Lanier of the Cavalry | Page 7

unless Captain Snaffle orders it."
"One moment, sergeant," interposed Colonel Button. "Has any
disturbance--any cry for help--been heard at the guard-house,--or was
this the explanation?" And he looked with disfavor on the battered
complainant.
"Number Five, sir, hasn't called off half past 'leven. I've sent the
corporal to see what's the matter."
"Number Five!" cried two or three men at the instant, and without a
word Captain Sumter hurried away, on a bee line across the
snow-covered parade, following the tracks of the adjutant.
"Number Five!" repeated the colonel. "That's just back of Sumter's
quarters;" and he stepped out into the moonlight for clearer view.
Afar over across the glistening level a few lights glimmered faintly in
the row of officers' quarters, bounding the northward side of the
garrison, but neither along their front nor that of the westward row was
there sign of moving humanity. The moon at its full, in that rare, clear

atmosphere, illuminated the post, the frozen slopes beyond, and the
dazzling range of the Rockies, with a radiance that rendered objects
visible almost as at midday. Only the hurrying form of Captain Sumter
could be seen half way across the parade. The Fosters' sleigh, that by
this time should have been back at the assembly room, was nowhere in
sight. Sumter's quarters were about the middle of the row. Lanier's were
at the eastward end. For the moment the complaint of the aggrieved
sergeant was ignored. All men stood waiting, watching. Then, on a
sudden, two or three black forms darted from the shadow of the middle
quarters. One came running out across the parade, hardly slackened
speed at the hail of Captain Sumter, pointed back with one hand,
shouted something that doubled Sumter's pace, but hurried onward
toward the group.
It was Conroy, corporal-of-the-guard. "The adjutant orders me to report
Number Five sick, sir," he panted to the colonel. "I found him all
doubled up in the coal-shed back of the major's. 'T wasn't him hollered.
'T was somebody at Captain Sumter's. They got the steward over from
the hospital, but they want the sergeant and some of the guard to search
the back buildings."
"Who wants them?" demanded the colonel.
"The adjutant, sir. Lieutenant Blake's with him. There has been some
prowlers--and the young ladies were frightened."
"They are safely home?" asked the colonel. "Then where's the sleigh?"
"They're home all right, sir, and the sleigh went on out of the east
gate--to the store, I suppose. Number Six didn't stop it----"
"One moment," interposed the colonel. "Sergeant-of-the-guard, take
four of your men and report to Captain Sumter; or to the adjutant. Now,
corporal, when was this cry heard?"
"Just after the young ladies got home, sir--leastwise that's what I was
told. We didn't hear it at the guard-house."

"Was the officer-of-the-guard over there?"
"Not the--new one, sir, but----" And then the corporal suddenly stopped,
contrite and troubled.
"But what?" demanded the colonel, instant suspicion in his eyes and
tone. "Do you mean that Lieutenant Lanier was there--out of his
quarters?"
"Out of his head, if he was," growled the paymaster, who loved him
well and was deeply concerned over his trouble.
"I--I didn't see him, sir," answered the young soldier, but in manner so
confused that it simply added to the commander's suspicion.
"Come with me, Horton," said the colonel to his quartermaster, and
turning back for his cap and overcoat. Then once again the voice of the
aggrieved and importunate sergeant was heard, this time with
convincing appeal.
"I beg the colonel's pardon, but if he wants to get the truth as to this
night's business, it would be well to arrest Trooper Rawdon, or he'll be
off for good and all."
"Find him, then, sergeant-of-the-guard, and have it done," said Button.
"Report it to the officer-of-the-day as my order."

III
That ended the dance, but not the excitement. Women and girls were
seeking their wraps even before the corporal came, and now went
twittering homeward, each on the arm of her escort, except in the case
of those allied forces, the wives of certain seniors, who long had lived,
moved, and ruled in the regiment, and now in eager yet guarded tones
were discussing the events of the hour gone by. With these went Mrs.
Foster, her husband having joined the searching party, and her sleigh,
instead of returning, being still missing and unaccounted for.

Not yet midnight, and in the space of less than one hour all Fort
Cushing had been stirred by the news. A most popular and prominent
young officer had been placed in close arrest. A prominent, if not most
popular, sergeant, had been pummelled. An alarming scene of some
kind had occurred at the quarters of Captain Sumter. No one outside of
the immediate family knew just