d, bowing gravely and profusely, with a very puzzled look in his
face.

"Thank you for coming, Mr. Arnold," said Riggs, with bluff civility.
"You have met these gentlemen--Colonel Button, Mr. Barker, Mr. Lanier,
Captain Sumter." He pointedly omitted Snaffle, to whom, none the less,
Mr. Arnold bowed as ceremoniously as to each of the others who had risen
at his entrance. "Pray take this chair, sir. As I have explained to you,
Mr. Lowndes, your nephew could not be compelled to testify before a
military court, and need not make public admission here of what he told
us at Rawdon's demand during our journey hither. I hope this is fully
understood."

Mr. Arnold cleared his throat and beamed benevolently about him. The
occasion seemed propitious, and a moral lesson appropriate, and he
began:

"My unhappy nephew realizes, with, I trust, genuine contrition, that he
has been the cause of grave trouble, not only to us, his kindred in the
East, but--er--to you military gentlemen in the West. He has, prompted,
as we must admit, by Mr.--Mr. Rawdon, made a clean breast of his
lamentable conduct, and has promised Mr. Rawdon to repeat every word of
it--er--to Colonel Button, but, as his----"

"Then we'll waste no time," said Riggs impatiently. "We'll have him in,
and I can catch the afternoon train. Orderly, call Mr. Lowndes."

"Er--I was about to remark," proceeded Mr. Arnold, "that if
any--er--suit for damages, or--er--recovery of money should be in
contemplation, we desire----"

"Don't fear, sir. Nobody's going to sue for damages. What we want is the
quashing of all charges against this young gentleman, who has been made
to suffer abominably. Ah, come in, Mr. Lowndes. Sit down, sir. You have
met everybody here. Now, as speedily as possible, we'll finish this
matter, and in four hours we'll be off for home."

It was but a dejected specimen of a college-bred man that sank into the
chair in front of Riggs and faced him with pallid cheek and somber eyes.
One look he gave at Bob Lanier, a furtive, forlorn glance, which met no
recognition whatsoever. Lanier looked him over with indifference that
bordered closely on contempt, but gave no other sign.

"Mr. Lowndes," said Riggs abruptly, "there is no need of going over the
entire story. I'll ask you to answer certain questions. Who was your
earliest friend in this regiment?"

The dreary eyes turned once more toward Bob, and the nervous hands
started the slouch hat in swifter revolu