many a
disloyal trick--and tale--to that man. What's more," and now the
speaker's tone betrayed undue and most unprofessional excitement, and it
seemed as though he had quite forgotten himself and his official
surroundings, for he finished with voice querulous and upraised, "if
Paymaster Scott came to grief he has nobody to blame but his pet and
himself----"

"No more of that, sir," broke in the colonel angrily, "unless you are
ready to prove your words."

"Give me two days and half a chance, Colonel Button," was the confident
answer, "and I'll do it."

V

As Captain Sumter said, the ladies had gone no further than the
surgeon's quarters that memorable Saturday, and with Sumter's full
consent they had not gone even that far. Friday afternoon he had wired
his protest to the father of Miriam Arnold, and with startling emphasis
the reply had come early Saturday morning: "I repeat that I desire my
daughter to return at once." It angered this honest gentleman and
soldier. The tone was abrupt, if telegrams can be said to have either
tone or manner, but that "wire" settled the matter. Miriam said she must
obey, and nothing short of Doctor Larrabee, senior surgeon of the post,
had prevailed against her decision. He himself had met the covered
vehicle at his gate, and with calm but forceful courtesy had insisted
on their alighting. "Your train is half a day late," said he. "You'll be
wiser waiting here than at the frowsy station. Besides, I wish to see
this young woman again." So saying, he fairly lifted Miss Arnold from
the fur-robed depths of the dark interior, and deposited her on the
wind-swept path. "Run in," said he, then similarly aided Mrs. and Miss
Sumter. Their hand luggage and wraps came next, and Sumter drove away,
saying he'd be back to them in abundant time for the train--which he
was, though not until Tuesday morning. It was Thursday before the road
was open or the telegraph again at work.

Less than half an hour the trio spent under the doctor's hospitable
roof. Before two o'clock the wind had increased to a gale. The snow was
driving swift and hard. "I checked you just in time," said he. "There'll
be no train either way this night." And so by two o'clock, and just as
the paymaster was driving away down the front of officers' row, Mrs.
and Miss Sumter, with Miss Arnold, escorted by the two medical officers,
were struggling across the open space between the surgeon's houses and
the rear fence of the