The challenge of the sentinel on post, the side glances of the enlisted men, even the stiff salute of his own orderly, gave him to understand that he was ostracized—under the ban as much in barracks as along officers’ row. There was no open disrespect shown, but the very air was full of a silent disapproval. He evidently had not a friend in the place—no one upon whom he could call for help.
Outwardly calm, but inwardly raging at the injustice, he turned in at headquarters—he would have starved rather than go over to the mess for breakfast—and, in order to conceal his perturbation, buried himself in the morning papers.
Staring fixedly at the headlines in the Brantford Bee, although unconscious of a word, he was roused from his abstraction by a slight cough, and glanced up, to find standing in front of him Sergeant Cato, the relief telegraph operator, and a decidedly superior type of noncom. Indeed, Cato had ambitions toward winning shoulder straps for himself, and had been materially aided by Grail in his preparation for the necessary examination.
There was no recognition of this now, however, in the stiff, distant salute which he gave his superior.
“The list of messages sent out during the night, sir,” he said.
Evidently, thought Grail, he was only to be addressed in the strict line of official duty. Even this man whom he had befriended reflected in his manner the general uncompromising spirit.
Perfunctorily the adjutant took the slip handed him, and glanced at it. Then he gave a quick start.
“To Miss Vedant, at Chicago!” he exclaimed, forgetting his determination to be as stiffly military himself as any one accosting him. “And sent by Major Appleby at two o’clock! Do you mean to say, Cato, that——”
The sergeant gave a slight sigh of relief, and noticeably unbent.
“Yes, sir,” he returned. “It was to inform her of her father’s disappearance. I thought myself it was a mistake to frighten her, when the thing’ll probably be cleared up before she can get here; but the message was handed me for transmission, and what could I do?”