away。' I'm going to degrade you and disgrace you； and drive you out
of the army！〃 He threw his note…book on the table。 〃There's your dossier；
Aintree；〃 he said。 〃For three months you've been drunk； and there's your
record。 The police got it for me； it's written there with dates and the names
of witnesses。 I'll swear to it。 I've been after you to get you； and I've got
you。
With that book； with what you did to…night； you'll leave the army。 You
may resign； you may be court…martialled； you may be hung。 I don't
give a damn what they do to you； but you will leave the army！〃
He turned to Meehan； and with a jerk of the hand signified Aintree。
〃Put him in a cell；〃 he said。 〃If he resists〃
Aintree gave no sign of resisting。 He stood motionless； his arms
hanging limp； his eyes protruding。 The liquor had died in him； and
his anger had turned chill。 He tried to moisten his lips to speak；
but his throat was baked； and no sound issued。 He tried to focus
his eyes upon the menacing little figure behind the desk； but
between the two lamps it swayed； and shrank and swelled。 Of one
thing only was he sure； that some grave disaster had overtaken
him； something that when he came fully to his senses still would
overwhelm him； something he could not conquer with his fists。
His brain； even befuddled as it was； told him he had been caught
by the heels； that he was in a trap； that smashing this boy who
threatened him could not set him free。 He recognized； and it was
this knowledge that stirred him with alarm； that this was no
ordinary officer of justice； but a personal enemy； an avenging
spirit who； for some unknown reason； had spread a trap； who； for
some private purpose of revenge； would drag him down。
Frowning painfully； he waved Meehan from him。
〃Wait；〃 he commanded。 〃I don' unnerstan'。 What good's it goin' to
do you to lock me up an' disgrace me？ What harm have I done you？
Who asked you to run the army； anyway？ Who are you？〃
〃My name is Standish；〃 said the lieutenant。 〃My father was colonel
of the Thirty…third when you first joined it from the Academy。〃
Aintree exclaimed with surprise and enlightenment。 He broke into
hurried speech； but Standish cut him short。
〃And General Standish of the Mexican War；〃 he continued； 〃was my
grandfather。 Since Washington all my people have been officers of
the regular army； and I'd been one； too； if I'd been bright enough。
That's why I respect the army。 That's why I'm going to throw you
out of it。 You've done harm fifty men as good as you can't undo。
You've made drunkards of a whole battalion。 You've taught boys
who looked up to you； as I looked up to you once； to laugh at
discipline； to make swine of themselves。 You've set them an example。
I'm going to make an example of you。 That's all there is to this。 I've
got no grudge against you。 I'm not vindictive； I'm sorry for you。 But；〃
he paused and pointed his hand at Aintree as though it held a gun；
〃you are going to leave the army！〃
Like a man coming out of an ugly dream； Aintree opened and shut
his eyes； shivered； and stretched his great muscles。 They watched
him with an effort of the will force himself back to consciousness。
When again he spoke； his tone was sane。
〃See here； Standish；〃 he began； 〃I'll not beg of you or any man。
I only ask you to think what you're doing。 This means my finish。
If you force this through to…night it means court…martial； it means
I lose my commission； I loselose things you know nothing about。
And； if I've got a record for drinking； I've got a record for other
things； too。 Don't forget that！〃
Standish shook his head。 〃I didn't forget it；〃 he said。
〃Well； suppose I did；〃 demanded Aintree。 〃Suppose I did go on
the loose； just to pass the time； just because I'm sick of this damned
ditch？ Is it fair to wipe out all that went before； for that？ I'm the
youngest major in the army； I served in three campaigns； I'm a
medal…of…honor man； I've got a career ahead of me； andand I'm
going to be married。 If you give me a chance…〃
Standish struck the table with his fist。
〃I will give you a chance；〃 he cried。 〃If you'll give your word to this
man and to me； that； so help you God； you'll never drink againI'll
let you go。〃
If what Standish proposed had been something base； Aintree could
not have accepted it with more contempt。
〃I'll see you in hell first；〃 he said。
As though the interview was at an end； Standish dropped into his
chair and leaning forward； from the table picked up a cigar。 As
he lit it； he motioned Meehan toward his prisoner； but before the
policeman could advance the sound of footsteps halted him。
Bullard； his eyes filled with concern； leaped up the steps； and
ran to the desk。
〃Lieutenant！〃 he stammered； 〃that manthe nigger that officer
shothe's dead！〃
Aintree gave a gasp that was partly a groan； partly a cry of
protest； and Bullard； as though for the first time aware of his
presence； sprang back to the open door and placed himself between
it and Aintree。
〃It's murder！〃 he said。
None of the three men spoke； and when Meehan crossed to where
Aintree stood； staring fearfully at nothing； he had only to touch
his sleeve； and Aintree； still staring； fell into step beside him。
From the yard outside Standish heard the iron door of the cell
swing shut； heard the key grate in the lock； and the footsteps of
Meehan returning。
Meehan laid the key upon the desk； and with Bullard stood at
attention； waiting。
〃Give him time；〃 whispered Standish。 〃Let it sink in！〃
At the end of half an hour Standish heard Aintree calling； and；
with Meehan carrying a lantern； stepped into the yard and stopped
at the cell door。
Aintree was quite sober。 His face was set and white； his voice
was dull with suffering。 He stood erect； clasping the bars in his
hands。
〃Standish；〃 he said； 〃you gave me a chance a while ago； and I
refused it。 I was rough about it。 I'm sorry。 It made me hot
because I thought you were forcing my hand； blackmailing me into
doing something I ought to do as a free agent。 Now； I am a free
agent。 You couldn't give me a chance now； you couldn't let me go
now； not if I swore on a thousand Bibles。 I don't know what
they'll give meLeavenworth for life； or hanging； or just dismissal。
But； you've got what you wantedI'm leaving the army！〃 Between
the bars he stretched out his arms and held a hand toward Meehan
and Standish。 In the same dull； numbed voice he continued。
〃So； now；〃 he went on； 〃that I've nothing to gain by it； I want
to swear to you and to this man here； that whether I hang； or go
to jail； or am turned loose； I will never； so help me God； take
another drink。〃
Standish was holding the hand of the man who once had been his
hero。 He clutched it tight。
〃Aintree；〃 he cried； 〃suppose I could work a miracle； suppose I've
played a trick on you； to show you your danger； to show you what
might come to you any daydoes that oath still stand？〃
The hand that held his ground the bones together。
〃I've given my word！〃 cried Aintree。 〃For the love of God； don't
torture me。 Is the man alive？〃
As Standish swung open the cell door； the hero of Batangas；
he who could thrash any man on the isthmus； crumpled up
like a child upon his shoulder。
And Meehan； as he ran for water； shouted joyfully。
〃That nigger；〃 he called to Bullard； 〃can go home now。 The lieutenant
don't want him no more。
〃
EVIL TO HIM WHO EVIL THINKS
As a rule； the instant the season closed Aline Proctor sailed on
the first steamer for London； where awaited her many friends；
both English and Americanand to Paris； where she selected those
gowns that on and off the stage helped to make her famous。 But
this particular summer she had spent with the Endicotts at Bar
Harbor； and it was at their house Herbert Nelson met her。 After
Herbert met her very few other men enjoyed that privilege。 This
was her wish as well as his。
They behaved disgracefully。 Every morning after breakfast they
disappeared and spent the day at opposite ends of a canoe。 She；
knowing nothing of a canoe； was happy in stabbing the waters with
her paddle while he told her how he loved her and at the same
time； with anxious eyes on his own paddle； skilfully frustrated
her efforts to drown them both。 While the affair lasted it was
ideal and beautiful； but unfortunately it lasted only two months。
Then Lord Albany； temporarily in America as honorary attache to
the British embassy； his adoring glances； his accent； and the way
he brushed his hair； proved too much for the susceptible heart of
Aline； and she chucked Herbert and asked herself how a woman of
her age could have seriously considered marrying a youth just out
of Harvard！ At that time she was a woman of nineteen； but； as she
had been before the public ever since she was eleven； the women
declared she was not a day under twenty…six； and the men knew she
could not possibly be over sixteen！
Aline's own idea of herself was that without some one in love
with her she could not existthat； unless she knew some man cared
for her and for her alone； she would wither and die。 As a matter
of fact； w