Part 14 (1/2)

”Now, gentleman, the captain says that when he attempted to remonstrate with Mr. Davies last night he was treated with absolute contempt, and, Mr. Davies, he says that you refused to answer.”

”I strove to control my tongue and temper both, colonel, and _not_ to behave with disrespect. I did not answer him at once, but it was from no lack of impulse to do so.”

Pegleg reflected a moment, then addressed himself to Cranston. ”I confess that this matter is one that causes me much embarra.s.sment,” said he. ”The post surgeon says that he was not aware of the man being sent to the hospital at all, and that it was Dr. Burroughs's case. Dr.

Burroughs says he did not consider the man drunk, but took Captain Devers's statement, as he knew the man well. Captain Devers asked that he be put in hospital to keep him from drinking, because he knew the prisoners got liquor whenever they had money, and it wouldn't be safe to have him in the guard-house. Is there anything peculiar about this Brannan?--any reason why he should be treated by his captain on a different system?”

”Colonel Stone,” said Cranston, ”I knew Brannan's mother, a wealthy and prominent woman in society. Mr. Davies can perhaps tell you even more, but I do not think Captain Devers knows anything of Brannan's past.”

Leonard's dark eyes came down from the cobweb and studied Cranston's face as though he wished to ask a question, and Pegleg saw it. He leaned on Leonard, and had grown to respect his judgment.

”What were you about to ask?” said he.

”Do you know anything about the antecedents of that new company clerk of Captain Devers?” asked the adjutant, thus authorized.

”Nothing whatever,” said Cranston, wheeling round in his chair and looking curiously at the big infantryman.

”Well,--pardon me, Mr. Davies. Had you never met or known him?”

”Never, except that he was one of the party of recruits I came out with last summer.”

”But you knew Brannan, did you not?”

”Yes, he was the man who handled a nozzle with me in showering a pack of rioters among the recruits last June.”

”But I mean you knew him before that, did you not?”

”Never,” answered Davies, in surprise. ”I never saw him in my life.”

And then Leonard in turn reddened and looked confused, and shut his jaws like a clam.

”Orderly,” sang out the colonel, ”go and give my compliments to Captain Devers, and say I wish to see him.” Then, turning to Cranston, ”We may as well get to the bottom of this business right here and now. I hate trickery.”

CHAPTER XV.

But, as on more than one previous occasion, Captain Devers was not immediately to be found. He was not at his quarters, not at the store nor the stables. Mr. Hastings said later that just after Cranston and Davies went to the adjutant's office, Devers came from his house and went over to the barracks. Sergeant Haney did not know where the captain had gone. Not until 10.30 o'clock did the orderly succeed in finding him, coming up the bluff from the river bottom, whither he had ridden, he said, to look over the prospective ice crop. By that time Pegleg was tired of waiting and had dismissed his visitors. They, however, were recalled in a minute, and when Captain Devers was made acquainted with Mr. Davies's positive denial of his allegations, Captain Devers promptly s.h.i.+fted the responsibility to the shoulders of the attendant, Private Paine, who had persisted, he said, in his story despite his, Devers's, incredulity and stringent cross-examination. Bang went Pegleg's fist on the bell. ”Send for Private Paine, Troop 'A,'” said he. ”I'm bound to get to the bottom of this at once.” And then while the orderly was gone he began pacing the floor, occasionally stopping to drum on the frost-covered window. Leonard s.h.i.+fted his seat to Cranston's side and entered into low-toned chat with him and Davies, though neither seemed in mood to talk. A natural question that had risen to their lips was why Leonard seemed to think that Brannan was well known to Davies before his enlistment, and this question Leonard had disposed of by saying that he had been a.s.sured that this was the case, and that he would ask his informant's permission to give his name. It was an officer and a friend of Davies, and the statement was made in all apparent good faith. Devers sat nervously in a chair feigning to read a newspaper, but every now and then furtively watching the three. Presently the orderly came back.

Trooper Paine wasn't in the post: he'd gone with the market wagon to town.

”Captain Devers,” said Pegleg, irritably, ”you ought to have known this.

Why didn't you say he'd gone, instead of keeping us waiting here?”

”I protest against the imputation, colonel,” said Devers, to all appearances much injured at such injustice. ”The wagon rarely, if ever, goes to town on Monday, and that Private Paine should have gone with it is equally fortuitous.”

”Well, just as soon as that wagon gets back I wish to examine that man, and I wish you, gentlemen, to be present, also Doctor Burroughs. You see to it, Mr. Leonard.”

”I'll give instructions at once,” said Leonard, rising quickly, and then, with significant glance at Cranston, taking his cap and quitting the office.

”Then, Colonel Stone,” said Devers, ”I must ask, in justice to myself, that one or two officers, who are friends of mine, may be present at the inquisition. I am conscious of nothing but enemies in this office, and I can expect no fair play.”