186

A

The facts as they were in toto, were
placed before Tarpley and his immediate
followers, and the question asked:

“What are you going to do about it?”

“IT am not going to put myself in
jeopardy if I can help it?” was the reply.

“Do you intend to let that brave fellow
be dismissed through protecting you, Tarp-
ley?” asked the spokesman of the com-
mittee of three.

“He can make his report if he wishes,”
was the response.

“Which you know he will suffer any
penalty rather than do,”

“That is his lookout, not mine.”

“Very well, Tarpley, we will report
your decision, and it will be acted upon,
you may be sure of that,” and the com-
mittee left.

Cadet Tarpley was in bad shape.

His lip was ornamented with a narrow
strip of black which held a cut together,
and his nose was treble its usual size,
while both of his eyes were in mourning
over the affair he had brought upon him-
self.

Then he moved like an old cavalry
horse, as though stiff in every joint.

But Clarence Tarpley was politic, and
he began to feel that he had gone too far,
that his influential family would not save
him from dismissal, if Kit went, and it
was discovered that he, the cause, had re-
mained silent.

He also knew how bitter would be the
feeling of his brother cadets against him,
and so he made up his mind to act, and
do it in a manner that would seem manly
and generous.

So he gathered his clique about him and | to

made known his determination.

In the meanwhile the committee had re-

orted the result of their visit to Cadet

arpley, and a unanimous decision was
reached as to what they should do, just
as Captain Weizer appeared.

He wished to know the cause of what
appeared. to be an indignation meeting,
and was told:

“We are going to visit the commandant
as a body, sir.”

“About that troublesome fellow Carey,
I'll warrant?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Now you take my advice, in a friendly
way, and let the matter take its own
course,” and with this Captain Weizer
departed.

But his advice, “in a friendly way,”
had about as much influence as an at-
tempt to drown a duck by pouring water
upon its back, and really caused the corps
to act more promptly in the matter.

Whatever differences the classes might
have between each other, upon the point
of justice to one wronged they were all
together.

Hazing they looked upon as an heir-
loom of the academy, and their inalien-
able right; but where it was carried to
maliciousness, and the hazers would not
protect their victim when their acts had
gotten him into trouble, then the corps
would act.

And at recreation hour they did, form-
ing in battalion and marching to the com-
mandant’s quarters.

Their approach was signaled, and the
commandant prepared to. receive them,
knowing that something unusual had
occurred.

And Kit also saw them and wondered
what it all meant, for not a word had
—= held with him.

Halting in front of the commandant’s
quarters, the corps stood at an “attention”
and those selected, the captains of the
companies and the adjutant of the bat-
talion, marched forward and sent a special
request tothe colonel to grant them an
audience.

The commandant came out and “was re-
ceived by a salute by the corps, while the
five officers stood in respectful silence be-
fore him awaiting to be addressed.

He glanced his eyes over the splendid
lot of young soldiers, the best drilled, dis-
ciplined, and finest in the world, barring
none as soldiers, and a smile of admira-
tion crossed his fine face.

“Well, gentlemen, what can I do to
serve you, for it seems that you have some
demand to make?”

The adjutant was the spokesman, and
saluting, he said quickly:

“No, sir, no demand, but a request, and
the corps comes to show that our desire is
unanimous.”

“Well, adjutant,
wishes?” —

“It is, sir, to ask your clemency for one
who is almost astranger in our midst,
one whom, we learn, won his place here
which is more than any one of us can say,
sir.

“Since his coming he has conducted
himself in oe way as @ cadet and
gentleman should, and yet has been the
object offintense eens on the part of
: few of our number as all of us can vouch
or. “

“Last night, sir, when in his room, he
was visited by no less than seven cadets
who intended again to haze him.

“Telling them that he had blacked
boots, scrubbed the corridors, done useless
guard duty and submitted to many other

please. state your

 

GOooD

acts, without complaint, he said that he
would not submit to the indignities then

roposed of having his face painted with |

lack ink, his hands stained red, a collar
put about his neck, and manacles upon his
wrists,

“He warned off his tormentors, and
when attacked defended himself in a man-
ner highly creditable, and very entertain-
ing to lookers on.

“Ordered. under arrest, sir, he madeno
complaint, and given the alternative’ of
telling upon his tormentors or: dismissal,
he submitted to his fate, and we are here,

sir, to plead for him and to give you the | me

name of every cadet who got him into
trouble, and then had not the manliness
to stand by their acts.

“We refer, sir, as you must know, to
Cadet Kit Carey, and we have here the
names of his persecutors,” and the adju-
tant held forth the list bearing the names
of the accused.

“Gentlemen, a confession has just been
made to me,” was the remark of the com-
mandant,

CHAPTER XXIV.
THE PUNISHMENT AND A FOREBODING.

HE response of the commandant was
4? a surprise to the cadets.

2, “Who had _ confessed?” flashed

7* through the mind of each, and they
looked at their chief inquiringly.

“I desire to say that a short while be-

fore your Ce Thad a visitor, one who

is now in my office awaiting my hearing

you.
“This visitor is a cadet officer,.one who
came to me and frankly confessed that he
was the ringleader of the persecution
against Cadet Carey, his enmity begotten,
he fears, from the fact that he found the
new-comer a well drilled. man, though
having been instructed in the Hardee
tactices.

“This cadet officer has told of his visit
to Cadet Carey’s room and_all that oc-
curred, and I may say that his appearance
just now goes far to bear out his testi-
mony,” and the commandant smiled as
though he rather enjoyed the appearance
of the penitent.

“And more, gentlemen, though conceal-
ing the names of those who were his com-
radés in this disgraceful victimizing of a
new man, he takes upon himself full cen-
sure an‘ begs to be stone the. sufferer, as
he kept back the others from coming and
making full confession regarding the part
they took in this exhibition of, I may say,
cowardly cruelty toward one who had
never wronged them in any way.

“He has the request of his companions
to report them, yet declines to do so, and
so I shall let the punishment fall upon
him, but not alone, for all the others are
known to me.

“And further, gentlemen, you may re-
port to the corps that Cadet Carey is not
to be dismissed, for he has in more than
one instance done that which would have
gained him admission to the military
academy for gallant services rendered.

“He shall at once take his place in the
ranks again, and I make it your pleasant
duty, adjutant, to so inform him, while
at dress parade this evening the sentences
to fall upon Cadet Officer Clarence Tarpley
and his comrades in this” unwarrantable
affair shall be read in.a special order.

“You are dismissed!” and. the comman
dant was turning away when from the
lips of the whole corps broke-forth three
Cie cheers for him which made him
fairly blush with pleasure.

Then followed three cheers for Cadet
Carey, and. lastly for Cadet Officer ‘Tar-
pley, whose confession, if. atthe last min-
ute, had raised him in the estimation of
his fellows.

se heard the cheers,-thought he heard
also:

“Three cheers for the gallant Carey!”
and then saw the corps, after another out-
burst-for-Tarpley, march-away.

Soon after the cadet adjutant, accom-
panied by the:four company captains, ap-
peared before him.

The adjutant said politely: “Mr,. Carey,
let me introduce mumeleet ade Adjutant
Beckwith,” and turning he presented the
others, and continued:

“T have the honor and pleasure to report
that the corps took your case in hand and
went to the commandant to appeal for

ous
: “It certainly was most kind in my com-
rades all, and I sincerely appreciate your
act; but I fear I. will have to bid the
Point a lasting farewell.”

“You will do nothing of the kind, Carey,
for epee went to the front and reported
on himself.” “ :

“This was manly in- him, certainly.”

“It was just what he should have done,
and had he not, we went prepared to save
you; but the commandant saw the picture
re had made of him, and felt sorry for

is spoiled looks, so will, I believe and
Tee let him and the’ others off with a
light punishment, while I have to report
to pas that you are no longer under arrest
nm ne to return to your duties—permit

Congratulate you.”

 

NEWS.

| The adjutant’s hand was warmly grasped
by Kit, who came in for a hearty hand-
shake from the others, and they could see
that he was deeply touched by the action
of the corps in his behalf, for he said
earnestly :

“I fear I misjudged you all before you
were tried, for a while since I did not
believe I had a friend in the corps, and I was
rather bitter toward mankind in general;
but I take it all back, and feel now that I
am no longer a friendless border boy,
while I shall seek. Mr. Tarpley and thank
him for the manly course he took to save

9?

But Kit had no. opportunity of seeing
Clarence Tarpley until after dress parade,
and being himself again on duty, he heard
the “special order” read out restoring him
to his place once more,

Then followed another “special order,”
and an ominous one for Tarpley, for it
took from him his rank, reducing him to
the ranks, and ordered that after having
been discharged from the hospital he
would be put upon double duty for thirty

ays.

The “straps” were torn from him before
the corps, and his six companions who
had been guilty of abiding and abetting
him, were ordered upon “double duty” for
thirty days and to publicly apologize to
Cadet Carey for the affront put upon him
by them.

Thus ended the hazing of Kit Carey,
and which had threatened to blast all of
his hopes for the future.

The lise was a terrible one to Clarence
Tarpley, to be thus punished.

Ws had hoped for a light sentence; but
to have his straps torn off before the
corps, to feel that every man knew now
the result of his fracas with Carey, and
that he was laid up in_ the hospital from
his having been so badly worsted in his
encounter with the new-comer, he who
had been feared on account of his great
euength by all, was humiliation personi-

ed.

He had boasted of his rank, and now
must step back into the ranks,

He must do double duty, too!

All this fretted him terribly, and he
was in a very ugly mood when Kit sought
him out after parade.

He had acted as he did only when he
‘knew that the corps meant to act, and the
, result he could guess at.

In the midst of his bitter musings he

met Captain. Weizer, who said:

| “I am sorry for your misfortune, Tarp-
\ley; but brace up.and win your way to
favor again, while Tam sure Carey will
be utterly spoiled by the fuss made over
this affair and commit some indiscretion
‘to get him into trouble—but, of course, I
hope not,” and Captain. Weizer went
his way to meet Kit, who was on his way
| to see his fallen foe.

“Ah, Carey, I congratulate you upon

our escape, for it was a close call you
_had for dismissal. Don’t let your frontier
|manners get the better of you in future.”

| “Thank you, sir, I shall endeavor not to
do so,” and Kit smiled blandly to himself
as he went on his way.

“Mr. Tarpley, I have come to thank you
ifor your manly way of saving me from
| dismissal, and to express to you my sym-
pathy that your punishment should have
| been so severe. hope, Tarpley, we will
be friends now, for I do not wish to live
at enmity with my comrades?”

“Well said, indeed,” muttered Captain
| Satterlee the Post Adjutant, who over-
heard the words, and a moment after he
added, .as he heard Clarence Tarpley’s re-
sponse :

“A brute of a fellow that.’’

And Tarpley’s response was:

“T neither desire your thanks, sir, nor
your sympathy, and I can see no, reason
for any friendship between two’ so dia-
metrically opposed to each other as you
and. I are, Cadet Carey.”

“As you ‘please, Mr. Tarpley, I seek no
unwilling friendship, I avoid no willing
foe,” and Kit turned on his heel~an
walked away with the muttered remark:

“Some day there will be’ troublé be-
tween that tenderfoot and me—I feel it
coming.”

 

(TO BE CONTINUED.)
—-————_—+---o———_——
Success in Business.

% LL the boys who read Goop News
are anxious to, sueceed in Jife—in
other words, to achieve fame, or at
least earn sufficient money on which

to live well. Young folks should understand
that in the choice of a life-long occupation
there is first need of mature deliberation as
to your adaptability to the work to be done
—then speedy action. Application and con-
centration of energy, accompanied by aver-
age mental ability, have done more toward
clearing obstacles'from the road to success
than have all the mental brilliance at the
command of the idle geniuses of the world
Chain yourself to your desk; sit down on
your stool, and stick there, make yourself

 

master of your business, whether it be cleri-
cal, mental, or mechanical, If you haven't

 

—

the bulldog qualities of a sticker by nature, ©
you ca. acquire them by art. and cultivation.
If an object of discouragement presents it- ©

self, pounce upon it and throttle it at its
birth. Such an obstruction is to be viewed ~
as a little wayside diversion, which will give 7

you valuable experience, and from which “9
you will emerge’ with renewed vigor.

HIS OWN MASTER;
The Fortunes aud Mistontmus of ted Wiiet

——<-+——_

By I, P. MILLER.

fet pe tes
(“His OwN Master” was'commenced in No. 4. |Back
numbers can be obtained of all News Agents.)

aa

CHAPTER XVIII.—(Continued.)

5 “~) EDMOND and some twenty of the
Ui, Tips remained with us all the fol

b lowing night, as we were both too

weak to travel up the gully to Tip-

town; but the next day they left for
their claims, and we accompanied them,
not caring to risk -another trial 0
diggers’ justice. On our representations
that our claim was a good one, and thab
there was plenty of ground around it that
had never been prospected, a small colon
of the Tips moved down the gully am
took possession of our deserted ground.
As for us, we did not mean to stay
Candlelight Gully any longer; we had gob
enough of gold-digging to last us for@
good while. Charcoal, whose hurts seemé
the worst of the three, at first got wel
much more rapidly than either Jake or
myself; his injuries were purely physical,
while ours were more the effect of menta
agony—though each of us could exhibib
some trophies of ill-treatment, in the form
of scars and bruises.

The death of Red Joe, our capture by thé ~
mob and our rescue by the Tips, occurré
on a Monday; and by the Sunday follow-
ing I was sufficiently recovered to go
the township with the Tips; I wished to
see the detective relative to the recove
of some of our property (our blankets an@ —
weapons, without which we could not well
leave the gully), which had all been stolen
on the day we had come so near being
hurried out of the world. - Charcoal, who
seemed to be as well as ever, except that
his head showed an unhealed wound, an
who had got to be a great favorite with
the Tips, accompanied me.

I ‘found the detective at the township; Aly

and he gave me my revolver (which hai
been left at one of the stores by a diggeT;
to be returned to the camp, under the im-
pression that it belonge
and Jake’s knife; our blankets were gone
The detective informed me that the prin:
cipal evidence he had to implicate Re
Joe in Hurley’s murder was a two-ounce
nugget of gold which he had found in_#
store on his last trip to Greymouth, The
nugget had been pumelenee by the store;
keeper of a well-known gold-buyer name
Fox; and from him the detective learne
that it had been brought from Candlelight
Gully. The officer recognized the nugEe
as. one which had belonged to Hurley; ~
who had refused to sell it to him a few.
weeks before; and pushing his inquirieS;” ~~
Fox told him he had bought it of a dig- ~~
ger, and described. Red: Joe as the mat ~
On mentioning that name, Fox remem —~
bered that the man who sold the nugg
was called Joe by a mate; and on this ev!
dence the officer determined to arrest him
—and did so, with what result is already
known.

The detective privately exhibited thé
lump of gold to me. I recognized it ‘
once, and told the officer that Red Joe a
sell it to Fox the gold-buyer; and then
gave him the further information that‘
sold it to Red Joe, having myself purchase
it from Happy Harty, already mention
as having been bac cing = [at Sawyet
when our party was mobbed. The officer
gave a low whistle when I told him this,
and cautioned me to say nothing abou
the affair to any one; and having give?
him an address which would enable him
to find me after I had reached the coast, }
he desired to do so, 1 left him, and Te
oon my mates the Tips. Happy Harty
1ad left the gully several days before; put _
Mat Sawyer and Tom Wilkins were #
the township, getting the week’s pro-
visions for their mates. I wished no con:
versation with them, nor did they ap
inclined to cultivate my acquaintancey W
mutually avoided each other. I wondered
much why the police did not improve su®
a favorable opportunity for arresting Saw-
yer and Wilkins, as the camp was not
off, and they could easily have. been 9?
cured before a sufficient mob. of theif
friends could have collected to rescv@
them. Once safe inside the log camp,
officers could. have withstood a siege ©
learned why the rioters were not arreste™ —
just then, before I grew much older. st

(mos

Isold what gold I had with me

 

to the police), 4