ulse was to go to Jerrold's
quarters and take him by the throat and demand it of him; but what right
had he? How knew he, even, that it was now there? In view of the words
that Chester had used towards him, Jerrold must know of the grievous
danger in which he stood. That photograph would prove most damaging
evidence if discovered. Very probably, after yielding to his vanity and
showing it to Sloat he meant to get it back. Very certainly, after
hearing Chester's words he must have determined to lose no time in
getting rid of it. He was no fool, if he was a coxcomb.

Looking around the half-darkened room, Armitage lingered long over the
photographs which hung about the dressing-table and over the
mantel,--several prettily-framed duplicates of those already described
as appearing in the album. One after another he took them in his hands,
bore them to the window, and studied them attentively: some were not
replaced without a long, lingering kiss. He had not ventured to disturb
an item in her room. He would not touch the knob of a drawer or attempt
to open anything she had closed, but here in quarters where his colonel
could claim joint partnership he felt less sentiment or delicacy. He
closed the hall door and tried the lock, turning the knob to and fro.
Then he reopened the door and swung it upon its hinges. For a wonder,
neither lock nor hinges creaked. The door worked smoothly and with
little noise. Then he similarly tried the door of her room. It was in
equally good working order,--quite free from the squeak and complaint
with which quartermasters' locks and hinges are apt to do their
reluctant duty. The discovery pleased him. It was possible for one to
open and close these portals noiselessly, if need be, and without
disturbing sleepers in either room. Returning to the east chamber, he
opened the shades, so as to get more light, and his eye fell upon an old
album lying on a little table that stood by the bedside. There was a
night-lamp upon the table, too,--a little affair that could hold only a
thimbleful of oil and was intended, evidently, to keep merely a faint
glow during the night hours. Other volumes--a Bible, some devotional
books, like "The Changed Cross," and a Hymnal or two--were also there;
but the album stood most prominent, and Armitage curiously took it up
and opened it.

There were only half a dozen photographs in the affair. It was rather a
case than an album, and was intended apparently for only a few