"

Whereat a tall, spare, elderly gentleman in the adjoining section slowly
lowered his newspaper and turned half round, while a tall, spare,
elderly, sharp-featured woman beside him, in prim travelling garb,
sprang from her seat and brushing the burly man aside, precipitated
herself upon the shrinking object in the corner.

"Mortimer Watson Lowndes!" cried she. "Where on earth have you been?"

For answer Mortimer Watson bowed his flabby face in his hands and wept
dismally.

Two days later the colonel's office at Fort Cushing was the scene of a
somewhat remarkable trial. It had no force in law, yet was held to be
conclusive. There was no array of uniformed judges sitting, by order, as
a general court-martial. The tribunal consisted, in point of fact, of a
single man, acting as judge, jury and attorney, to wit, "Black Bill"
Riggs, Inspector-General of the Department of the Platte. To the
unspeakable disgust of most of the officers, and the outspoken
disapprobation of many of their wives, only those closely concerned in
or connected with the case were invited to be present. Certain others
who had just happened in, thinking to hear the proceedings, were,
indeed, invited to leave.

Colonel Button, as post commander and principal accuser, was, of course,
at his usual desk. Colonel Riggs, his jealously regarded rival, was
seated at a little table, whereon was much stationery and a stack of
memoranda. Lieutenant Lanier, somewhat pale but entirely placid,
occupied a chair to the left of that table, with Captain Sumter, as his
troop commander and counsel, by his side. Captain Snaffle was in support
of the post commander to cross-question if he saw fit. Barker, the
adjutant, was present, as a matter of course. A headquarters clerk sat
facing Riggs, prepared to take notes, and the trim orderly stood outside
the closed door. Three or four people in civilian garb sat awaiting
summons in the adjutant's office across the hall, and Sergeant Fitzroy,
with trouble in his eyes and wrath in his heart, was flitting uneasily
about in the domain of the sergeant-major.

"If you are ready, Colonel Button," began Riggs, with elaborate
courtesy, "I am, and let me briefly say that I have seen Trooper
Rafferty at the hospital, also certain other men named by Captain
Snaffle; but in order that all parties may be given opportunity to hear
and to examine, and at the request of Lieutenant Lanier, who desires the
fullest investigation and publici