Indeed not until nftcr this
occurrence was a sentry posted on that
front at all, and onco ordered thero he
had so littlo to do and was so compara
tively sure to bo undisturbed that the
old soldiers eagerly sought tho post in
preference to any other and were given
it as a peace privilege. For months re
lief after relief tramped uroui-d tho fort
and found tho terraco post as humdrum
and silent an an empty church, but this
night No. 5 leaped suddenly into notori
ety. Instead of going homo, Chester kept
oil across thu plateau and took a long
walk ou tho northern side of tho reser
vation, where tho quartermaster's stables
nnd corrals wero placed. Ho was affect
ed by a strange unrest. His talk with
Rollins had aroused tho memories of
years long gono by, of days when he,
too, was young and full of hope and
faith aye, full of love all lavished ou
ono fair girl who knew it well, but gen
tly, almost enfreatingly, impelled him.
Her heart was wrapped up in another,
tho Adonis of his day in tho gay old sea
board garrison. Sho was a soldier's
child, barrack born, simply taught,
knowing little of the vice mid tempta
tions, thy follies and the frauds, of tho
whirling lifo of civilization. A good
and gentle mother had reared her and
been culled hence. Her father, an offi
cer whose saber arm was left at Moliuo
del Rey, and whoso heart was crushed
when tho loving wife was taken from
him, turned to the child who so resem
bled her and centered there all his re
maining lovo and life. He welcomed
Chester to his home and tacitly favored
his suit, but in his blindness never saw
how a few moonlit strolls on the old
moss grown parapet, a few evening
dances in the ca :emates with handsome,
wooing, winning Will Forrester had
dono their work. She gave him all the
wild, enthusiastic, worshiping lovo of
her girlish heart just about tlio time
Captain and Mrs. Mavnard came back
from leave, and then ho grew cold and
negligent there, but lived ut Mnynard's
fireside, and ono day thero cauio a sen
sation a tragedy and Mrs. Mavnard
went away and died abroad, ana a
shocked and broken hearted girl hid her
faco from all nnd pined nt home, and
Mr. Forrester's resignation was sent
from no 0113 knew just where, and no
ono would havo cored to know except
Mavnard, IIo would havo followed him,
pistol in naud but Forrester gave him
no chanoe. Years afterward Chester
again sought her nnd offered her his
lovo and his name. It was useless, sho
told him sadly. Sho lived only for her
father now and would never leave him
till ho died, and then sho prayed cho
might go too. Memories like this will
como up at such times in these same
"still watches of tho night." Chester
was iu a moody frame of mind when
about half nn hour later he camo back
past the guardhouse. The sergeant was
standing uenr tho lighted entrance, and
tho captain called him:
"There's a ladder lying back of tho
colonel's quarters on the roadway. Somo
of thoso painters leiiit, I suppose. It's
a wonder somo of tho reliefs havo not
broken their necks over it going around
tonight. Let tho next one pick it up
nnd movo it ont of tho way. Hasn't it
been reported?"
"Not to me, sir. Corporal Schreiber
has command of this relief, and ho has
said nothing about it Hero he is, sir. "
"Didn't you seo it or stumble over it
when posting your relief, corporal?"
asked Chester.
"No, indeed, sir. I I think tho cap
tain must havo boon mistaken in think
ing it a ladder. Wo would surely have
struck it if it hml bceu."
"No mistake at all, corporal. I lifted
it. It is a long, heavy ladder, over 20
feet, I should say. "
"Thero is such a ladder back hero,
captain," said tho sergeant, "but it al
ways hangs on tho fence just behind tho
youug officers' quarters bachelors'
row, sir, I mean."
"And that ladder was thero an hour
ago when I went my rounds, " said tho
corporal earnestly. "I had my hurricano
lamp, sir, nnd saw it on tho fonco plain
ly. And thero was nothing behind the
colonel's at that hour."
Chester turned away, thoughtful and
silent. Without a word he walked
straight into tho qnadranglo, past the
low lino of stone buildings, tho offices
of tho adjutant and quartermaster, tho
homo of tho sergeant major, tho club
and billiard room, past tho long piazza
shaded row of bachelor quarters and
camo upon tho plnnk walk nt tho cor
ner of tho colonel's fonco. Ten moro
steps, and ho stood stockstill at the head
of the flight of wooden stairs.
There, dimly visiblo against tho south
ern sky, its base on tho rlank walk be
low him, its top resting upon tho eaves
midway between the dormer window
and tho roof of tho piazza, so that ono
could step easily from it into tho ono or
onto tho other, was the very ladder that
half an hour before was lying on tho
ground behind tho house.
His heart stood still, no seemed pow
erless to nwvo, even to think. Then a
slight noise roused him, nnd with overy
uervo tingling he crouched ready for a
spring. With quick, agilo movements,
noiseless as a cat, sinuous and stealthy
as a serpent, tho dark figure of a man
issued from Alico Reuwick's chamber
window and camo glidiiig down.
Oue second more, and almost as noise
lessly ho reached tho ground, then
quickly turned and raisocl tho ladder,
stepped with it to tho edgo of the road
way and peered around tho angle as
though to seo that no sentry was in sight,
then vanished with his burden around
tho comer. Anothor second, and down
tho steps went Chester, threo at a bound,
tiptoeing it iu pursuit Ten seconds
Continued on Page II.
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