Part 7 (1/2)

Barker faltered just one minute. What did the colonel mean by a trick?

Mischief there had been, once or twice. Tricks had been played, and one only this last summer during the campaign--a trick, too, that if truth were told, Lanier should have known about. At least, it had been played for his benefit, and had ”pulled the wool” over the colonel's eyes.

”I consider him as square a man as I know, and utterly above a lie--of any kind,” was the final answer.

”And yet you hesitate. You know, or have heard--rumors,” said b.u.t.ton suspiciously.

”I have heard rumors and slanders, Colonel b.u.t.ton,” was Barker's probably injudicious reply, for he closed with ”and so many of them that I disbelieve nine out of ten.”

”Well, here!” said b.u.t.ton impulsively, ”here are you and Stannard and Sumter--three of the 'old liners,' as you are called in your respective grades--and I see plainly enough you three, and G.o.d knows how many more, are tacitly condemning my att.i.tude toward Lanier. You think, if you don't say, that I have treated him with harshness and injustice--have listened solely to his accusers and enemies. Now, I've had enough of this! There is nothing that _requires_ a commander to show his hand to his subordinates, but as matters stand in this regiment--Oh, come in, Major Stannard. I sent for you purposely, and Sumter as well, to meet me here at tattoo.” (And at the moment, as the united force of field musicians began the stirring strains of the old cavalry ”curfew call,”

”The March of the Bear,” the two seniors solemnly entered the presence, removing their fur caps as they bowed to the commander.) ”As I was saying to Barker, as matters stand in this regiment, some half a dozen at least of the men referred to as its 'representative officers' are apparently resentful of my arrest of Lieutenant Lanier, and attribute my course to pique, because he saw fit to show himself at the hop I declined to permit him as officer-of-the-guard to attend. You think, possibly, that because men like Captain Snaffle, Lieutenant Crane, and one or two of that set have been in consultation with me, the matters at issue are beneath your notice.” (Here the three a.s.sailed officers exchanged glances, but said not a word in protest, for the colonel went impulsively on.) ”They at least are loyal to their commander, and to the best interests of the regiment. Now I mean to show you. Mr. Barker,”

said he impressively, ”go to Lieutenant Lanier and say that I desire his presence here at once.”

And Barker took his cap and cape and departure without a word.

Down the line in the moonlight the snow heaps were sparkling as though crusted with brilliants. The black square of the field music was trudging out across an acre of the parade swept clean by the recent gale. The children, in laughing little groups, were returning from their hour at the slide, and here and there from the deep cut or tunnel in front of each officer's doorway dark m.u.f.fled figures were emerging, and striding away toward the barracks--subalterns en route to the companies to supervise roll-call.

Just as Barker neared Stannard's, at the head of the row, two cloaked and hooded forms hurried forth, and Barker almost collided with them.

”Oh, good evening, Miss Kate! Good evening, Miss Arnold!” was his embarra.s.sed greeting. Then, with attempt at jocularity for which he later could have kicked himself: ”I'm just in time to see you home, and head off hobgoblins and hoboes.” No wonder the two walked the faster and gave but perfunctory replies.

”Indeed, I beg pardon,” he blundered on. ”I'm just bound for Lanier's.

Any message?”

”You might say we wish him speedy deliverance,” answered Kate Sumter, with unlooked-for spirit and effect, for the adjutant, in dismay at his own awkwardness, darted swiftly ahead, shouting, ”Hold on, Steve!” to an officer with whom he would rather not have wasted a moment's time.

Indeed, poor Barker was sore distressed. He could not help hearing sc.r.a.ps of the talk that had pa.s.sed at the office between the colonel, Snaffle, Crane, and certain summoned enlisted men, Fitzroy, Ca.s.sidy, and Quinlan among them. Even that poor devil who had been on duty Friday night as sentry on Number Five had been marched into the awful presence of the commanding officer, and ordered to tell who gave him the whiskey that had been his undoing--even promising immunity from punishment; but he was Irish and true to his faith and his friends, even they who had betrayed him, and he'd die first, he said. Never would he ”sphlit on the best feller in the foort.”

And Barker had heard many things that pointed to Lanier--so many that his heart seemed to stop as he entered the door, and sank at sight of the trouble in the face of the young soldier sitting there in conference with Ennis and Doctor Schuchardt.

Silently Lanier heard the summons. There was no reason why he should not go, said the doctor. ”The air will do you good,” he added, ”and we'll be here when you come back.”

Five minutes sufficed to reset the bandages and get him into his furs.

Ten minutes more and, for the first time since Friday evening, the accused officer stood in the presence of his colonel, with three tried and trusted comrades near to see him through.

”Mr. Lanier,” said b.u.t.ton presently, ”I have sent for you in deference to the sentiment in your behalf, entertained by officers of such standing in the army as these gentlemen who are here present. I am free to say that I have had grave reasons for forming a most unfavorable opinion of your conduct, even of your character. It has been my intention to forward charges of a serious nature against you, and to urge your trial by general court-martial. But such is my regard for these gentlemen, and the element they represent, that I stand ready to abandon my views and adopt theirs on your simple word. Can I say more?”

There was a moment of silence. Then Lanier spoke: ”It depends, sir, I think, upon what you wish me to answer.”

b.u.t.ton colored. Turning to his desk, he took from an envelope several newspaper clippings. ”You know what these are, doubtless, Mr. Lanier. Do you care to say what part you took in their preparation?”

”I am glad to say I took no part,” was the answer.

”No part at all? And you do not even know the author?”

Lanier's dark eyes never swerved from their gaze. ”I took no part, sir.

I did not say--I do not wish to say--that I do not know the author,” was the calm reply.

”Then you admit, or permit me to infer, that you know him--a member of this command, for no one else knew the facts--and, moreover, that you s.h.i.+eld him?”