The major was already awake and half dressed. "Call the adjutant," was
all he said, on reading the despatch, and the sergeant sped away. In
less than five minutes he was back.
"I could get no answer to my knock or ring, sir, so I searched the
house. The adjutant isn't there!"
CHAPTER II
ABSENT FROM DUTY
For a moment the major stood in silence; then, briefly saying, "Call
Captain Ray," turned again to the dimly lighted hallway of his
commodious quarters, (the women thought it such a shame there should be
no "lady of the house" for the largest and finest of the long line known
as "Officers' Row") while the sergeant of the guard scurried away to the
soldier home of the senior cavalry captain on duty at the post. When the
major again came forth his field glasses were in his hand and he had
hurried down the steps and out into the broad sheen of the moonlight
when he caught sight of the courier seated on the horseblock at the
gate, wearily leaning his head upon his gauntleted hand. Webb stopped
short:
"Come right in here, my lad," he cried, "I want to speak with you," and,
followed slowly by the soldier, he entered his parlor, and whirled an
easy chair in front of the open fireplace.
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