FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119  
120   121   122   123   124   125   >>  
d, now leaned over to whisper to Captain Foster: "Has the young man had chance to give you a word or two of explanation yet?" "What young man?" demanded Captain Foster, turning to look at Ruggles. "Why, the officer who marched us over here." "Lieutenant Overton?" "Certainly. Has he told you anything? I mean about how this whole business is to be fixed so as to keep me out of it altogether?" "What on earth are you talking about?" demanded Captain Foster, who was now wondering whether his ears had played him a trick. "Why, it's all settled," murmured Ruggles. "I turned the money over to your chap, Overton, and he told me it would be all fixed. I'm not to be held or prosecuted in this matter. The trouble is all to fall on the Mexicans." "I wish I knew what you were talking about," cried Captain Foster. "Why, it's plain enough, Captain. I paid the money over to your lieutenant, and he and you were to fix it so I could slide out of the matter and keep my name out, too. I paid Overton the five thousand dollars, which he said would be enough for you both and that it would be all right." "Mr. Overton!" called Captain Foster gasping. But Hal did not have to be summoned. He had heard Ruggles's last statement from the doorway of the officers' tent. "Here I am, sir," cried Lieutenant Hal, coming forward, "and I overheard that lying hound! What this fellow, Ruggles, is telling you, Captain, is wholly false." "I know it, Overton, I know it," cried Captain Foster, who had sprung to his feet. "Am I to be flimflammed, after paying the money in good faith?" demanded Ruggles. "See here, Captain, I drew twenty thousand dollars, in twenty bills, at the bank this afternoon. That I can easily prove, of course. Nor can any one on earth prove that I have spent any of that money, for, as it happens, I had the cashier at the bank take the numbers of the thousand-dollar bills. In this envelope, sir, you will find fifteen of the bills left. The numbers of the missing bills can be proved, and the missing bills you will find in the possession of your lieutenant." "It's a cowardly lie!" blazed thunderstruck Hal, leaping forward. But Captain Foster pushed him gently back. "I haven't a doubt that it's a lie, Overton, my boy," replied Foster. "Yet don't get too excited, or try to use violence on your accuser. Remember that I am simply bound to hear any complaint that may be preferred against any officer in my comman
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119  
120   121   122   123   124   125   >>  



Top keywords:
Captain
 

Foster

 

Overton

 

Ruggles

 

thousand

 
demanded
 
matter
 

numbers

 
missing
 

dollars


forward

 

twenty

 
lieutenant
 

talking

 
officer
 

Lieutenant

 
dollar
 
whisper
 

fifteen

 

envelope


cashier

 

easily

 

paying

 

flimflammed

 

explanation

 

chance

 

afternoon

 

cowardly

 

violence

 

accuser


Remember

 
excited
 

simply

 

comman

 

preferred

 
complaint
 

blazed

 
thunderstruck
 

leaping

 
proved

possession
 

pushed

 
gently
 
replied
 

leaned

 

fellow

 
business
 

Mexicans

 
settled
 

murmured