k valley 'twixt here and town, and there
isn't a sign of them."

The silence in the office was oppressive. Men looked at each other in
dumb consternation.

"How did you learn they hadn't reached town?" demanded Button.

"Sergeant Fitzroy just came out. He'd been in there with Sergeant
Stowell to help find Rawdon, he said. Major Scott had a section engaged
in the Pullman for Omaha, and Fitzroy says he never claimed it--says he
searched every stable for the ambulance, but there was no sign of it,
and he says there was a gang of half a dozen toughs that had been
hanging about town for a week, and they've cleared out. I'd like to go
and get into riding rig, sir."

"Go, and I'll have a troop out after you if need be." Then turning to
his adjutant: "Barker, have Sergeant Fitzroy sent for at once."

Another moment and a trig, well-groomed soldier, florid-faced, muscular,
yet burly in build, stepped briskly in and "stood attention." His right
eye and cheek were still heavily bruised and discolored. His nose was
somewhat swollen. The colonel had looked upon him with sombre eyes the
night of the dance. It annoyed him that a non-commissioned officer
should have taken such a time and place to offer a complaint. He still
disapproved. Moreover, he had given Sergeant Fitzroy no authority to go
as volunteer aid to Sergeant Stowell.

"How did you happen to be in town, sergeant?" was the abrupt demand.

Fitzroy colored to the brows, but the answer was prompt:

"I understood the colonel to say 'find him,' referring to Trooper
Rawdon, Friday night, and I went in Saturday morning thinking to help.
Then we couldn't get back, sir."

"My order was to the sergeant-of-the-guard, not to you," interposed
Button curtly. "Sergeant Stowell was sent and that was enough."

"Sergeant Stowell was looking for a man in uniform, sir, and had never
seen Rawdon except in trooper dress, and would never perhaps have known
him."

"Then how should you?" was the sharp query.

Fitzroy started. "I--had known him longer, sir, and much better. I--had
occasion to reprimand him once or twice, and knew him and his--pals, if
the colonel will pardon me--as none of the others knew him. There was
that young civilian, Lowndes, that went along with us and got into
trouble, and--there were others. In fact, if the colonel will pardon me
again, sir, I do not hold a high opinion of Trooper Rawdon, and if the
colonel were to investigate, it's my belief he could trace