CHAPTER XII
THE CALL TO DEADLY WORK
FOR the next three days the men were to remain at the present camp.
Instruction in the erecting of temporary field fortifications was to follow.
But Hal and Noll missed the first afternoon of this work, for they were sent over to Mason City as orderlies to Lieutenant Prescott, who, as acting commissary officer to the reunited companies, went to buy fresh foodstuffs.
Two wagons were also dispatched, the young lieutenant riding with the driver on one of the wagons, while the soldier boys rode on the other wagon.
Mason City nestled in among the mountains in what was considered one of the best health sections of Colorado. The "city" would have been termed a village back in the east. It contained four hotels, two sanitariums, a small theatre and other public buildings. It was to this town that many eastern consumptives came.
The native population of the town was less than a thousand souls. Consumptives and other travelers added a usual average of about eighteen hundred more people.
The streets were lively with people when the two wagons drove into the town.
"You men may just as well enjoy yourselves for a couple of hours, for I shall be busy in looking through the markets," announced Lieutenant Prescott, as the soldier boys climbed down from their wagon. "Report to me at the Mason House at six sharp. Remember, won't you, that's it a soldier's business to be punctual to the fraction of a minute?"
"Yes, sir," replied Hal Overton, as the soldier boys saluted.
Lieutenant Prescott strode off down the street, a splendidly military figure in his officer's khaki uniform which, despite the hardships of the last days, he had kept almost immaculate.
"A mighty fine young officer," murmured Noll, gazing admiringly after the lieutenant.
"One of the best that they turn out of West Point, I reckon," replied Private Overton.
Then the two young privates devoted themselves to sight-seeing.
Punctually at the moment, however, both were in the lobby at the Mason House.
Lieutenant Prescott stepped in at the same moment.
"I'll register you here for a room to-night, men," he said, returning their salutes. "You will also have your evening meal in the dining room. I shall not need your services until morning. Report to me at this spot at 8.30 to-morrow morning."
"Very good, sir," replied both soldier boys, once more saluting.
"Say, a hotel meal will seem like a real luxury—what?" breathed Hal.
"I wonder if it's ready?" murmured Noll.
"We'll find out."
The dining room was open. After going to the wash room, and making themselves as presentable as possible, the two young soldiers stepped into the dining room, the head waiter showing them to seats.
"There's the lieutenant over there at another table," whispered Noll.
"I guess he's as glad as we are to have a civilized meal again. But has it struck you, Noll, that the government does things in pretty good shape when it pays for putting up two private soldiers at a fine hotel like this?"
What neither soldier boy suspected was that Lieutenant Prescott was paying the bill for them out of his own pocket—this as a silent remembrance of their work in bringing victory to B Company.
By the time that the meal was nearly over the soldier boys observed that a man who looked as if he might be a native of Mason City had seated himself at the same table with Lieutenant Prescott, and was engaged in earnest, low-voiced conversation with that young officer.
Soon after a waiter came to the table where Hal and Noll sat.
"The lieutenant wants to speak with you as soon as you have finished," announced the waiter. "Don't go to him until you're through eating, though."
Noll finished his last few bites of dessert, Hal his coffee. Then both young men rose, quietly crossing the dining room. The soldier boys, as they moved with erect carriage and easy motion, were full of a soldierly grace of appearance that they did not begin to suspect.
Nor did they imagine that strangers in the hotel dining room were paying any heed to them until they heard a man's voice say approvingly:
"Regulars."
"Yes; they're the real thing," agreed another male voice. "You'll know a regular wherever you see one. The men of the regular Army can't be beat."
"You sent for us, sir?" asked Hal, pausing beside the lieutenant's table and saluting.
"Yes," nodded Prescott. "Follow me from the dining room. I have something to say to you."
Prescott and the stranger passed out ahead. Hal and Noll kept in their wake, about fifteen feet to the rear. Lieutenant Prescott and the stranger entered an elevator, the soldier boys following. The young officer led the way to his room.
"Now, then," resumed Prescott, wheeling about on the soldier boys, "I have had a very peculiar request made to me to-night—by this gentleman."
The stranger nodded.
"Mason City," continued the lieutenant, "is usually a very orderly place. There are only two policemen here—a night and a day officer. Besides, there is one peace officer—Deputy Sheriff Coates. Now, it happens that Coates is ill in bed, and his physician absolutely forbids him to leave his bed inside of a week."
"That's right," nodded the stranger.
"And the policemen are needed on the street. Besides, I am informed that the two local policemen are neither of them quite the sort of men who are fitted for some work that has come up."
"Also quite right," nodded the stranger.
"Therefore," went on the young lieutenant, "Deputy Sheriff Coates, hearing that soldiers are in town, has sent to me asking my help in arresting one of the most dangerous characters at present at liberty anywhere in the United States. Now, if I am to undertake this work, I must have assistance. The question comes, men——"
Lieutenant Prescott paused, scrutinizing keenly the faces of the soldier boys.
"Are you men ready to aid me in arresting this desperate character, who is as deadly as a rattler, and always ready to turn himself loose with a pair of guns?"
"I am very sorry, sir," replied Hal, saluting, "that the lieutenant should feel it at all necessary to ask the question."
"I am obliged to ask you," answered Prescott, "and also to inform you that you are both at liberty to refuse, for this is not legally the duty of a soldier under the circumstances. You may refuse without subjecting yourselves to criticism."
"But we have no thought of refusing, sir," Hal answered, not even considering it necessary to glance at his bunkie. "We'll follow the lieutenant anywhere, and do anything that he directs."
"But, my men, you and I may all three of us be killed in this enterprise."
"Fearful, sir!" replied Noll half dryly. "Yet I've always supposed it part of a soldier's duty to be killed at need."
"In the discharge of military duties, yes," agreed Lieutenant Prescott. "But this is not military duty in any sense. If you go into it you must understand that you are acting voluntarily, to aid the civil authorities of this state and county."
"May I ask a question, sir?"—from Hal.
"Certainly," replied the young officer.
"You are proposing to risk your life, aren't you, sir?"
"Yes."
"Then we'll take the same risk, sir. We don't need to ask anything more. Lead us where you wish, and into what you please, sir."
"Thank you, men," acknowledged Lieutenant Prescott heartily. Then, turning to the stranger, he added:
"I told you I didn't think I was mistaken in these men."
"You certainly are not," agreed the stranger.
"Now, for the next step, I must wire the regimental commander, Colonel North, asking his permission that these men and myself engage in the enterprise. I anticipate the colonel's consent. Therefore, as soon as I have sent the telegram, sir, you may lead us to the house of Coates."
Lieutenant Prescott then left the room.
"I suppose you boys wonder who I am?" smiled the stranger.
"Thank you, sir," Hal replied quietly. "When the lieutenant wants us to know he'll tell us. No offense intended, sir."
"Nor any taken," replied the stranger, with a laugh. "You regulars surely do go along, just sticking to orders, and not caring for anything outside of orders."
Second Lieutenant Prescott soon returned to the room.
"I've sent my wire, Mr. Dent. Now we are at your disposal. Lead the way, sir."
As the soldier boys followed their officer, a dozen feet to the rear, from the hotel, they certainly felt far more curiosity than they would have admitted to any one else.