Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 90: what you’re looking at

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432 tary punctilio, he brought his gun sharply to an “ order.”’ The soldier vanished, and in a few min- utes the colonel, resplendent in gold lace, appeared. But the dazzle of the colonel’s raiment was not reflected in his counte- nance. He seemed perplexed, annoyed, perturbed. Kerr, however, paid no heed. Erect as Darwin’s straining dress-coat and the “corset” of a West Pointer—trunk-mus- cles trained to the quality of whalebone and tempered steel—could make him, he rifle-saluted. “Cadet Mosely reports, sir, as or- dered.” “Mr. Mosely, did you say?” peering at him from under bushy, gray eyebrows. Even yet the superintendent appeared in- credulous. “Yes, sir,” briskly. ‘“Humph! I had hardly expected to see you.” The superintendent bit his lip in inde- cision. It was most irregular that a cadet. who was practically under charges should be acting as a sentinel. Yet to go through the red tape necessary to secure a substi- tute at this late hour would be impracti- cable, and anyhow he had a dozen other things to look after. As he debated the question, he raised another issue. “May I remind you, Cadet Mosely, that the communication you promised in answer to my question of yesterday is not yet in hand?” Kerr had rather expected this, and was prepared. Reaching inside his blouse, he drew out the letter he had written the day before and handed it over. The colonel started to tear open the en- velope, then paused and held it thought- fully in his hands. “Mr. Mosely, if this should contain what I fear it does, I should be forced to order you under arrest, and that would necessitate my securing another sentinel. Consequently, I shall leave it unread until to-morrow.” He turned and laid the letter away in THE ARGOSY. the drawer of a desk which stood there in the hall. Kerr could hardly repress a gasp of re- lief. ‘That had been the one weak spot in his scheme, the moment he had feared; and now he had surmounted it success- fully. The rest would be easy sailing. “You will continue your detail, there- fore,” proceeded the colonel curtly. “Take your post on that short walk.” He pointed to a gravel path which ran along the side of the house. At the order, Kerr’s burgeoning elation evaporated like a cloud of steam struck by a sudden current of frosty air. It had been his idea that he would be stationed at the front door, where, even though he failed to encounter the prince himself, he was almos® certain to gain speech with some member of the suite either going in or coming out. But off at the side, where there was no chance of meeting any one but a kitchen-maid or one of the caterer’s men, he might as well be in his own room at barracks. “You will remain on duty,” went on the colonel pitilessly, ‘‘ until after the re- ception is over, and under no, circum- stances are you to allow any one except my own domestics to pass you. Those are your orders. Do you comprehend them?” ‘“‘T do, sir.” Mosely dejectedly saluted. He was too overwhelmed to hear a slight rustling on the stairs overhead, or to notice two shadowy feminine figures watching the in- terview from the landing. “Then take your post,” directed the colonel. And with another faltering salute, Kerr obeyed. Se CHAPTER V. WHO GOES THERE? DPDREARILY Cadet Mosely began to pace his gravel walk between its two banks of melting snow. Gradually, however, he became interest- ed in spite of himself, in the brilliant com- CO DOOK AMUC C©