"Me? Found anything?" repeated Chick, in apparent surprise.

"Yes; a letter, or anything like that?"

Why, have you lost one?"

"Chick! Don't keep me in suspense! If you've found my letter, tell me. I've worried myself pretty nearly into my grave over it, already."

"I ast you, have you lost a letter?" Chick was very resolute and determined.

"Yes," was the equally resolute reply, "I've lost one. Have you found it?"

They were standing on a quiet street corner, scarcely a block away from the Lewis home. One or two men passed by and spoke to them, but the greetings went unheeded.

"I've found a letter," said Chick; "but how do I know whether it's yourn or not? Who was it to?"

The young fellow swallowed awkwardly before replying, and grew red in the face. His first impulse was to resent the question as an unwarranted intrusion into his private affairs. But, on second thought, he knew that such an attitude on his part, especially toward Chick, would be extremely poor policy.

"Why," he exclaimed finally, "it was to a girl by the name of Rachael, and it was signed Alfred.""

"That's all right so far," assented Chick. "But they's lots o' Rachaels in the U. S., and the world's full of Alfreds. Tell me what was in it."

Oh, now, look here, Chick! That's not necessary. Surely I've identified the letter sufficiently, and I'm entitled to have it."

But Chick was obdurate. "No," he said, " a man can't be too careful about love-letters. If this here letter should git into the hands o' the wrong party my goose would be cooked. You got to tell me what was in the letter 'fore I give it up.'

Alfred Lewis looked up the street, then down the street, and then at Chick.

Well," he said finally, “I asked Rachael to marry me."

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That's right!" assented the boy. “You sure did. Now, was they any p. s. on the end, or wasn't they?"

"Look here, Chick! Confound you! you're getting too blamed inquisitive."

But Chick straightened up as far as his deformed shoulders would permit, and thrust his hands determinedly into his pockets.

"I got to know," he said.

There was apparently no escape, and the young lover, with scarlet face and stammering tongue, blurted out:

"Why, I told her I never loved any other girl as much as I did her. Does that satisfy you?"

Chick did not answer the question. Instead, he thrust one hand deeper into his pocket, drew forth the precious missive and handed it to the writer thereof, who, having glanced at it exteriorly and interiorly, gave a great sigh of relief. Then followed a shower of questions as to when, where and how the letter had been found, to all of which Chick not only gave complete and satisfactory answers, but he also entertained his listener with a full account of his own Sherlock Holmesian efforts in running down the writer.

At the conclusion of the narration young Lewis grasped the boy's hand.

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Chick," he declared, "you've saved my life. What if the other fellows had got onto it! They'd have made the town too hot to hold me. That job was worth money, Chick; yes, it was worth money.'

He thrust his hand into his pocket as he spoke, drew forth a purse, extracted therefrom a bill with a green back, and held it out to the boy. But Chick waved aside the gift disdainfully.

"No," he said, " you can't pay me nothin'. That was jest a friendly job. But some day, when I git to be a member o' the comp'ny, I might want a favor; see? Then I'll ast you."

The owner of the restored love-letter again grasped the boy's hand.

"Chick," he said warmly," whenever you want any favor that I can do for you, no matter what it is, you come to me and tell me, and I'll do it if it takes a leg! Do you understand?" "I un'erstand.”

1

THRE

CHAPTER X

HREE days after Hal's interview with Brownell, First Lieutenant Morosco sent in his resignation, it was promptly accepted, he was duly and honorably discharged, and he left the service of the Guard. In due time an order came down from the Governor, through his AdjutantGeneral, and the Brigadier-General commanding the brigade, to the Colonel of the th regiment, of the following tenor:

"Colonel Robert M. Wagstaff is hereby authorized and directed to hold an election for First Lieutenant of Company E, th Regiment Infantry N. G. P. to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of First Lieutenant David E. Morosco, making prompt returns to these Headquarters. By order of

BRIG.-GEN. SAMUEL A. FINLETTER,
Commanding 3rd Brigade."

Whereupon an order of similar purport was directed by Colonel Wagstaff to Major Mowbray Huntington, directing him to proceed to Fairweather and hold such election in person. Notice of the coming election was posted in the armory ten days prior to the time set for it; and then the real campaign for the office began.