by Charles King
CHAPTER IV.
When Jeffers came driving into barracks on his return from town, hisfirst care, as became the trained groom, was for his horses, and he wasrubbing them down and bedding their stalls for the night when thesergeant of the battery guard, lantern in hand, appeared at the door. Itwas not yet tattoo, but by this time the darkness was intense, theheavens were hid, and the wind was moaning about the stables andgun-shed and whistling away over the dismal expanse of flat, wet,ditch-tangled fields towards the swamp. But the cockney's spirits wereblithe as the clouds were black. As was usual when he or any otherservitor was in attendance on Waring, the reward had been munificent. Hehad lunched at Cassidy's at the lieutenant's expense while that officerand his friends were similarly occupied at the more exclusive Moreau's.He had stabled the team at the quartermaster's while he had personallyattended the _matinee_ at the St. Charles, which was more to his tastethan Booth and high tragedy. He had sauntered about the Tattersalls andsmoked Waring's cigars and patronized the jockeys gathered there for thespring meeting on the Metairie, but promptly on time was awaiting thereturn of the party from their drive and lolling about the ladies'entrance to the St. Charles Hotel, when he became aware, as the lampswere being lighted and the dusk of the evening gave place to livelyillumination, that two men had passed and repassed the open portalsseveral times, and that they were eying him curiously, and chattering toeach other in French. One of them he presently recognized as the little"frog-eater" who occupied the old house on the levee, Lascelles, thehusband of the pretty Frenchwoman he and the lieutenant had dragged outof the mud that very morning and had driven up to the old D'Hervillyplace on Rampart Street. Even as he was wondering how cabby got out ofhis scrape and chuckling with satisfaction over the scientific manner inwhich Mr. Waring had floored that worthy, Mr. Jeffers was surprised tofind himself most civilly accosted by old Lascelles, who had beeninformed, he said, by Madame his wife, of the heroic services renderedher that morning by Monsieur Jeffers and Monsieur le Capitaine. Hebegged of the former the acceptance of the small _douceur_ which heslipped into the Englishman's accustomed palm, and inquired when hemight hope to see the brave captain and disembarrass himself of hisburden of gratitude.
"Here they come now," said Jeffers, promptly pocketing the money andspringing forward to knuckle his hat-brim and stand at the horses'heads. All grace and animation, Mr. Waring had assisted his friends toalight, had promised to join them in the ladies' parlor in ten minutes,had sprung to the seat again, signalling Jeffers to tumble up behind,and then had driven rapidly away through Carondelet Street to the broadavenue beyond. Here he tossed the reins to Jeffers, disappeared amoment, and came back with a little Indian-made basket filled tooverflowing with exquisite double violets rich with fragrance.
"Give this to Mrs. Cram for me, and tell the captain I'll drop in tothank him in a couple of hours, and---- Here, Jeffers," he said, andJeffers had pocketed another greenback, and had driven brisklyhomeward, well content with the result of his day's labors, and withouthaving mentioned to Mr. Waring the fact that Lascelles had been at thehotel making inquiries for him. A day so profitable and so pleasantJeffers had not enjoyed since his arrival at the barracks, and he washumming away in high good humor, all reckless of the rising storm, whenthe gruff voice of Sergeant Schwartz disturbed him:
"Chevvers, you will rebort at vonst to Captain Cram."
"Who says I will?" said Jeffers, cheerfully, though bent on mischief,but was awed into instant silence at seeing that veteran step quicklyback, stand attention, and raise his hand in salute, for there came Cramhimself, Pierce with him.
"Did Mr. Waring come back with you?" was the first question.
"No, sir; Hi left Mr. Warink on Canal Street. 'E said 'e'd be back tothank the capt'in in a little while, sir, and 'e sent these for thecapt'in's lady."
Cram took the beautiful basket of violets with dubious hand, though hiseyes kindled when he noted their profusion and fragrance. Nell lovedviolets, and it was like Waring to remember so bountifully her fondnessfor them.
"What detained him? Did he send no word?"
"'E said nothink, and sent nothink but the basket, sir. 'E said a coupleof hours, now I think of it, sir. 'E was going back to the 'otel to dinewith a lady and gent."
For a moment Cram was silent. He glanced at Pierce, as much as to say,Have you no question to ask? but the youngster held his peace. Thesenior officer hated to inquire of his servant into the details of theday's doings. He was more than half indignant at Waring for having takensuch advantage of even an implied permission as to drive off with hisequipage and groom in so summary a way. Of course Nell had said, Take itand go, but Nell could have had no idea of the use to which the wagonwas to be put. If Waring left the garrison with the intention of usingthe equipage to take Madame Lascelles driving, it was the most underhandand abominable thing he had ever heard of his doing. It was unlike him.It couldn't be true. Yet had not Braxton shown him the letter whichsaid he was seen on the levee with her by his side? Had not Drydenfurther informed every man and woman and child with whom he heldconverse during the day that he had seen Waring with Cram's team drivingMadame Lascelles up Rampart Street, and was not there a story alreadyafloat that old Lascelles had forbidden him ever to darken his thresholdagain,--forbidden Madame to drive, dance, or even speak with him? Andwas there not already in the post commander's hand a note intimatingthat Monsieur Lascelles would certainly challenge Waring to instant andmortal combat if Waring had used the wagon as alleged? Jeffers must knowabout it, and could and should tell if required, but Cram simply couldnot and would not ask the groom to detail the movements of thegentleman. Had not Waring sent word he would be home in two hours andwould come to see his battery commander at once? Did not that mean hewould explain fully? Cram gulped down the query that rose to his lips.
"All right, then, Pierce; we'll take these over to Mrs. Cram and have abite ready for Waring on his return," said the stout-hearted fellow,and, in refusing to question his servant, missed the chance of avertingcatastrophe.
And so they bore the beautiful cluster of violets, with its mute pledgeof fidelity and full explanation, to his rejoicing Nell, and the triosat and chatted, and one or two visitors came in for a while and thenscurried home as the rain began to plash on the windows, and the buglesand drums and fifes sounded far away at tattoo and more than usuallyweird and mournful at taps, and finally ten-thirty came, by which timeit had been raining torrents, and the wind was lashing the roaring riverinto foam, and the trees were bowing low before their master, and thelevee road was a quagmire, and Cram felt convinced no cab could bringhis subaltern home. Yet in his nervousness and anxiety he pulled on hisboots, threw his gum coat over his uniform, tiptoed in to bend overNell's sleeping form and whisper, should she wake, that he was goingonly to the sally-port or perhaps over to Waring's quarters, but sheslept peacefully and never stirred, so noiselessly he slipped out on thegallery and down the stairs and stalked boldly out into the ragingstorm, guided by the dim light burning in Waring's room. Ananias wassleeping curled up on a rug in front of the open fireplace, and Cramstirred him up with his foot. The negro rolled lazily over, with astretch and yawn.
"Did Mr. Waring take any arms with him?" queried the captain.
"Any whut, suh?" responded Ananias, rubbing his eyes and still only halfawake.
"Any pistol or knife?"
"Lord, suh, no. Mr. Waring don't never carry anything o' dat sort."
A student-lamp was burning low on the centre-table. There lay among thebooks and papers a couple of letters, evidently received that day, andstill unopened. There lay Waring's cigar-case, a pretty trifle given himby some far-away friend, with three or four fragrant Havanas temptinglyvisible. There lay a late magazine, its pages still uncut. Cram lookedat the dainty wall clock, ticking merrily away over the mantel.Eleven-thirty-five! Well, he was too anxious to sleep anyhow, why notwait a few minutes? Waring might come, probably would come. If no cabcould make its way down by the levee road, there were the l
ate cars fromtown; they had to make the effort anyhow. Cram stepped to thesideboard, mixed a mild toddy, sipped it reflectively, then lighted acigar and threw himself into the easy-chair. Ananias, meantime, was upand astir. Seeing that Cram was looking about in search of apaper-cutter, the boy stepped forward and bent over the table.
"De lieutenant always uses dis, suh," said he, lifting first one paper,then another, searching under each. "Don't seem to be yer now, suh.You've seen it, dough, captain,--dat cross-handled dagger wid destraight blade."
"Yes, I know. Where is it?" asked Cram. "That'll do."
"'Tain't yer, suh, now. Can't find it yer, nohow."
"Well, then, Mr. Waring probably took a knife, after all."
"No, suh, I don't t'ink so. I never knowed him to use it befo' away fromde room."
"Anybody else been here?" said Cram.
"Oh, dey was all in yer, suh, dis arternoon, but Mr. Doyle he was sentfor, suh, and had to go."
A step and the rattle of a sword were heard on the gallery without. Thedoor opened, and in came Merton of the infantry, officer of the day.
"Hello, Waring!" he began. "Oh, it's you, is it, captain? Isn't Waringback? I saw the light, and came up to chin with him a moment. Beastlynight, isn't it?"
"Waring isn't back yet. I look for him by the eleven-thirty car,"answered the captain.
"Why, that's in. No Waring there, but half a dozen poor devils, halfdrowned and half drunk, more'n half drunk, one of your men among 'em. Wehad to put him into the guard-house to keep him from murdering Dawson,the head-quarters clerk. There's been some kind of a row."
"Sorry to hear that. Who is the man?"
"Kane. He said Dawson was lying about his officer and he wouldn't standit."
"Kane!" exclaimed Cram, rising. "Why, he's one of our best. I neverheard of his being riotous before."
"He's riotous enough to-night. He wanted to lick all six of our fellows,and if I hadn't got there when I did they would probably have kicked himinto a pulp. All were drunk; Kane, too, I should say; and as forDawson, he was just limp."
"Would you mind going down and letting me talk with Kane a moment? Inever knew him to be troublesome before, though he sometimes drank alittle. He was on pass this evening."
"Well, it's raining cats and dogs, captain, but come along. If you canstand it I can."
A few minutes later the sergeant of the guard threw open one of thewooden compartments in the guard-house, and there sat Kane, his faceburied in his hands.
"I ordered him locked in here by himself, because I feared our fellowswould hammer him if he were turned in with them," explained Mr. Merton,and at sound of the voice the prisoner looked up and saw his commander,dripping with wet. Unsteadily he rose to his feet.
"Captain," he began, thickly, "I'd never have done it in the world, sir,but that blackguard was drunk, sir, and slandering my officer, and Igave him fair warning to quit or I'd hit him, but he kept on."
"Ye-es? And what did he say?"
"He said--I wouldn't believe it, sir--that Mr. Doyle was that drunkthat him and some other fellers had lifted him out of the mud and puthim to bed up there at--up there at the house, sir, back of Anatole'splace. I think the captain knows."
"Ah, you should have steered clear of such company, Kane. Did thishappen at Anatole's saloon?"
"Yes, sir, and them fellers was making so much noise that the dagoturned them all out and shut up the shop at eleven o'clock, and that'swhat made them follow me home in the car and abuse me all the way. Icouldn't stand it, sir."
"You would only have laughed at them if your better judgment hadn't beenruined by liquor. Sorry for you, Kane, but you've been drinking justenough to be a nuisance, and must stay where you are for the night.They'll be sorry for what they said in the morning.--Did you lock up theothers, Mr. Merton?" he asked, as they turned away.
"All but Dawson, sir. I took him over to the hospital and put a sentryover him. That fellow looks to be verging on jimjams, and I wouldn't besurprised if he'd been talking as Kane says." Merton might have added,"and it's probably true," but courtesy to his battery friend forbade.Cram did add mentally something to the same effect, but loyalty to hisarm of the service kept him silent. At the flag-staff the two officersstopped.
"Merton, oblige me by saying nothing as to the alleged language aboutDoyle, will you?"
"Certainly, captain. Good-night."
Then, as the officer of the day's lantern flickered away in onedirection, Cram turned in the other, and presently went climbing up thestairs to the gallery leading to the quarters of his senior firstlieutenant. A dim light was shining through the shutters. Cram knockedat the door; no answer. Opening it, he glanced in. The room wasunoccupied. A cheap marine clock, ticking between the north windows overthe wash-stand, indicated midnight, and the battery commander turnedaway in vexation of spirit. Lieutenant Doyle had no authority to beabsent from the post.
It was still dark and storming furiously when the bugles of the batterysounded the reveille, and by the light of the swinging lanterns the menmarched away in their canvas stable rig, looking like a column ofghosts. Yet, despite the gale and the torrents of rain, Pierce was in nowise surprised to find Cram at his elbow when the horses were led out towater.
"Groom in-doors this morning, Mr. Pierce. Is Waring home?"
"No, sir; Ananias told me when he brought me up my coffee."
"Hold the morning report, then, until I come to the office. I fear wehave both first lieutenants to report absent to-day. You and I may haveto go to town: so get your breakfast early. We will ride. I doubt ifeven an ambulance could get through. Tell me, Pierce, have you spoken toWaring about--about that matter we were discussing? Has he ever givenyou any idea that he had received warning of any kind from oldLascelles--or any of his friends?"
"No, sir. I've had no chance to speak, to be sure, and, so far as Icould observe, he and Mr. Lascelles seemed on very excellent terms onlya few days ago."
"Well, I wish I had spoken myself," said Cram, and turned away.
That morning, with two first lieutenants absent without leave, thereport of Light Battery "X" went into the adjutant's office just as itscommander and his junior subaltern went out and silently mounted thedripping horses standing in front. The two orderlies, with their headspoked through the slit of their ponchos, briskly seated themselves insaddle, and then the colonel hurried forth just in time to hail,--
"Oh, Cram! one minute." And Cram reined about and rode to the side ofthe post commander, who stood under the shelter of the broad gallery.
"I wouldn't say anything about this to any one at head-quarters exceptReynolds. There's no one else on the staff to whom Waring would apply,is there?"
"No one, sir. Reynolds is the only man I can think of."
"Will you send an orderly back with word as soon as you know?"
"Yes, sir, the moment I hear. And-d--shall I send you wordfrom--there?"--and Cram nodded northward, and then, in a lowertone,--"as to Doyle?"
"Oh, damn Doyle! I don't care if he never----" But here the commander ofthe post regained control of himself, and with parting wave of the handturned back to his office.
Riding in single file up the levee, for the city road was one long pool,with the swollen river on their left, and the slanting torrents of rainobscuring all objects on the other hand, the party made its way forseveral squares without exchanging a word. Presently the leading filecame opposite the high wall of the Lascelles place. The green latticedgate stood open,--an unusual thing,--and both officers bent low overtheir pommels and gazed along the dark, rainswept alley to the pillaredportico dimly seen beyond. Not a soul was in sight. The water wasalready on a level with the banquette, and would soon be running acrossand into the gate. A vagabond dog skulking about the place gave vent toa mournful howl. A sudden thought struck the captain. He led the waydown the slope and forded across to the north side, the othersfollowing.
"Joyce," said he to his orderly, "dismount and go in there and ring atthe door. Ask if Mr. Lasce
lles is home. If not, ask if Madame has anymessage she would like to send to town, or if we can be of any service."
The soldier was gone but a moment, and came hurrying back, a negro boy,holding a long fold of matting over his head to shed the rain, chasingat his heels. It was Alphonse.
"M'sieu' not yet of return," said he, in labored translation of hisnegro French, "and Madame remain chez Madame d'Hervilly. I am alone wizmy mudder, and she has fear."
"Oh, it's all right, I fancy," said Cram, reassuringly. "They werecaught by the storm, and wisely stayed up-town. I saw your gate open, sowe stopped to inquire. We'll ride over to Madame d'Hervilly's and askfor them. How came your gate open?"
"_Mo connais pas_; I dunno, sare. It was lock' last night."
"Why, that's odd," said Cram. "Better bolt it now, or all the cattlealong the levee will be in there. You can't lock out the water, though.Who had the key besides Mr. Lascelles or Madame?"
"Nobody, sare; but there is muddy foots all over the piazza."
"The devil! I'll have to look in for a moment."
A nod to Pierce brought him too from the saddle, and the officershanded their reins to the orderlies. Then together they entered the gateand strode up the white shell walk, looking curiously about them throughthe dripping shrubbery. Again that dismal howl was raised, and Pierce,stopping with impatient exclamation, tore half a brick from the yieldingborder of the walk and sent it hurtling through the trees. With his tailbetween his legs, the brute darted from behind a sheltering bush,scurried away around the corner of the house, glancing fearfully back,then, halting at safe distance, squatted on his haunches and lifted uphis mournful voice again.
"Whose dog is that?" demanded Cram.
"M'sieu' Philippe's: he not now here. He is de brudder to Monsieur."
At the steps the captain bent and closely examined them and the floor ofthe low veranda to which they led. Both were disfigured with muddyfootprints. Pierce would have gone still further in the investigation,but his senior held up a warning hand.
"Two men have been here," he muttered. "They have tried the door andtried the blinds.--Where did you sleep last night, boy?" and with thewords he turned suddenly on the negro. "Did you hear no sound?"
"No, sare. I sleep in my bed,--'way back. No, I hear noting,--noting."And now the negro's face was twitching, his eyes staring. Something inthe soldier's stern voice told him that there was tragedy in the air.
"If this door is locked, go round and open it from within," said Cram,briefly. Then, as Alphonse disappeared around the north side, he steppedback to the shell walk and followed one of its branches around theother. An instant later Pierce heard him call. Hastening in his wake,the youngster came upon his captain standing under a window, one ofwhose blinds was hanging partly open, water standing in pools all aroundhim.
"Look here," was all he said, and pointed upward.
The sill was above the level of their heads, but both could see that thesash was raised. All was darkness within.
"Come with me," was Cram's next order, and the lieutenant followed.Alphonse was unlocking the front door, and now threw it open. Cramstrode into the wide hall-way straight to a door of the east side. Itwas locked. "Open this, Alphonse," he said.
"I have not the key. It is ever with M'sieu' Lascelles. It is hislibrary."
Cram stepped back, gave one vigorous kick with a heavy riding-boot, andthe frail door flew open with a crash. For a moment the darkness wassuch that no object could be distinguished within. The negro servanthung back, trembling from some indefinable dread. The captain, his handon the door-knob, stepped quickly into the gloomy apartment, Pierceclose at his heels. A broad, flat-topped desk stood in the centre of theroom. Some shelves and books were dimly visible against the wall. Someof the drawers of the desk were open, and there was a litter of paperson the desk, and others were strown in the big rattan chair, some on thefloor. Two student-lamps could be dimly distinguished, one on the bigdesk, another on a little reading-table placed not far from the southwindow, whose blinds, half open, admitted almost the only light thatentered the room. With its head near this reading-table and faintlyvisible, a bamboo lounge stretched its length towards the southwardwindows, where all was darkness, and something vague andindistinguishable lay extended upon the lounge. Cram marched half-wayacross the floor, then stopped short, glanced down, and stepped quicklyto one side, shifting his heavily-booted feet as though to avoid somesuch muddy pool as those encountered without.
"Take care," he whispered, and motioned warningly to Pierce. "Come hereand open these shutters, Alphonse," were the next words. But once againthat prolonged, dismal, mournful howl was heard under the south window,and the negro, seized with uncontrollable panic, turned back and clungtrembling to the opposite wall.
"Send one of the men for the post surgeon at once, then come back here,"said the captain, and Pierce hastened to the gate. As he returned, thewest shutters were being thrown open. There was light when he re-enteredthe room, and this was what he saw. On the China matting, running fromunderneath the sofa, fed by heavy drops from above, a dark wet stain. Onthe lounge, stretched at full length, a stiffening human shape, ayellow-white, parchment-like face above the black clothing, a bluish,half-opened mouth whose yellow teeth showed savagely, a fallen chin andjaw, covered with the gray stubble of unshaved beard, and two staring,sightless, ghastly eyes fixed and upturned as though in agonized appeal.Stone-dead,--murdered, doubtless,--all that was left of the littleFrenchman Lascelles.
