Part 16 (2/2)

”Meantime poor Riggs is waiting to get back to his sick wife, and has been waiting for an hour,” said the legal adviser of the court, with an impatient crack of the whip that startled his spirited grays as they were whirled about and sent spinning up the street, leaving the dazed quartermaster staring after them. At headquarters the team again abruptly pulled up, and its driver called out, in cheery tones,

”Riggs, we are going out to barracks. Can we give you a lift? It may be some time before that ambulance comes along.”

”It was to have been here over an hour ago,” said the infantryman, slowly. ”I don't know what's the matter, and I could not go in search of it; my arrest limits me to this building when in town. I hate to trouble you, yet I ought to have been home by this time.”

”Jump in, jump in! We'll get you there in less than no time,” exclaimed both occupants. And, only too willing, Mr. Riggs ”leaped aboard,” and they sped away for the outskirts of the city.

Pa.s.sing a favorite restaurant, where officers and ladies were wont to rendezvous when in town, they caught sight of the missing ambulance.

”Weren't you ordered to be at headquarters for Lieutenant Riggs at three o'clock?” demanded the judge-advocate of the driver.

”Yes, sir,” replied that party, glancing in nervous embarra.s.sment over his shoulder at somebody in the depths of the vehicle, ”but--”

A forage-capped head appeared from behind the curtain; the benign features of Captain Breen slowly hove in sight, and a smile of greeting spread thereover as his eyes met those of the staff-officers.

”Oh, ah! Good-afternoon, colonel. How de do, Captain Park. Why--yes, there was something said about going for Riggs when we got through--when the ladies finished shopping, you know. I was just reading the evening paper. If you are ready, Riggs, I--I'll hurry them out now,” said the captain, startled into civility to the subaltern on seeing the distinguished company in which he drove.

”Thanks; we won't trouble you. Hup there!” said Captain Park, dryly and energetically, as once more the grays dashed off at rapid trot, and in half an hour Mr. Riggs was landed in front of his quarters in the garrison.

He said very little as he stepped from the light road-wagon, but he grasped the extended hands of the two officers, and looked up in their faces with mute eloquence. The post surgeon happened along at the moment, and Riggs turned eagerly towards him.

”A little easier, if anything,” said the doctor, in answer to the look of anxious inquiry. ”Better, I think, than she has been for the last two days. Your telegram cheered her a good deal.”

”Excuse me now, will you, gentlemen?” said the lieutenant to his late conductors. ”You understand my haste, and will forgive my inhospitality in not asking you in. You--you don't know how I thank you.” And with that he was gone.

”Doctor, what seems the matter with Mrs. Riggs?” asked the judge-advocate, impetuously.

”Heart-trouble mainly. Any great anxiety tells right there. She was a very sick woman yesterday. Won't you stop at my quarters?”

”Thanks, no. We were just out for a drive, and must get back.”

Whether from motives of delicacy, or possibly from lack of curiosity, very few of the older officers of the --th Foot were present in the court-room when Mr. Riggs read his brief statement or defence on the following day; but nothing could keep Plodder away. Among the group of four or five junior officers his keen little eyes and eager face peered out, ferret-like, glancing from member to member of the court as though he sought to probe their inmost souls. Brief as it was, Riggs had written an admirable little argument. He made no accusations, no recriminations; indeed, he rather slightingly alluded to a portion of the evidence which went to show that during the forty-eight hours preceding his offence he had been kept almost continuously on duty night and day, while the other company officer, his captain, slept almost as continuously. He manfully admitted his guilt, he showed that never before had he been accused of such an offence, and then, with brief reference to the testimony of the surgeon and his old division commander of war days, and the doc.u.mentary evidence in their possession, he threw himself upon the mercy of the court.

The youngsters could not repress a murmur of admiration as he closed.

Plodder with open mouth and staring eyes looked around the long, littered table like a military Shylock imploring the fulfilment of his bond. His eyes brightened as the judge-advocate slowly rose; he knew how trenchant he could be, at least, and he had confidence that his response would shatter the favorable impression left by Mr. Riggs's defence. It was with an almost audible gasp of dismay that he heard the next words that broke the silence of the court-room. The judge-advocate calmly said, ”The case is submitted without remark.”

Not until Mr. Waterman had plucked him by the coat-sleeve and hoa.r.s.ely whispered, ”Don't stand there like a stuck pig, you old idiot. Court's cleared,” could Mr. Plodder be made to understand that all outsiders were required to withdraw that the court might proceed to its deliberation. Even at the outer door he again stopped and looked back, a half-formed project taking root in his bewildered brain, and again Mr.

Waterman unfeelingly interrupted him. ”Come on, Plodder. D--n it all!

are you thinking of going in and haranguing the court yourself?” It was in more than perturbation that Plodder finally sought his quarters and, secure in his solitude, unlocked and uncorked his demijohn.

In another hour the court had adjourned and gone its way. Issuing from the stuffy room over the colonel's office, the members had been met by hospitable invitations to take luncheon here, there, and elsewhere about the garrison, and the story of the doc.u.mentary and war evidence having got around by this time, there was much questioning as to its exact nature, and much wonderment that it had not been heard of before. The surgeon had testified to Mr. Riggs's having been twice severely wounded, once at s.h.i.+loh, again at Chickamauga. The artillery colonel to his having twice noticed admirable and gallant conduct in action, which he had praised in orders. The doc.u.mentary evidence went even further.

Evidently Riggs's stock was looking up. Of course no member of the court could give the faintest hint of the action taken, and as they finally drove away, and the officers after evening parade were discussing the probable fate of the accused, the colonel quietly put a stop to speculation by the remark made to the second in command, ”He pleaded guilty. They had to sentence him to dismissal. Now only the President can save him. He has no influence, and the President has just said he would not overlook such offences in future. That settles it in my mind.”

That night, therefore, Mr. Plodder went to bed half full of comfort and whiskey.

But it was noticed that the judge-advocate, Captain Park, had gone off with the surgeon after the adjournment of court, and while the rest of the garrison were at lunch he, with Dr. Grant, had appeared at Riggs's door.

”She has begged to be allowed to see you,” the doctor had explained, ”and what she needs is some little word of hope. _His_ hopefulness she fears is only simulated for her sake.” And nodding appreciatively in response to the doctor's significant glance, Captain Park was shown into the plainly furnished little parlor, where, reclining in a broad sofa-chair, propped upon white pillows, white as her own wan face, was the fragile form of the invalid. He had known her only slightly, but her gentle, una.s.suming, sweet-tempered ways had often attracted his attention, and her devotion to her husband was a matter that had excited the somewhat envious remarks of Benedicts less favored. She held out her thin white hand, and looked with glistening eyes up into the grave bearded face that bent over her in courteous greeting and kindly interest.

<script>