"Who's my pet!" demanded Prescott in surprise.
"Why, Corporal Overton, of your company."
"Corporal Overton is not my pet, and you'll greatly oblige me by not referring to him again in that fashion, Holmesy," returned the young lieutenant almost stiffly. "Corporal Overton is a mighty fine young soldier, and a good soldier never needs to be his officer's pet; he can stand on his own merits. But what's the trouble with Overton? Is he still absurdly suspected of relieving that simpleton Green of his money?"
"Yes; there's a strong drift of suspicion that way among the men of B Company."
"The idiots!" muttered Prescott impatiently.
"One of my sergeants has just been telling me about Overton's present standing in the company. B Company men have always liked Overton. In fact, he has been well liked all through the battalion, but just now many of the men don't feel sure about the young fellow," continued Lieutenant Holmes. "Not a man will admit that the case is proved, but a good many of them don't like the looks of things. Especially are the men disturbed by the fact of that revolver being in Corporal Overton's bed, and the fact of his being awake and appearing nervous when the alarm was given."
"Greg, you don't believe Overton stole that simpleton soldier's cash?" cried Prescott.
"I don't, and I won't," Lieutenant Holmes replied. "Overton isn't that type of fellow. He's a soldier all the way through, going and coming, and the first characteristic of a real soldier is honesty."
"Yet you say so many of the men suspect him?" mused Prescott.
"Not exactly that they suspect him, but that they'd like to have the whole matter cleared up and see daylight through it."