The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 115: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE OTHER TRENT. and suddenly ran down the street as fast as his slender legs would take him. CHAPTER XV. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. AL TRENT walked back to the armory smiling quietly over his busy morning and its triumphs. For an op- pressed and comparatively helpless man he had succeeded at least in demoralizing the enemy by mere force of words. That he must be alert to possible treachery on Captain Soame’s part he was well aware. What the energetic and mysterious Hal- lock and his influential employer might do next was beyond conjecture, but it was evident that they were getting their plans into a desperately involved state. Trent could easily picture Hallock dash- ing to the nearest telephone and making the wires hot with his sudden alarm; and if Judge Waring was moved to a propor- tionate state of panic, there might be in- teresting results within a few hours. It was, in fact, less than three hours later that Captain Soames returned to the armory and relieved the lieutenant who was on duty there as officer of the guard and recruiting officer. The captain ex- plained to the lieutenant that he had vol- unteered out of his goodness of heart, to take his place for a day or two, and the adjutant had gratefully accepted the service. The lieutenant quickly got into his citi- zen’s clothes and disappeared, and Cap- tain Soames almost immediately issued orders that no man on guard detail should leave the armory without his permission. There were rumors, he explained, of pos- sible trouble from enemy aliens—or those about to become enemy aliens—and he deemed it best to keep his guard ready for any emergency. Trent laughed quietly when the corporal of the guard communicated the new order to the men, and understood at once why Captain Soames had so generously volun- teered for armory duty. It was plain that the order to hold the men in the armory had not originated with any military au- a gun and actually hit the target. 109 thority, but with that resourceful civilian, Judge Waring. In the afternoon Trent was patrolling his regular post, when a young woman, handsomely dressed and of more than or- dinary attractions, stopped and spoke to him. “You soldiers look so splendidly war- like and dangerous that I hardly dare speak to you,” she said in a musical voice, with a radiant smile, “but can you tell me if Lieutenant Johnston is in the armory? I would like to speak with him if I may; it’s really very important.” Trent, who had brought his rifle snap- pily to port arms, answered the lady with grave courtesy. ‘““J am a new man in the regiment, and I don’t know Lieutenant Johnston,” he said, “ but I will try to find out if he is here.” He called one of the soldiers that were lounging just within the gate, and asked him to go into the armory and inquire about Lieutenant Johnston. The man doffed his hat to the attractive young woman and flew to bear her message. ‘“‘ Soldiers are so gallant and accommo- dating!”’ she observed sweetly. ‘ You don’t mind if I stand here and admire your uniform while I am waiting, do you?” Trent could not refuse the permission. He could hardly tell her that loitering was not allowed, and it was obvious that she was there on business with the armory un- til some information was gained regarding Lieutenant Johnston. ‘“‘ T suppose all women are naturally wild about uniforms,” she said enthusiastically. ‘It used to be ‘ brass buttons,’ you know, but now that brass buttons are out of fashion, I guess we are just crazy about bronze buttons. I think khaki is simply adorable, and I love all those practical- looking pockets and straps and _ things, don’t your” Trent heard a subdued snicker from the men in the gateway, and he flushed slight- ly, but he agreed with the lady politely. ‘“Qh! I should have been a soldier if I had been a man!” she declared spiritedly. “You may hardly believe it, but I can fire I have oO MIG OO CO S CO