n, Major Sloat, I wish to see Captain Chester at once. Is
he in the office?"

"Certainly, Miss Beaubien. Shall I call him? or will you walk in?" And
both men were at her side in a moment.

"Thanks. I will go right in,--if you will kindly show me to him."

Another moment, and Armitage and Chester, deep in the midst of their
duties and surrounded by clerks and orderlies and assailed by half a
dozen questions in one and the same instant, looked up astonished as
Wilton stepped in and announced Miss Beaubien desiring to see Captain
Chester on immediate business. There was no time for conference. There
she stood in the door-way, and all tongues were hushed on the instant.
Chester rose and stepped forward with anxious courtesy. She did not
choose to see the extended hand.

"It is you, alone, I wish to see, captain. Is it impossible here?"

"I fear it is, Miss Beaubien; but we can walk out in the open air. I
feel that I know what it is you wish to say to me," he added, in a low
tone, took his cap from the peg on which it hung, and led the way. Again
she passed through the curious, but respectful group, and Jerrold,
watching furtively from his window, saw them come forth.

The captain turned to her as soon as they were out of earshot:

"I have no daughter of my own, my dear young lady, but if I had I could
not more thoroughly feel for you than I do. How can I help you?"

The reply was unexpectedly spirited. He had thought to encourage and
sustain her, be sympathetic and paternal, but, as he afterwards ruefully
admitted, he "never did seem to get the hang of a woman's temperament."
Apparently sympathy was not the thing she needed.

"It is late in the day to ask such a question, Captain Chester. You have
done great wrong and injustice. The question is now, will you undo it?"

He was too surprised to speak for a moment. When his tongue was unloosed
he said,--

"I shall be glad to be convinced I was wrong."

"I know little of army justice or army laws, Captain Chester, but when
a girl is compelled to take this step to rescue a friend there is
something brutal about them,--or the men who enforce them. Mr. Jerrold
tells me that he is arrested. I knew that last night, but not until this
morning did he consent to let me know that he would be court-martialled
unless he could prove where he was the night you were officer of the day
two weeks ago, and last Saturday night. He is too noble and good to
defend himself when by doin