undred dollars at once, saying he would
be disgraced if he could not pay Lieutenant Lanier, who had won it from
him at cards."

"Mr. Lowndes," said Riggs, "did Lieutenant Lanier ever win a dollar from
you?"

"Never, sir." And now the miserable head went down into the hot and
feverish hands, and the silence in the room became something oppressive.

Riggs let him rest a minute, then went on. "Now, then, in your own way,
tell us what happened that night of the 16th."

For a few seconds there was silence. Then, suddenly uplifting his head
and looking at no one, Lowndes desperately plunged into his narrative.
"I--I--was mad, I suppose, with debt and misery, and I began to drink.
Rawdon told me he _must_ have the money. My uncle had flatly refused to
send me more. I got desperate. There was left me only one way, and that
was through my cousin Miriam. I knew she was out here, and she--she had
always been my best friend in my troubles at home. We'd almost been
brought up together until they sent me out here. She didn't know where I
was. They didn't wish her to know. But I knew if I could see her she
would help me.

"Rawdon had changed into citizen's clothes in town, and I had pawned my
overcoat, so he lent me his cavalry overcoat and a fur cap, drove me and
Cary out to the fort, and left us at the store, promising to join him at
Doctor Mayhew's in an hour. We were chilled from the ride, and drank
more. Rafferty told me Mr. Lanier was officer-of-the-guard, and
everybody else was at the dance. We filled Rafferty up, for Cary'd made
up his mind he was going to Rawdon's wedding in 'cits' instead of
soldier clothes, and he was bent on borrowing a suit of Lieutenant
Lanier's, even though they would hardly fit him. He swore he'd return
them the next day, and Rafferty let him have them, and he put them on in
the lieutenant's back room. Then he and I went up the rear fence and
caught sight of Number Five--Trooper Kelly. Cary knew him and went ahead
to 'fix things' with him, as he said. Kelly had seen us come out of
Lieutenant Lanier's back gate, and was suspicious. Cary, to quiet him,
told him he was with Lieutenant Lanier--that we were helping Rawdon get
ready for his wedding. He made Kelly drink to Rawdon's happiness, and
drink three or four times, and finally left him with a half full flask
up the row toward Major Stannard's. Then we went to Captain Sumter's.
Kelly told Cary the servants were in at Captain Snaffle's. The door wa