Part 8 (1/2)

VIII

Ennis and Schuchardt were still there, and started at sight of Lanier's white face. Without a word he led on to an inner room, where Ennis sprang to his side. ”Help me off with these,” he said, ”and bring a lamp. Come up-stairs, Barker;” and, wondering, both the others followed.

There were but two sleeping rooms aloft in the little bachelor set.

Ennis had the one facing the parade. Lanier's looked out upon the hospital and surgeon's quarters at the back. Into this room marched Bob Lanier and threw open the door of the single closet wherein was hanging uniform and civilian garb in some profusion. Ennis held the lamp on high, and with his free hand Lanier began throwing out the contents--a new uniform dress coat, an older one that had done duty for the three previous years, two sack coats or ”blouses,” the police officers'

overcoat of the day, several pairs of blue trousers, with the broad stripe of the cavalry, and these as they came were flung on the bed by Barker and ”Shoe.” Then appeared a suit of evening clothes, carefully handled. Then a brown business suit of tweeds, then a light drab overcoat, and then the closet was well nigh empty, and Lanier faced them with the simple words: ”It's gone!”

”What's gone?” demanded Ennis.

”Why, that dark gray mixture sack suit I brought from leave last year.

It always hung 'way back in here.”

”_Who_ wants it now, I'd like to know?” demanded Ennis.

”Our colonel, who accuses me of costuming Rawdon for his getaway.” And the three friends looked at each in something like consternation.

Then Barker spoke: ”It's only fair to the colonel to tell the rest, Bob.

Rawdon's box, that he left for safe keeping with a friend in town, had not only the suit you saw at the office, but a new fur cap with your name in it. There were other things that looked queer. The day of the storm Quinlan came over to the guard-house after his visit here, wearing a new cap instead of his old one, and Ca.s.sidy swooped on it, thinking it yours, for it was here he got it, and the name in that cap was Rawdon.

It leaked out somehow. Fitzroy hunted the story down.”

”The name was burnt out when Ca.s.sidy brought it back to me,” said Lanier slowly. ”He claimed that in lighting his pipe----”

”Poor Ca.s.sidy lied every way he could think of to save you,” said Barker ruefully. ”It's the young cad you befriended and helped along that's tricked you in the end, and you're not the only man, I'm afraid.”

”Roped Rafferty in, I suppose,” said Schuchardt, while a light of superior wisdom stole slowly over the face of Lieutenant Ennis.

”Rafferty, doubtless, to the extent of bribing or wheedling him out of Bob's new cits----”

”But those were _not_ mine that Fitzroy had!” burst in Lanier.

”Of course not. He's left you a worn suit in place of the new. Where'd he steal that one, I wonder? There isn't another officer of your size and build at the post. But, here, I've got to go back and report, and my report will be in these words: 'Mr. Lanier has been robbed, too,'” and Barker made for the stairs.

”One moment,” called Ennis. ”You said Bob wasn't the only man this fellow had tricked. Do you mean----” he paused suggestively.

”I mean, yes--that there's more than one man, and there's at least one poor girl in the garrison to mourn that fellow's loss, and be d---- to him!” and with that Barker was gone.

b.u.t.ton listened to his adjutant's report with something almost like a sneer. Stannard and Sumter heard it with grave faces, but without a word. Snaffle, who had drifted in, sn.i.g.g.e.red with obvious triumph.

”Gentlemen,” said the colonel, ”you have not heard the half of what I know, and every day brings something new. This comes in from Laramie to-day, brought with the mail that lay over at the Chugwater during the storm. Read that, Stannard.” And Stannard took the paper and glanced over it, blinked his eyes, sniffed, and said: ”I've heard about that case, and I'll take Lanier's story any day against--that fellow's affidavit.”

”Major Stannard,” said b.u.t.ton severely, ”you are speaking contemptuously of your superior officer.”

”Colonel b.u.t.ton,” answered Stannard, with high held head, but with firm hand on his temper, ”I am speaking contemptuously of my superior officer's _informant_, not of the commanding officer of Fort Laramie. If you care to look you will see that he quotes, not a.s.serts, that 'this money was advanced to Mr. Lowndes on Mr. Lanier's statement that the young man was summoned home by the serious illness of his mother, and that he, Mr. Lanier, would be responsible for the transaction. Mr.

Lowndes has never repaid it, and Mr. Lanier when appealed to four weeks since not only refused to make it good, but abused and cursed me for simply asking for what was my own.' Now, sir,” concluded Stannard, ”I haven't sought to learn the facts in the case, but I'll bet ten dollars to ten cents you have yet to hear them.”