THE WIND CHANGES ITS COURSE AND BLOWS
It was a dazing, fearful blow to two lads who had acted in accordance
with their highest ideals of right.
"Step down there," ordered the court officer, giving the young
corporals a light shove.
"You've got yours."
Policeman Johnson, Bill Dabner and the latter's crony turned to leave,
as though satisfied that they had done their duty.
At the back of the courtroom there was a slight commotion. Some one
there was endeavoring to push his way through the throng.
"Your honor, one moment!" called a deep, manly voice. "Before the case
of the two soldiers is disposed of I wish----"
It was some one in uniform at the back of the court room. More Judge
Guffey could not ascertain at that moment.
"Who spoke then?" demanded the magistrate.
"My name is Cortland, your honor. I am captain of the company to which
the two corporals belong."
At the first sound of that voice Hal and Noll had turned back to the
front of the pen.
"Get down below, you!" scowled the court officer.
"Will you be good enough to hold your tongue, my man?" asked Corporal
Hal in a quiet voice, though his eyes flashed. "That's our captain
speaking, and his is the voice we follow."
"Let the prisoners wait," directed Judge Guffey, sending the court
officer an annoyed glance. "Make way for Captain Cortland to come
forward."
Policeman Johnson and Bill and his friend were trying to get out of the
court room, but the magistrate called to them to come back.
"Captain," continued the magistrate, "I regret to say that the evidence
proved that your two men most wantonly insulted a young woman on the
streets last night, and then attacked her escort and a friend."
Captain Cortland, as he came to a halt below the bench in that crowded
court room, presented a fine appearance that was in distinct contrast
with his surroundings.
"With due respect for the court, your honor. I don't believe that any
such disgraceful conduct was engaged in by my young men."
"But even the policeman's testimony bears out that of the real
complainants, Captain," replied Judge Guffey courteously.
"Your honor, I don't know your policeman, but I do know my two young
men, Corporals Overton and Terry. I am as positive as I can be of
anything that neither young soldier is of the kind to allow himself to
get into any kind of disgraceful affair. There are no men in my company
for whom I entertain deeper respect than I do for Corporals Overton and
Terry. Your honor, may I ask that this case be reopened?"
"I would gladly extend you that courtesy, Captain Cortland, but the
evidence has all been heard. As I understand it, Captain, you can
testify only to the previous good character of the prisoners. You were
not a witness of last night's occurrence?"
"I was not, your honor, but I know my two young men so well that I
feel certain, sir, that you are unwittingly aiding in a miscarriage of
justice. Will the court be good enough to outline the nature of the
evidence?"
Briefly Judge Guffey outlined the story of the prosecution, and also
the opposed story told by Corporals Overton and Terry.
"Your honor may think me unduly trustful," smiled Captain Cortland,
"but I would believe the story of my men over the testimony of a
hundred men such as these complainants seem to be."
Captain Cortland took a side look at Bill and his friend, who
unaccountably shivered under that scrutiny.
"Has the young woman herself appeared in court, your honor?" resumed B
Company's captain. "Has she testified?"
"I understand," replied Judge Guffey, "that the young woman is ill in
bed as a result of the shock of last night's occurrence."
"Then, your honor," asked Captain Cortland, "may I ask a continuance of
this case until the testimony of the young woman herself may have been
heard, and until I can look up other evidence? And will you accept my
personal bail for Corporals Overton and Terry in the meantime?"
"I want to show you every courtesy possible, Captain," began Judge
Guffey.
"And I ask nothing, your honor, except that my men have every
opportunity for impartial justice."
While this conversation had been going on an extremely mild-mannered
man in rather dingy black, had been quietly working his way forward. He
had just succeeded in passing a card to the clerk of the court and in
adding a few whispered words.
"Your honor," interposed the clerk, "here is another witness who
offers, and wishes to be heard. He can bring us tidings of the young
woman who has been mentioned in connection with this case."
Judge Guffey took the card, reading from it:
"Dr. Alexander McKenzie."
"That is my name, sir," replied the quiet man.
"What do you know of this case, Doctor?"
"Not much, sir, but it may be important," replied the physician. "I was
called in this morning by the mother of one Lizzie McAndrew, the girl
mentioned in this affair. Miss McAndrew is quite ill this morning, as
the result of a nervous shock, but her mind is clear enough. She begged
me particularly to come to court to see that two brave and gallant
young soldiers did not come to harm through befriending her."
Captain Cortland uttered a low-voiced, triumphant exclamation.
At a motion from the clerk Dr. McKenzie started around toward the pen
to be sworn.
Policeman Johnson, his face violently red, whispered a few words in the
ear of the physician as the latter passed.
"Now, don't bother me with your talk," retorted the physician in a
rather loud voice, and Johnson drew back.
"What did that policeman say to you?" demanded the magistrate as soon
as the medical man had been sworn.
"He told me to look out what I said, or I'd get myself in big trouble
down in the district," replied Dr. McKenzie promptly.
"I never----" began Johnson, his face paling.
"Put that policeman under arrest!" thundered the magistrate.
A court officer moved over and stood beside the now much-disturbed
Johnson.
Dr. McKenzie testified to the serious condition in which he had found
Lizzie McAndrew this morning. He was not permitted to repeat any of the
young woman's statements in her own words, but was allowed to state the
gist of what Miss McAndrew had said.
"May I interrupt the court long enough to ask if there is not now
enough evidence to warrant postponing this hearing for a few days?"
inquired Captain Cortland.
"I won't do it," replied Judge Guffey bluntly. "Plainly enough this has
been one of the court's foolish mornings. I am now convinced that the
testimony on which I had sentenced these two young soldiers was false
evidence. Corporals Overton and Terry are discharged from custody."
Hal and Noll were about to step from the pen to join their captain when
the magistrate interrupted:
"To you young military gentlemen I wish to offer the court's apology. I
apologize, also, in the name of the State of Colorado and of the city
of Denver. There is no calling more honorable than that of the soldier,
who offers his comfort, his life and his blood for his country at need.
The soldier who forgets the high nature of his calling and descends to
rowdyism cannot be too severely punished, but the soldier who lives up
to the high traditions of his calling cannot be too well commended.
Policeman Johnson, step forward. Bear in mind that you are still under
oath. In what work or business are Dabner and his friend engaged?"
"Why, your honor, I--I----"
"Have they any regular calling that you ever heard of?"
"Your honor, I don't know," stammered the policeman.
"Isn't it true that this precious pair seldom work?" pressed the
magistrate.
"I--I'm afraid, your honor----"
"Policeman Johnson, go to the complaint clerk and swear to two short
complaints charging Dabner and his estimable friend with vagrancy."
Johnson changed color swiftly three or four times, but he went in a
daze to carry out his instructions.
As for Bill Dabner and his friend, they looked as though they were
seeing ghosts. They did not attempt to speak until they were ordered
to step into the pen and be sworn.
Then Policeman Johnson was called to the stand. Reluctantly he
testified that the new prisoners were well known to be loafers, making
a living mainly by their wits.
Dabner and his friend were then asked to testify in their own behalf,
but they were too badly overwhelmed to be able to say much.
"Prisoners," said Judge Guffey, gazing at them in sheer disgust, "it
would give me great pleasure to bind you over for the grand jury on
charges of perjury committed this morning. But I feel disinclined to
take any action that may drag these young soldiers away from their own
duties. Therefore, on the charge of vagrancy, I sentence you each to
two years in the workhouse. Take those prisoners below at once."
Bill and his crony seemed barely able to walk when they were forced
below.
"Policeman Johnson, come forward! Do you desire to offer any denial of
the evidence concerning the charge that Dr. McKenzie made against you a
few minutes ago!"
Johnson opened his mouth to speak, but under the stern gaze of the
police magistrate he found it impossible to persist in his denial.
"Johnson, for attempting to intimidate a witness in this court I
sentence you to thirty days' confinement at the workhouse. I shall also
see to it that a full account of this matter reaches the chief of
police. That is all."
Captain Cortland thanked the court heartily. Then, with his young
soldier boys following, he made his way from the court room. Dr.
McKenzie was at their heels when they reached open air, and a pleasant
chat of a few moments followed.
"Men, I would have come to you much sooner than I did," explained
Captain Cortland, "but an accident happened that couldn't be helped.
Through some stupidity your messenger left your note over among the
militiamen, and it did not reach me until this morning. Then I came as
fast as I could travel."
The heartiest thanks of all three soldiers were extended to Dr.
McKenzie, after which the Army party started back to camp.
Hal's adventures for the day, however, were by no means yet ended.
As the three entered the regulars' infantry camp, Captain Cortland
caught sight of a horse being held before his tent by one of his
infantry privates.
"I want to talk with you two a moment," remarked B Company's commander,
"but I see that I have a visitor from the cavalry. Wait outside until I
summon you."
The horse, a beautiful animal, very plainly belonged to the cavalry,
for the saddle blanket and trappings were trimmed with yellow, which is
the cavalry color.
"Had much work this morning, Claxton?" Hal asked of the private soldier
who was holding the horse's bridle.
"We've been going some, Corporal," replied Claxton, with a smile. "And
it was hot in the sun to-day, too."
"Even at that," observed Corporal Hal grimly, "I guess you had it
easier here than we did."
"You've been in some trouble, Corporal?"
"Yes, but now it's----"
Corporal Hal Overton never finished that sentence. At that instant all
three became aware of a great clatter up the field.
A pair of horses attached to a light victoria came racing down the
field, passing close to the head of the infantry camp.
There was no driver on the seat; the reins were trailing at the heels
of the runaways.
Nor did it take more than a glance to show that both of the runaways
were now frightened past all hope of stopping them by any simple
expedient.
Less than a quarter of a mile down the field two regular and two
militia field batteries were drawn up in a long line, squarely in front
of the path of the flying horses.
Worse still, the horses belonging to the batteries had been detached
and sent to the rear. There were some four hundred artillerymen in
all near the guns, but not one of them mounted in this period of
instruction.
The horses seemed bound to dash in among the closely aligned field
guns, wrecking the victoria and probably killing the woman and girl who
now stood up in the vehicle screaming with terror, but seemingly too
frightened to jump.
This Corporal Hal saw in his one swift glance, as the outfit went by
like a whirlwind.
What he didn't see the soldier boy didn't even stop to guess.
"Let go, Claxton!" he shouted, snatching the bridle from the orderly's
hand.
All in a twinkling Hal was up in saddle and urging the magnificent
cavalry animal forward.