And the Parson added:
“Yea, by Zeus!”
It is now necessary for the sake of the story that the Banded Seven be left where they were, discussing that problem. The reader must be introduced to another personage.
Lieutenant Allen, tactical officer in command of Company A in the West Point Battalion, was just then standing in his tent, buckling on his sword preparatory to the morning inspection. Lieutenant Allen was very thoughtful that morning; he had been very thoughtful during the night also. But he had recovered his dignity and equanimity since the adventure, outwardly at any rate.
The lieutenant had gone to the back of his tent for a moment; then he stepped to the entrance—and suddenly stopped. An envelope was lying at his feet.
He gazed at it in surprise and then stooped and picked it up. There was an address upon it which he read:
“Lieutenant Allen.”
That was a strange way to get mail.
“The “tac” went to the tent door and glanced about him. But he saw no one and so he went back into his tent and tore open the letter. He read it. And as he read it his face seemed fairly to turn blue, whether with anger or amazement, or excitement, no one can say. He dropped his hands and gazed about him as if to make sure where he was. Then he raised the letter and stared at it again.
“To Lieutenant Allen: The lieutenant may be interested in knowing who it was that stole his uniform last night. It was Cadet Mallory! And if the lieutenant doubts this he has only to watch and he will see Cadet Mallory go out of camp to-night also. A word to the wise is sufficient!”