Pittston Gazette

              ESTABL.18IIKIH850. i VOL,. XLV. NO. xO | Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Vajley. PITTSTON, LUZERNE CO., PA., FRIDAY, DECEMBER It, 1894. A Weekly Local and Family Journal. (»1.50 PER ANNUM 1 IN ADVANCE hundreds of miles away. He connected his return unerringly with the web of trouble whieh had been weaving about him of late. He conceived himself to have been most unjustly spied upon and suspected and was full of rosentmont at the conduct of Captain Chester. But Cluster was an old granny, who sometimes made blunders and had to back down. It was a different thing when Armitage took hold. Jerrold looked sulkily into the clear, stern, blue eyes a moment, and the first impulso of rebellion wilted. Ho gave one irresolute glance around the quadrangle, then motioned with his hand to the open door. Something of the old, jaunty, Creole lightness of manner reasserted itself. " Von say so, nnn 1 don't mean to dispute your word, Captain Armitage, but I have a right to demand somo proof. How am I to know ho authorized you?" tion when he noted that tho struggles ceased, and Jerrold la? quite stilL Then tho blood began to ooze from a jagged cut near the templo, and it was evident that tho hammer of the gun haa struck him. "Ho\v's that?" To which, in great embarrassment, Chester replied: "The german's all right. I'll lead if I'm well tenough and am not bothered to death meantime. But I've got some private matters to attend to and am not seeing anybody today." And with this answer they were fain to be content. It had been settled, however, that the officers were to tell Captain Chester at 10 o'clock that in their opinion Mr. Jerrold ought not to be permitted to attend so long as this mysterious charge hung over him, and Mr. Rollins had been notified that he must be ready to lead. Poor Rollins I He was in sore perplexity. He wanted nothing better than to danco with Nina Beaubien. He wondered if she would lead with him or would even come at all when she learned that Jerrold would be unable to attend. "Sickness" was to be the ostensible cause, and in the youth and innocence of his heart Rollins never supposed that Nina would hear of all the other assignable reasons. Ho meant to ride in and call upon her Monday evening; but, as ill luck would have it, old Sloat, who was officer of the day, stepped on a round pebble as he was going down the long flight to the railway station and sprained his ankle. Just at 5 o'clock Rollins got orders to relieve him and was returning from the guardhouse when who should come driving in but Cub Sutton, and Cub reined up and asked where he would be apt to find Mr. Jerrold. NYE IN THE ST. CROIX that when tno doctor came l was resting, white and faint, with a work on phrenology under my bead and a big octavo on lumbering in the northwest under my lumbar region. "Hold on a minute. I'm talking with some interested spectators.'' "He himself gave mo this letter, in your handwriting," said Armitage, and opening tho long envelope ho held forth the missive over which the poor old colonel had gone nearly wild. "'Ho found it tho morning they left—in her garden."HE DWELLS ON THE ADVANCE OF CIVILIZATION THERE Whereat, tho shadow of the big man shot out of sight, and the ladies found that it was useless to remain—there would bo no further developments so long as they did—and so they camo away, with many a lingering backward look. "But the idea of asking such a fool question as 'How's that?' Why couldn't tho man say what ho meant?" The cyclone is a very quick movement of disturbed air in various directions and is injurious to animal life. It is, as I may say, in almost every case, acute disturbance of aerial particles resulting from inflamed climate. Another moment and tho door opened, and with anxious face Chester strode into the room. "You haven't killed him, Armitage? Is it as bad as that?"' And In Writing of It All He Tells ol How the Cyclone Monkeyed With His Anatomy, and of His Leg, That Wan Laic] "Pick him up, and we'll get him on the bed. He's only stunned. I didn't even hit him. Thoso things tumbled afterward," said Armitage as between them they raised tho dead weight of the slender Adonis in their arms and bore him to tho bedroom. Here they bathed tho wound with cold water and Up In a Glass Case For Repairs. If Jerrold's face had been gray before, it was simply ghastly now H» recoiled from the sight after 0110 fruitless effort to grasp the letter, then rallied with unlooked for spirit: [Copyright, 1894, by Edgar W. Nye.] The careful student of atmospheric phonomena notices at first a small cloud about the size of a man's hand, but very soon it assumes the size and blackness of threatened tan II legislation, and before one can find the key to his cyclone cellar he is twisted so that he looks at the future over his shoulder blades and tears of anguish roll down over his eyebrows into his ears. Ih the St. Cnoix Vaixky During the In- ) 1)1 AN SUMMKIl OF THJt PKKHHNT YEAR. j It seems almost incredible now, looking over this most beautiful and prosperous country, which pours a flood of wealth into the coffers of the New England farm mortgagers, that where wo now stand the rank thistle once nodded in the wind and the wild fox or the woodchuck dag his hole unscared. It was gathered, however, that Armitage and Chester had been making some experiments that bore in some measure on tho mystery. And all this time Mr. Jerrold was in his quarters, only a stone's throw away. How interested he must liavo been! j; "By heaven, Armitago, suppose I did write that letter? What does it provo but what I say—that somebody has been prying and spying into my affairs? How came the colonel by xit if not by fraud or treachery?" [continued.] removed the uniform coat, and presently the lieutenant began to revive and look about him. "I mean he fell flat 011 his face the moment he saw her and hasn't been in good form from that moment to this. The dootor says it's heart disease.'' tempt to open anything she had closed, but here in quarters whore his colonel could claim joint partnership he felt less sentiment or delicacy. He closed the hall door and tried the lock, turiiing the knob to and fro. Then bo reopened the door and swung it upon its hinges. For a wonder neither lock nor Hinges creased. The door worked smoothly and with little noise. Then he similarly tried the door of her room. It was in equally good working order, quite free from squeak and complaint with which quartermasters' looks and hinges "After you, captain," I10 said. CHAPTER X1IL Once within doors it was too dark for Armitage to see the features of his lieutenant, and he had his own reasons for desiring to read them. Mr. Jerrold, on the other hand, ieeined disposed to keep in the shadows as much as possible. He made no movement to open tlio shutters of tho 0110 window which admitted light from the front, and walked back to his bedroom door, glanced in there, as though to see that there were no oopupante, then carefully closed it as be returned to face his captain. He took off his helmet and placed it on the center table, then thrusting his thumbs inside the handsome, gold broidered sword belt stood in a jaunty attitude, but with a very uneasy look in his eyes, to hear what his senior might have to say. Befayecf) the two men an invitation to sit woujd have been a superfluity. Neither had ever remained long enough in the other's quarters, since the exchange of the first calls when Jerrold camo to the to render a chair at all ueco6- •ary. "Who struck me?" ho faintly asked. But while the garrison was relieved at knowing that Alice Renwick would not bo on hand for tho german, and it was being fondly hoped sho might never return to tho post, there was still another grievous embarrassment. How about Mr. Jerrold? When I rose on my good leg to go to the assistance of my brother, the sharp bones of the tibia and fibia cut through the lacerated flesh, and also spoiled a comparatively new pair of pantaloons. The green loaves of the forest had been whipped to a mucilage by the wind and hail and plastered over fences, houses and even Onr horse was hanging by his breecaHhg from a lonely tree, plastered with green, and the blood was all rushing to his head. I moaned and sank into a pool of mnd, hail and rainwater."He picked it up in the garden, I tell you, among tho rosebushes, where sho —Where Miss Renwick—had been but a few moments before, and where it might appear that she had dropped it- " "Your shotgun fell 011 your head, but I threw you down, Jerrold I'm sorry I touched you, but you're lucky it was 110 worse. This thing is going to raise a big bump here. Shall I senCl the doc- Hero, where the shriek of the locomotive on half a dozen Chicago lines entering St. Paul and Minneapolis eohoes up and down the beautiful lake, and whero once the godless barbarian rose from his couch un blest and uncivilized, there now stands a penitentiary with a seating capacity of 1,800 and turning awVf business ovary day. Whore now is the bronze maiden with the chapped feet? "That's what tho colonel says troubles Mrs. Maynard. She was senseless and almost pulseless some minutes last night What manner of man is Mc- Leodr* "Sliol That letter! What had she to do with it? What right had she to read it?" tor?" "A tall slim, dark eyed, swarthy fellow, a man with a history and a mystery, I judgq/' i "A man with CT history, a mystery, who is tall, slim, "has dark eyes and swarthy complexion and faints away at sight of Miss Renwick might be said to possess peculiar characteristics, family traits, some of them. Of course you've kept an eye on McLeod. Where is be?" "No; I'll come round, presently. We'll see about this thing .afterward." Ho had been asked to lend when the germ an was iirst projected aiid had accepted. That was fully two weeks before, and now—no one knew just what ought to bo dona It was known that Nina Ceaubion had returned on tho previous day from a brief visit to the upper lakes, and that sho had a costume of ravishing beauty in which to carry desolation to the hearts of the garrison belles in leading that german with Mr. Jorrold. Old Mmo. Beaubien had been roluctant, said her city friends, to return at alL She heartily disapproved of Mr. Jerrold and was bitterly set against Nina's growing infatuation for him. But Nina was headstrong and determined. Moreover, sho was far more than a match for her mother's vigilance, and it was known at Sibley that two or three times the girl had been out at the fort with the Suttons and other friends when tho old lady believed her in quarters totally different. "Is there any you want to see? Shall I send word to anybody?" asked Chester. Armitago stepped impulsively forward. A glad, glorious light was bursting upou his soul. He could almost have seized Jerrold's hand and thanked him, but proofs, proofs were what he needed. It was not his mind that was to be convinced; it was "society" that must bo satisfied of her utter innocence, that it might bo able to say, "Well, I never for a moment believed a word of it." Link by link tho chain of circumstantial evidence must be destroyed, and this was only ona to do their reluctant duty. The discovery pleased him It was possible for one to open and close these portals noiselessly, if need be, and without disturbing sleepers in either room. "No; don't let auybody como. Tell my striker to bring my breakfast, but I want nothing tonight but to be let alone." Echo answers, "Heap gone, all same woodbine!" "He isn't well and has been denying himself to all callers today," said Rollins shortly. Here, where cultivation has reached the very apex of Norwegian refinement, and whore the other evening I disappointed a largo audience as a sub- My patience, how my leg did ache met Returning to (be oast chamber, he opened the shades, so fls to got more light, and his eye fell upon an old album lying on a little table that stood by the bedside, There was a uigbt lamp upon the table, too, a little affair that oould hold only a thimbleful of oil and was intended evidently to keep merely a faint glow during the night hours. Other volumes—a Bible, some devotional books, like "The Changed Cross," and a hymnal or two—were also there, but the albunj stpod most prominent, and Armitage curiously took it up and opened it "At least you will lot mo help you undress and get to bed?'' said Chester. Help was miles away, bnt bnsy relieving the distress of the injured and oomforting the bereft or searching for the dead at Clear Lake. It was a memorable night. I lay on my back looking up at the alternate clond rack and the cold, unsympathetic planets. Now and then it would rain some more on my upturned spectacles. Nothing is more annoying than spectacles in a cyclona Cheater stood leaning on the rail, breathing slowly and heavily. His eyes dilated as he gazed at Armitage, who •was surveying him coolly, though the tone in whioh he epoko betrayed a new interest and a vivid one. "No; I wish you'd go—both of you. I want quiet - peace—and there's none of it with either of you." "Well, I've got to see him or at least get a noto to him," said Cub. "It's from Miss Beaubien and requires an answer. " AjhI so they left him. Later Captain Chester had gono to tho quarters and after much parleying from without had gained admission. Jerrold's head was bound in a bandage wet with arnica and water. Ho had been solacing himself with a pipe and a whisky toddy and was in a not unnaturally ugly mood. "You mean that that letter was not intended for Miss Renwick?" ho asked, with oagemess lie strove hard to repress. "You know the way to his quarters, I presume," said Rollins coldly. "You have been there frequently. I will have a man hold your horse, or you can tie him there at the rail, just as you please." "Thanks. I'll go over, I believe." And am he did. and Door Rollins was unaoie to reaiai, me ujiiipiauuu oi wakening whether the magic name of Nina would open the door. It did not, but he saw Cub hand in the little note through the shutters, and ere long there came another from within. This Cub stowed in his waistcoat pocket and drove off with, and Rollins walked jealously homeward. But that evening he went through * worse experience, and it was the last blow to his budding passion for sparkling eyed Nina. "J. confess I never thought of him in connection with this affair,'' said Chester."It was never meant for anybody," said Jerrold, tho color coming lD-.ck to his face and courage to his eyes. "That letter was never sent by mo to any woman. It's my writing, of course—I can't deny that—but I never even meant it to go. If it left that desk, it must have been stolen. I've been hunting lugtt and low for it I knew that such a thing lying around loose would bo tho cause of mischief. God! is that what all this fuss is about?" And he looked warily, yet with infinite anxiety, into his captain's eyes. : "There's the ono ossential point of difference between us, " was the reply. "You go in on the supposition that there is only one solution to this thing, and that a woman must bo dishonored to begin with. I believo there can bo several solutions, and that there is only one thing in the lot that is at all impossible " f "What'* that?" "Be good enough to striko a light, Mr. Jerrold " said Armitaco oresently Boeing that his unwuling host made no effort on his own account. My brother paced the torn and disheveled road near nie, almost crazed by the fear that his family had been killed during his absence. Finally a foot passenger came by on his way to the village, and we sent for relief. I asked for a stretcher, a physician, a rubber blanket, a bottle of moxie and an evening paper. "You may consider yourself excused from duty until your face is well again, by which time this matter wilt bo deeided. I admonish you to remain here and not leave tho post until it is." There were only half a dozen photographs in the affair. It was rather a case than an album and was intended apparently for only a few family pictures. Ttmr? was but one that interested him, and this ha examined intently, almost excitedly. It reppusented a little girl of 9 or 10 years—Alice undoubtedly—with her arms clasped about the neck of a magnificent St Bernard dog and looking up into th* handsome features of a tall, slender, dark eyed, black haired boy of 16 or thereabouts, and the two were enough alike to be brother and sister. Who, then, was this boy? "I purposed going out at once, captain, and presume you cannot havo any yery extended remarks to make." Cub Sutton had confided to Captain Wilton that Mmo. Beaubien was in total ignorance of tho fact that there was to bo a party at tho doctor's the night ho had driven out with Nina and his sister; that Nina had "pulled tho wool over her mother's eyes" and made her believe she was going to spend the evening with friends in town, naming a family with whom the Beaubiens wero intimate. A long drivo always mado the old lady sleepy, and as sho had accompanied Nina to the fort that afternoon sho went early to bed, having socured her wild birdling, its sho supposed, from possibility of further meetings with Jerrold. For nearly a week, said Cub, Mmo. Beaubien had dogged Nina so that she could not get a moment with the man with whom sho was evidently so smitten, and tho girl was almost at her wits' end with seeing the depth of his flirtation with Alice Renwiok and tho knowledge that on tho morrow her mother would spirit her off to tho cool breezes and blue waves of tho groat lake. Cub said she so worked on Fanny's feelings that they put up tho scheme together and" made him bring them out. Gad, if old Maniau only found it out, thero'd be no more germans for Nina! She'd ship her off to the good Sinters at Crove-CoBur and slap her into a convent :uid leave all Iter money to the church. "You cannot boo the writing I have to call your attention to without a light. I shall detain you no longer than is pec essary. Had you an engagement?" "You can prefer charges and see what you'll make of it," was the vehement reply. "Devil a bit will I help yon out of the thing after this night's work." The accident occurred as the whistle blew for 6 o'clock, and it was midnight when relief came. I can recall the circumstances almost without effort. A kindly dentist pulled my leg and then sot it as one would set a hen—that is, he fenced it in with pieces of fence boards. Ho tied these to the shattered limb as far as the fracture and then stopped so that he prevented circulation and yet gave no protection to the agonized leg. By morning it had swollen to its full capacity, and I shall carry down to my tear soaked grave the scars of those diagonal blisters made by the accursed bandages. I "Miss Renwick's knowledge of that night's visitor or of any other secret or sin. I mean to work other theories first, and the McLeod trail is a good one to start on. Where can I get a look at him?" "Nothing of great consequence. I presume it will keep " "Jt will have to. Tho matter I havo pome upon will aui -it no further delay. Light your lamp, ii' you please." CHAPTER XIV. "There is far more to it, as yon Well know, sir," was tho stern answer. "For whom was this written if not for her? It won't do to half clear her name." Tuesday and tho day of tho long projected gcrman had come, and if ever a lot of garrison people wero wishing themselves well out of a flarry it was the-social circle at Sibley. Invitations had been sent to all the prominent people in town who had shown any interest in tho garrison since tho regiment's arrival; beautiful favors had been procured; an elaborate supper had been prepared, the ladies contributing their offorts to the salads and other solids, the officers wisely confiuiug their donations to tho wines. It was rumored that new and original figures wero to Iw danced, and much had been said about this feature in town, and muoh speculation had beeu indulged in, but tho Beaubien residence had been closed until tho previous day. Nina was away with hi* mother and beyond reach of question, and Mr. Jerrold had not shown his faco in town since her departure.Nor was he aopceslblo when visitors inquired at tho fort. They had never known such mysterious army people in their lives. What on earth conld induce them to bo so closo mouthed about a mere gcrman? One might suppose they had something worth concealing, and presently it became noised abroad that there was genuine cause for perplexity, and possibly worse. It was nearly tattoo and a dark night when Chester suddenly came in. "Somewhere out In tho Rockies by this time. He was ordered back to his troop five days ago, and they are out sooutlng at this moment unless I'm rastly mistaken. You have seen the morning dispatches?" "About the* Indians? Yos. Looks equally at the Spirit Rook reservation. IX) you mean that McLeod is there?" And Jerrold did so, slowly ami with paoc.h reluctance. IIo wiped his forehead vigorously the instant the flume began to splutter, but as tho clear, steady light of tho argand gradually spread over tho little room Armitage pould see tho sweat again beading his forehead, and tho dark eyes were glancing nervously about, and the hands that were so Ann and steady and fine the year before and held tho Springfield in so light yet immovable an aim were (witching now. It was no wonder Jerfold'a pcore had dropped some 30 per pent. His nerve had gone to pieces. ' xvomns, you romemDer my teiiing you I was sure somo of the men had been getting liquor in from the shore down below the station and 'running it* that way? I believe we can nab the smuggler this evening. There's a boat down there now. The corporal has just told me." THE BED FELL. "Answer mo this, Captain Armitage. Do you mean that that letter has compromised Miss Rcmvick; that it is she whoso name has been involved, and that it was of her that Chester meant to speak?" stitute for Ca-nuto Nelson, known and beloved here in the northwest as the Little Short Necked Norwegian, once the dusky warrior had his home, and in the crisp spring weather his fiancee strained the golden maple sirup through her blanket, yet warm from her bronze shoulders. Armitage took the photograph to the window and studied it caref ally. Parade was over, aud the troops were marching back to their quarters. The band wras playing gloriously as it came tramping into the qnadranglo, and the captain could not but glance out a|t his own old company m in compact column of fours it entered the gr;is»y diamond and swung off toward tho barracks. He saw i knot of officers, too, turning the corner liv the adjutant's office, and for a moment he lowered tho album to look. "Certainly it was—and f too." There was an instant's silence; then Jerrold began to laugh nervously: Smuggling liquor was one of Cheater's horrors. Ho surrounded the post with a cordon of sentries who had no higher duty apparently than that of preventing the entrance of alcohol in any form. Ho had run a "red cross" crusado against the poet trader's store in the matter of light wines small beer, claiming that only adulterated stuff was sold to the men and forbidding the sale of anything stronger than "pop" over the trader's counter. Then, when it became apparent that Uquor was being brought on the reservation, ho made vigorous efforts to break up the practice. Colonel Maynard rather poohpoohed the whole business. It was his theory that a man who was determined to have a drink might better be allowed to take an honest one, coram publico, than a smuggled and delete* rious article, but he succumbed to the rulo that only "light wines and beer" should be sold at the store and was lenient to tho poor devils who overloaded and deranged their stomachs in oonsequenco. But Chester no sooner found himself in command than he launched into the crusade with redoubled energy and spent hours of the day and night trying to capture invaders of the reservation with a bottle in their pockets, Tho bridge was guarded, so was the crossing of the Cloudwater to the south, and so were the two roads entering from the north and west, and yet there was liquor coming in, and as though "to give Chester a benefit" some of the men in barracks had a royal old spree on Saturday night, and the captain was sorer hoaded than any of the participants in consequenoe. In some way he heard that a rowboat came up at night and landed supplies of contraband down by tho riverside out of sight and hear* ing of the sentry at the railway station, and it yas thither he hurriedly led Rollins thiti Monday evening. They turned across the railway on reaching tho bottom of tho long stairs and scrambled down the rocky embankment on tho other side, Rollins following in reluctant silence and holding his sword so that it would not rattle, but ho had no faith in tho theory of smugglers. He felt in some vague and unsatisfactory way a sense of discomfort and anxiety over his captain's late proceedings, and his stealthy descent seemed franirht, with ill am An After 24 hours I saw that I would have to wear a hickory leg up the golden stair, as things looked, and so I had six good healthy pallbearers take me to the evening train, put me on the bag- "That's where his troop ought to bo fcr this time. Thqje is too small a force on tho trail now, and more will havo to go if a big outbreak is to bo prevented.'' "Oh, well, J fancy it isn't tho first timo the revered and respected captain has got away off tho track. All the same, I do not mean to overlook his language to me, and I may say right now, Captain Armitage, that yours, too, calls for an explanation." "What changes have came here!" as one of my Pop friends said last evening. Forty-two years ago I came to this country and found it in the very slough of barbarism. Indians without suitablo underclothing for this rigorous climate roamed up and down tho St Croix and violated tho game law with impunity. No white man's life was safe. It has taken me over 40 of the best years of my life to bring about a change, but in that same valley there are now a thousand schoolhouses, one nominal school in this congregational district, as my Pop friend says, and 160 churches that are almost self supporting. "Then he has gone, and I cannot see him. Let me look at tho window then.'' ». A few stops brought them to the terrace, and there, standing by the west wall and looking up at the closed slats of the dormer window, Captain Chester retold the story of his night adventure. Armitage listened attentively, asking few questions. When it was finished, the latter turned and walked to the rear door, which opened on tho terrace. It was locked. Armitage stood and watched him a jaomeut; then ho slowly spoke; Mr. Jerrold was not of tho number that came sauntering up tho walk, dropping away by ones or twos as they reached their doors and unbuckled their lielts or removed flutif helmets in eager haste to get out of tho constraint of full dress. But in another moment jerrold, too, appeared all alone, walking rapidly and nervously. Armitage watched him and could not but see how other men turned away or gave him the coolest possiblo nod as ho passed. Tho tall, slender lieutenant was handsomer even than when ho last saw him, and yet tliero were gloom and worry on the dark beauty of his faco. Nearer and nearer ho camtC and had passed tho quarters of the other officers and was almost at the door of his own when Armitago saw a little, wiry soldier 111 full dress uniform running across the parade as though in pursuit He recognized Merrick, one of the scapegraces of liis company, and wondered why he should be chasing after his temporary commander. Just as Jerrold was turning under the piazza the soldier seemed to make himself heard, and the lieutenant, with an angry frown on his face, stopped aud confronted him. "I have po desiro to allude to the subject of your conversation with Merr rick. It was to put an end to such a thing—not to avail myself of any ip. formation it might give—that I hurried in. We will put that aside and go once to the matter that brings me back, ypu are aware, of course, that yoi conduct hae pompromised a woman's name, and that the garrison is talking of nothing else." "You shall have it in short order, Mr. Jerrold, and tho sooner you understand the situation ttie bettor. So far as I am concerned, Miss Reuwicl; needed no defender; but, thanks to your mysterious and unwarranted absence from quarters two very unlucky nights, anil to other circumstances I have no need to name, and to your penchant for letter writing of a most suggestive character, it is Miss Renwiek whoso name has been brought into question here at tliis post and most prominently so. In plain words, Mr. Jerrold, yon who brought this trouble upon her by your own misconduct must plear her, no matter at whose expense, or"  And yet, said city society, old Maman idolized her beautiful daughter and oould deny her no luxury or indulgence. She dressed her superbly, though with a somewhat barbaric taste, where Nina's own good sense and eastern teaching did not interfere. What she ieared was that the girl would fall in love with some adventurer or—what was qui to as bad—some army nian who would carry her darling away to Arizona or other inaccessible spot. Her plan was that Nina should marry here —at home—some one of tho staid young merchant princes rising into prominent® in tho western jnctropolis, and from the very outset Nina tad shown a singular infatuation for tho buttons and straps and music and heaven knows what all out at tho fort Sho gloried in seeing her daughter prominent in all scenes of social life. She rejoiced in her triumphs and took infinite pains with all preparations.k "The servants are having a holiday, I ptefiume," he said ' 'So much the better. Ask the quartermaster for tho key of the front door, and I'll go in while everybody is out looking at dress parade. There goes first call now. Let your orderly bring it to me here, will you?" One can hardly believe that here where now we sit surrounded by all that oan go to exalt and embellish life, a few brief years ago the nasty Indian camped out and lived joyous and jagless. Ho did not know that by sin death came into the world. He knows it now; also that pneumonia comes with loghouses and steam heat, late hours and a crock full of Stillwater wassail. Jerrold grasped tho back of a chair with ono 6lender brown hand and looked furtively about, as though for some hope of escape. Something liko a startled gulp seemed to work his throat muscles an instant; then ho stammered his rep!7tTo Ih'hiu with, every ono at Sibley paw knew something of tho night adventure ut tho colonel'#, and as no one could give tho true statement of the case the stories in circulation wore gorgeous embellishments of tho actual facts. It would bo useless, even if advisable, to attempt to reproduce these wild theories, but never was army garrison so tumultuously stirred by the whirlwind of rumor. It was no longer denied for an instant that the absence of the colonel and his household was the direct result of that night's discoveries, and when, to Mrs. Hoyt's inexpressible relief, there came a prettily worded note from Alice on Monday evening informing her that neither tho colonel nhr her mother felt well enough to return to SillDey for the german, and that sho herself preferred not to leave her mother at a time when alio needed her care, Mrs. Hoyt and her intimates, with whom she instantly conferred, decided that there could bo no doubt whatever Ten minutes later, with beating heart, he stood and uncovered his handsome head and gazed silently, reverently around him. He was in her room. "Or what?" THE LEG IN GLASS. "I doq't know what you moan." ''You do know what I mean. C tain Chester has already told you." Cap- "Imako no threats. I prefer that you should make tho proper explanations from n proper sense of what is Since then wo have come through all the various periods and strata that go to build the goological abutments upon which rest civilization and appendicitis. No ono had appendicitis when I came here on tho stern deck of a horse in 1852. We had no comforts, do paresis, no esoteric research, no acute gastritis, no erotic poetry outside the lumber camps, and I was baptized by the same man who shod my steers. Those were grand old days, and no one hesitated about being immersed by a man who could stagger a stag with one blow or hold the hind leg of a clay bank mule till the ornery brute ruptured himself with suppressed wrath. gage car, stretcher, fence boards and all, and was taken to Hudson, where there was a physician who had studied medicine. It ww dainty an her own dainty self. The dressing table, the windows the pretty white bed, the broad, inviting lounge, the work table and banket, the Very washstaud, were all trimmed and decked alike, white and yellow prevailing. White lace curtains draped the window on the west—that fateful window—and the two that opened out on the roof of tho piazza. White lace curtains draped the bed, the dressing tablo and tho washstawl. White lace or some equally flimsy and feminine ma terial hung about her bookshelves and worktable and over the lounge, and bows of bright yellow ribbon were everywhere, yellow pincushions and wall pockets hung about tho toilet table, soft yellow rugs lay at tho bed and lounge aide, and a sunshiny tone was Riven to the whole apartment by the shades of yellow silk that hung close to tho windows''(Captain Chester came in hero and made an unauthorized inspection of my quarters because Jie heard a shot Ami by a sentry. I was out, I don't deny that But he proceeded to say all manner of insulting and unwarrantable things and tried to force me to hand in a resignation simply because I was out of quarters after taps. I could account for his doing something so idiotic, but I'm at a loss to comprehend your taking it up." due." "And suppose I say that no man iH called upon to explain a situation which has been distorted and misrepresented by tho evil imagination of his fellows?" He sat my log. He also put it in glass. People used to come from away behind Martell to see it growing in its little conservatory. A kindly clergyman for whom I once lectured, in order to rebuild the belfry blown off by this same zephyr, told me that probably it was a judgment on me, for I was just learning to waltz at tho time of the accident. Possibly that is true. Still I cannot believe that tho Universal Father could have had it in for me on account of my crude and purely platonic waltz. I never gave myself up to the delirious pleasures of tho waltz. I was kept from anything wrong by saying to myself "one, two, three," eta So that I can truly say that if all who waltz havo their heads as full of mathematics as I did they will die happy. But you know it makes some people perfectly redheaded with rage to see a man about town die comfortably. They want to see him bito tho bedding and froth at the mouth and regret that he tried to be saved by good works. ''Then I may have to wring the truth out of you—and will; but, for her sake, I want as littlo publicity as possible. Afte r this display on your part I am not bound to show you any consideration whatever. Understand this, however—tho array of evidence that you were feloniously inside Colonel Maynard's quarters that night and at his oottage window last night is of such a character that a court would convict you unless, your alibi was conclusive. Leave tho service you certainly shall unless this whole thing is cleared up." "I told you not tocome to mo again," ho (paid, so load that every word wataudible to the captain standing by the open window above. "What do you mean, sir, by following me in this way?" Sho would have set her foot against Nina's simply dancing tho german at the fort with Jerrold as a partner, but she could not resist it that tho papers should announce on Sunday morning that "tho event of tho season at Fort Sibley was tho germiui given kist Tuesday night by the ladies of tho garrison and led by the lovely Miss Beaubien" with Lieutenant or Captain-Anybody. Thero were a dozen bright, graceful, winning women among the dames and damsels at tho fort, and Alico Renwick was a famous beauty by this time. It was more than Maman Beaubien could withstand that her Nina should "lead" all these, and so her consent was won. Back they came from Chequamegon, and tho stately homo on Summit avenuo reopened to receive thom. It was Monday noon when they returned, and by 8 o'clock Fanny Sutton had told Nina Beaubien what sho know of tho wonderful rumors that were iloating in from Sibley. Sho was more than half disposed to bo in love with Jerrold herself. Sho expected a proper amount of womanly horror, incredulity and indignation, but sho was totally unprepared fgr tho outburst that followed. Nina was transformed into a tragedy queen on tho instant, and poor, simplo hearted, foolish Fanny Sutton was almost scared out of her small wits by tho firo of denunciation and fury with which her story was greeted. She came home with white, frightened faco and hunted up Cub and told him that sho had been telling Nina some of the qneer things tho ladies had been saying about Mr. Jerrold, and Nina almost toro her to pieces, and could ho go right out to tho fort to seo Mr. Jerrold? Nina wanted to send a note at once, and if ho couldn't go sho had made her promise that sho would get somebody to go instantly and to como back and let her know beforo 4 o'clock. "The most serious allegation ever made against an oflicor of the regiment is made against you, tho senior lieutenant of my company, and tho evidence furnished mo by tho colonel and by Captain Chester is of such a character that unless you can refute it and clear hor name you will have a settlement with mo to start with, and your dismissal from tho regiment"  The reply was inaudible. Armitage could see the little soldier standing in tho respectful position of "attention,!' looking uu and evidentlv Dleadiug. I tell you those pioneer expounders of the Scriptures never drownod anybody. I've seen a 300 pound man immersed in the Kinnio Kinnick, and after playing him a few moments tho preacher landed him on tho bank, jumped up out of the water, cracked his heels togother and called for another. It was March, and evor and anon a 25 pound cake of ice would hit the parson in tho back, but the rosy old apostlo liked it, and we often had to go into tho river and pull him out by force, he liked it so well. "I won't do it until I'm ready," was again lioord in Jerrold's angry tones, though this time the lieutenant glanced about, as though to see if others were within earshot. There was no one apparently, and he grew more confident. "You've been drinking again today, Merrick. You're not sober now, and I won't give you money to get maudlin and go to blabbing secrets. No, sir! Go back to your quarters and stay there." "I never was anywhere near Colonel Maynard's either last night or the other night I was absent," tftat tho oolouel knew of tho atfa'i ™ bad forbidden their return and was only waiting for further evidence to decide what was to bo dono with his erring stepdaughter, Women talked with bated breath of tho latest stories in circulation, of Chester's moody silenoo and preoccupation, of Jerrold's ostracism and of Frank Annitage's sudden return. On the wall were some choice etchings and a few foreign photographs On the bookshelves were a few volumes of poetry and the prose of George Eliot and our own Hawthorne. Hanging on pegs in the corner of the simple army room, covered by a curtain, were some heavy outer garments, an ulster, a traveling C«Dat and cape of English make and one or two dresses that were apparently too thick to be used at this season of the year. He drew aside tho curtain one moment, took a brief glance at the garments, raised the hem of a skirt to his lips and turned quickly away. A door led from the room to the one behind it, a spare bedroom evident- "Settlement with you? What concern have you in the matter?" interrupted iJerrold. "You will have to prove it. Mero denials won't help yon in tho faco of such evidence as we have that you wero there tho first time.'' "Wasto no words on that, Mr. Jerrold. Understand that where her name is oonoernod no man on earth is nioro interested than L Now answer ma You were absent from your quarters for some hours after the doctor's party. Somebody believed to have been you was seen and fired at for refusing to halt at the order of Captain Chester at 8:80 in the morning. Tho ladder that usually hung at your fence was found at the colonel's while you were out, and that night a woman's narno was compromised beyond repair unless you can repair it Unless you prove beyond peradventure where you were both that night and last night, prove beyond question that you were not where you art) believed to have been, her name is stained and yours blackened forever. There are other things you must fully explain, but theso first" "What evidence?" • "The photograph that was stolen from Mrs. Maynard betwoen 2 and 4 o'clock that morning was seen in your drawer by Major Sloat at reveille. You wero fool enough to show it to him." On Monday morning tho captain had quietly appeared in uniform at the office, and it was known that ho had relinquished tho remainder of his leave of absence and resumed command of his company. Thero wero men in tho garrison who well knew that it was because of tho mystery overh # ;ing the colonel's household that Armii.igo had so suddenly returned. They asked no questions and sought no explanation. All men marked, however, that Jerrold was not at tho oflioo on Monday, and many curi ously looked at tho morning report in tho adjutant's office. No, he was not in arrest. Neither was ho on sick report Ho was marked present for duty, and yet ho was not at tho customary assembly of all the commissioned officers at headquarters. More mystery, and most exasperating, too, it was known that Armitago and Jerrold had held a brief talk in tho lattor'a quarters soon after Sunday's evening parade and that the former had boen re-enforced for a timo by Captain Chester, with whom ho was afterward gloeetod. Officers who heard that he had suddenly returned and was at Chester's went 6p«Miily to the latter's quarters—at least two or three did—and wero mot by a servant at tho door, who said that tho gentlemen had just gone out tho baok way. And, Bure enough, neither Chester nor Armitago came homo until long after taps, and then tho colonel's cook told several people that tho two gentlemen had spent over an hour up stairs in tho colonel's and Miss Alice's room and "was foolin around tho house till near 10 o'clock." Then came tho vast appetite for real estate, when evory one was excited, and even the preacher said one day in an absentniinded way as ho oponed tho Bible, "Brothers and sisters, today you will find my text in the N. W. % of tho S. W. 34 of section 9, township 38, rango 18, west" The little soldier must indeed have been drinking, as the lieutenant declared. Armitage saw that he hesitated, instead of obeying at 01100, and that his fiuslutd face was angrily working, then that he was arguing with his superior and talking louder. This was contrary to all !h,e captain's ideas of proper discipline, even though he was indignant at the officer for permitting himself to bo placed in so falso and undignified a position Jerrold's words, too, had acquired a wide significance, but they were feeble as compared with tho sudden outburst that came from the soldier's lips: However, we will let that pass. Times are improving, and even as the world is being lighted by a new and searching light, seen only a few years ago in the stormy sky, so "the morning light is breaking" in some of tho dark old smelly catacombs of misguided belief, and one day a broad minded, liberal, just humanity will worship the same loving and unresuutful Hod beneath a wide, all sheltering ami unmortgaged roof. pro BE CONTINUED.] "Captain Armitage, I shall bo quite able to show, when the proper timo comes, that tho photograph I showed Major Sloat was not stolen. It was Canadian Methodist Church. In the Methodist church of Canada thero are now 259 Christian Endeavor societies, 220 Epworth leagues, 812 EpD worth Loagues of Christian Endeavor, Wo shall rejoioo when the 259 Methodist Christian Endeavor societies and the 220 Epworth leagues become Epworth Leagues of Christian Endeavor. — Exchange. The little upper Mississippi steamboats carao up the river after tho ice went out, and one long toot of the whistle would empty a church in eight minutes. Soino of these little boats were like tho Georgia steamer with the one horsepower engine and 12 horse whistle. I remember a little boat with a pocket engine and a oalliopo, and every time the calliopo played the boat stopped. Sam Jones says thero are too many Christians like that. When they "holler" amen, they stop. "That is beyond belief, Mr. Jerrold. Once and for all understand this case. You have compromised her good name by the very mystery of your actions. You havo it in your power to clear her by proving where you were, sinco you wero not near her; by showing how you got that photograph; by explaining how you came to write so strange a letter. Now I say to you, will you do it instantly, or must wo wrinp it fnr.n you?" given me." ly, that was lighted only from tho back of the house and had no side window at all. Another door led to the hall, a broad, old fashioned affair, and crossing this he stood in the big front room occupied by the colonel and his wife. This was furnished almost as luxuriously, from an army point of view, as that of Miss Renwick, but not in white and yellow.j J? V.UC10. Tommy—Paw, teacher wants us tC tell what is the difference betweei "speak" and "talk." "By God, lieutenant, you bribed me to silence to cover yonr tracks, and then yon refuse to i»ty. If you don't want me to toll what I know, the sooner yon pay that money the better." No Une For It. Peddler—That little book on "How to Preserve tho Hair" is a key to th« entire situation. Jerrold's faco was growing gray and sickly. Ho stared at the stern eyes bofore him and could make no answer. His lips moved dryly, but made no sound. Mr. Figg—Um—lernrao see. Gen erally when I get into an argument with your mother she is outspoken anl I am outtalked.—Indianapolis Journal Armitago smiled to see the evidences of Mrs. Maynard's taste and handiwork on every side. In the years he had been the old soldier's adjutant nothing could have exceeded the simplicity with which the colonel surrounded himself. Now* it was something akin to Sybaritisli elegance, thought the captain, but all the same he made his deliberate survey. There was the big dressing table and bureau on which had stood that ravished picture, that photograph of tho girl he loved which others were able to speak of and one man to appropriate feloniously, while yet he had never seen it. His irppulse 'Was to go to Jerrold's quarters and take him by the throat and demand it of him, but what right had he? How knew he even that it was now there? In view of tho words that Chester had used toward him, Jerrold must know of the grievous danger in which he stood. That photograph would prove most damaging evidence if discovered. Very probably, after yielding to his It was near this spot where I am writing that my brother, now persecuting attorney of Minneapolis, onco invited aie to come with him and participate in a cyclone. It did not last long, but the tailors now make ono of my trousers legs three-eighths of an inch shorter than the other. A sneering smile was tho only answer for a moment, then: Baldy—I am very sorry, but I bav« not a siuglo lock that it would lit. —De- Detroit Free Press. This was more than Armitago could stand. Ho went down stairs three at a jump and out through the colonel's garden with quick, impetuous steps. Jerrold's furious faco turned ashen at "I shall tako great pleasuro in confounding my enemies should the matter be brought before a court I'm sure if the colonel can stand that sort of thing J can, but as for defending myself or anybody else from utterly unjust and proofless suspicions it's quite another thing." "Come, I want to hear from you. Where wero you if not with or seeking her? Namo your place and witnesses. " Congratulated. Jackson (meeting Dobson, wlthwhon ho was out all night)—Hello, old boy get home all right? Thrifty. Littlo Girl—Mrs. Brown, ma wants to know if she could borrow a dozen of eggs. Sho wants to put 'em under a hen? "By God, Captain Armitoge, tho army is no longer a place for a gentleman if his every movement is to be spied upon like this!" Pobson—Yes, but my wife wouldn't speak to me. People now como hundreds of miles to view the spot. I have referred to this accident before, and probably by referring to it again now those few who did believe it will go over to the majority, but I can provo it by two physicians, both of whom set my log, and a third physician who reset it about a week later when my bed fell down. Cub was always glad of an excuse to go out to the fort, but a coldness had sprung np between him and Jerrold. Ho had heard the ugly rumors in that mysterious way in. which all suoli things are heard, and while his shallow pate could not quite conceive of such a monstrous scandal, and ho did not believe half he heard, he sagely felt that in tho presence of so much smoke there was surely sonio firo and avoided the man from whom ho hail been inseparable. Of course ho had not spoken to him on the subject, and, singularly enough, this was the case with all the officers at tho post except Armitage and the commander. It was understood that the matter was in Chester's hands, to do with as was deemed best. It was believed that his resignation had been temli red, and all these IS hours since the story might bo said to lie fairly before the public Jerrold had been left much to himself and was presumably in ti.o depths of dismay. Jackson—Lucky fellow 1 Mine did I— Mount Vernon Echoes. Neighbor—So you've got a hen sitting, have you? I didn't know you kept hens. "Good God, Jerrold, do you realize what a position you are taking? Do you"  "Tho world is no place for a man of yonr stamp is perhaps a better way of putting it," said Armitago whose fingers wero twitching convulsively, and whose whole frame quivered with tho. effort he was making to restrain the rage and indignation that consumed him. Ho could not—he would not— believe in Ik* guilt. He must have this man's proof, no matter how it might damn him for gCxxl and all, no matter whom else it might involve, so long as it cleared her precious name. He must be patient, ho must bo calm and resolute, but tho man's cold blooded, selfish, criminal concealment nearly maddened him. With infinite effort he controlled himself and went 011: Just as Good. "Oh, not at all, captain," was tho airy reply, "not at all. It is not a position I have taken. It is one into which you misguided conspirators have forced me. I certainly am not required to compromise anybody else in order to relievo a suspicion which tou, not I, have created. How dq you know that there may not bo some other woman whoso name 1 nrouose to truard? You have been really very Mattering in your theories /So fur." Travelor (to trainboy}—.Got any fun ny books—Mark Twain or any of th« humorists? Little Girl—No, ma'am, we don't, but Mrs. Smith's going to lend us a hen that's going to set, and ma thought if lend us sonio eggs wo'd find a nest ourselves.—Rochoster Union. Train Boy—No, sir, but I've got t couple of Loudon papers containing comments on tho American elections.— Chicago Record. I was placed on a cheap bed and an extension put on the leg—that is, a piece of adhesivo plaster was put on tho sole of tho foot, and to this a cord was attached which passed up over tho foot of the bod and over a pulley to a oouplo of flat irons which kept my limb pulled out to its full capacity all the time when tho bono was knitting. Ono day I heaved a sigh, and as 1 did so tho bed fell with a loud report, leaving my foot in tho air. Another tiling that added to the flume of speculation and curiosity was this. Two of tho ladies, returning from a moonlit stroll oil tho terrace just after tattoo, came through tho narrow passageway on tho west sido of the colonel's quarters, and there, at tho foot of the little flight of steps leading up to tho parade, they came suddenly upon Captain Chester, who was evidently only moderately pleased to see them and nervously anxious to expedite their onward movement With the perversity of both sexes, however, they stopped to chat and inquire what ho was doing there, and in the midst pf it all a faint light gleamed 011 the opposite wall, and tho reflection of tho curtains in Alice Ilenwiek's window was distinctly visible. Then a sturdy masculine shadow appeared, and there was a rustling above, and then, with exasperating, mysterious and epigrammatic terseness, a deep voice propounded tho utterly senseless question:A Definition. "People are talking so much about epigrams in novels," said the young woman. "How would you describe an epigram?" Nawvice—I don't quite understant feotball and couldn't follow the gamt very well. How can I distinguish tht defeated team? I mean, what are theii colors? Prevailing, "An epigram," said the young man, who isn't literary to any great extent, "is a sort of a joke with a clean collar and its Sunday clothes on. "—Washington Star. vanity and showing it to Sloat, he Armitage could bear 110 more. Tho airy conceit and insolence of the man overcame all self restraint and resolution. With one bound lie was at his throat, his strong white hands grasping him in u sudden, viseliko grip, then hurling him with stunning, thundering force to tho floor. Down, headlong, went the tall lieutenant, his sword clattering by his side, his slim brown hands clutching wildly at anything that Plight bear him up, and dragging with him in his catastrophe a rack of hunting pouches, antlers and one heavy double barreled shotgun. All came tumbling down about tho struggling form, and Armitage, glaring down at him with clinching fists and rasping teeth, had only time to utter ono deep drawn maledio- meant to get it back. Very certainly, i, after hearing Chester's words, ho must Vhave determined to lose no time in getrid of it He was no fool if ho was aVoBcomb. Looking around the half darkened room, Armitage lingered long over tho photographs which hung about the dressing table and over the mantel, several prettily framed duplicates of those already described as appearing in the album. One after another ho took them in his hands, bore them to the window and studied them attentively. Some were uot replaced without a long, lingerihg kiss. He had not ventured to disturb an item in her room. He would Dot touch the knob of a drawer or at- Freshmanno—Er—black and blue.— Tit-Bits. Armitnge took the photograph to the vHndow and studied It carcfully. the sight, and Merrick, with one amazed and frightened look at his captain, faced about and slunk silently away. To him Armitago paid no further atten • tion. It was to the officer he addressed himself: "But it is of her I'm thinking, not of you. It is the name you have compromised and can clear and should clear, even at tho expense of your own —in fact, Mr. Jerrold, must clear. Now will you teU mo where you were and how you can provo it?" Full Return* From the Game. A nurse and my fond wifo were there, but they could not pull me out from tho chaos of bod and shattered legs. All they oould do was to wring their hands and put cologue on my brow. Gosh, how it hurt! Briggs (emphatically)—I tell you that fellow Strawber knows the value of a dollar. Proving It. A Griggs—You must have boen trying to borrow somo money from him.—De- Detroit Free Press. "Mr. Jerrold, I have heard pretty much all this conversation. It simply adds to tho evil report with which you have managed to surround yourself. Step into your quarters. I must see you alone," O110 or two men, urged bv their wives, who thought it was really time something were done to Jet him understand ho ought not to lead the germ an, had gono to see him and been refused admission. Asked from within what they wanted, the reply was somewhat difficult to frame and in both eases resolved itself into "Oh, about the german," to which Jerrold's voice was heard to say: It was one of the saddest situations I ever accepted. Finally liiv wifo, who is a woman of quick intelligence, suggested that I could be slowly elevated by an educational process. Sho got two sets of cyclopedia and somo of my own literary works, and with theso she managed to build up under my giant framo as I went up on one elbow at a time, so "I declino to say. I won't lDo cross questioned by men who have no authority. Captain Chester said ho would refer it to the colonel, and when ho asks I will answer—not until then." Labor Saving Inventions. Editor—It seems to mo jo'u've been a long while grinding out this article. Jerrold hesitated. He was thunderstruck by the sudden appearance of the captain, whom he had believed to be "I ask in his name. I am authorized by him, for ho is not well enough to meet the ordeal.'' Reporter—Yes. You see, I wrote the first half of it on the typewriter and the last half with a fountain pea.—Somerville Journal. —Prinoeton Tiger.