"The writer of the letter has been ordered to fall out and reveal himself. If that writer is present, then he knows in his own mind, and one of these days his comrades will know, that he is too much of a coward to face responsibility for his sneaking action.
"The man who writes an anonymous letter is always a coward, a sneak, and usually a liar, too. I am directed by the battalion commander to state that, if the writer of this anonymous letter can be found, he will be placed on trial for his act, which is one unworthy of a soldier.
"I am further directed by the battalion commander to state that no letter anonymously accusing an enlisted man will react in any way against the accused. The battalion commander feels that he cannot state, too strongly, his intense contempt for any coward who will resort to slandering a comrade in an anonymous letter.
"The battalion commander will be glad, at any time, to receive from any man in his command any information or report that may be made honestly and for the good of the service. But the man making such report will go to headquarters and make it in person, or else will put his information in writing and sign it fully and manfully."
After an impressive pause Adjutant Wright stepped back, saluted his commanding officer, then stepped to his proper position.
At a signal from the adjutant the buglers now sounded retreat. As the last notes died out the sunset gun was fired. Rifles flew to "present arms," swords flashed to salute and male civilian onlookers uncovered their heads while the band crashed out with "The Star Spangled Banner."
As the band played, the Flag fluttered down from the peak of the post flag staff and descended into the hands of its defenders. One man stood in the ranks at that moment who was unfit to touch even the border of that national emblem.
"Order arms!" rang out, as the last note died out. "Right shoulder arms!"
Then by column of fours the battalion marched briskly off the field, to be halted and dismissed near barracks.
No sooner were the men in their quarters than the same angry inquiry rose in each squad room:
"Who has been writing lying letters about a comrade?"
No one admitted being the dastard, of course, yet over at headquarters Major Silsbee, at that very moment, was asking:
"What makes you so very sure, Wright, that some man in this command wrote the anonymous letter?"
"It is all very simple, sir," replied the adjutant. "Look at the note again, sir, and you"ll see that it is typewritten----"
"Of course, Wright; I"ve known that from the first."
"But, sir, it"s written in the style of type that is used on the Everite typewriter. This post is equipped with Everite typewriters; we have them here at headquarters, and every first sergeant has one, too, for his clerk."
"And there may be a dozen more Everite typewriters over in Clowdry,"
suggested Major Silsbee dubiously.
"No, Major; I"ve made an investigation. I have a list of every firm or person in Clowdry who owns a machine--only about a dozen in all, and not one of them is an Everite. Major, the letter was written on this post, and with an Everite machine."
"Then, by the great guns, sir, I hope you go further and catch the culprit," exploded Major Silsbee, bringing his fist down on the desk.
"Ah," sighed Lieutenant Wright. "That"s just where the trouble is. It will be a hard task, sir."
CHAPTER XX
THE LUCK OF THE YOUNG RECRUIT
ON top of all this came the news that Colonel North"s quarters had been entered the night following.
Worse, the scoundrels had used chloroform this time. Colonel North awoke at about three in the morning, his head feeling heavy and dull. He noted at once the strange odor in the room. Then he roused his family. Traces of thieves were found; within ten seconds after that Colonel North had summoned the guard.
Yet the two sentries on duty in officers" row both declared that they had seen no prowlers.
Almost every article of value had been found and taken. A pair of costly revolvers belonging to the regimental commander had gone with the loot.
Some money, too, had been found and taken. Colonel North and his family placed their loss at nearly four thousand dollars.
"Lieutenant Ray," said Colonel North, to the officer of the day, who had followed the guard, "I think you had better summon Major Silsbee at once."
The major was there, inside of five minutes.
"So the scoundrels have blistered you, too, sir?" demanded the white-faced battalion commander wrathfully.
"They have taken almost everything in the way of valuable property that Mrs. North and I own, Major."
"We"ve got to put a stop to this, sir. And we"ve got to find and bring the rascals to boot."
"Pardon me, Colonel; shall I pa.s.s the order for a prompt search of barracks?" queried the officer of the day.
"No, Mr. Ray," replied Colonel North promptly. "Until I have real proof I"m not going to put the slight upon our enlisted men. I believe they"re all fine men. If I had taken more time to think I never would have sanctioned the last search of barracks. It shan"t happen again."
Captain Ruggles of A Company, having heard some excitement along the row, now came in.
"What we might, and perhaps ought to do, Major," continued the Colonel, "is to advise the married officers whose homes have not yet been robbed that they will do well to send their valuables into town for safe-keeping at the bank for the present."
"We might, sir," a.s.sented Silsbee dryly. "The bank in Clowdry is under the protection of a police force of less than a dozen men. Shall we admit, Colonel, that a dozen policemen are safer guardians of property than our four hundred men of the Regular Army?"
Colonel North looked troubled at that way of putting the matter.
"I believe Mrs. Ruggles and I have some things worth stealing," broke in Captain Ruggles quietly. "But I feel certain that neither of us would like to throw any slight over the ability of this battalion to protect its own property."
"My head isn"t very clear yet," admitted Colonel North. "I realize that I have made a poor suggestion. I don"t imagine, Major, that you"d be much better pleased if I directed you to double the guard."
"I shall obey, of course, Colonel, any orders on that subject that you may give me," replied Major Silsbee.
"These robberies are likely to continue, at intervals, until the quarters of all married officers have been entered and despoiled, sir,"
suggested Captain Ruggles, "so it seems to me, sir, that it would be wise to put each guard on its mettle."
"I am thinking only of protecting you gentlemen who have not yet sustained losses," continued Colonel North.
"And we appreciate your solicitude greatly, sir," resumed Major Silsbee.
"I leave it to you, Major."
"Then I shall make it my business, sir, to see to it that the men are instructed to be more alert than ever in guard duty," replied Silsbee.
The next morning the news, of course, traveled swiftly all through the garrison.
Hal and Noll had a chance to chat together for a few minutes before the sounding of the first a.s.sembly after breakfast.