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my doing that as cowardly。 I give you my wordnot that I'll swear
off； that I'll never dobut I promise you you'll have no further
reason to be what you call humiliated； or ashamed。 You have my
word for it。〃
A week later Aintree rode his pony into a railway cutting and
rolled with it to the tracks below； and； if at the time he had
not been extremely drunk； would have been killed。 The pony；
being quite sober； broke a leg and was destroyed。
When word of this came to Helen she was too sick at heart to see
Aintree； and by others it was made known to him that on the first
steamer Miss Scott would return North。 Aintree knew why she was
going； knew she had lost faith and patience； knew the woman he
loved had broken with him and put him out of her life。 Appalled
at this calamity； he proceeded to get drunk in earnest。
The night was very hot and the humidity very heavy； and at Las
Palmas inside the bungalow that served as a police…station the
lamps on either side of the lieutenant's desk burned like tiny
furnaces。 Between them； panting in the moist heat and with the
sweat from his forehead and hand dripping upon an otherwise
immaculate report； sat Standish。 Two weeks before； the chief had
made him one of his six lieutenants。 With the force the promotion
had been most popular。
Since his promotion Standish had been in charge of the police…
station at Las Palmas and daily had seen Aintree as； on his way
down the hill from the barracks to the railroad； the hero of
Batangas passed the door of the station…house。 Also； on the
morning Aintree had jumped his horse over the embankment；
Standish had seen him carried up the hill on a stretcher。 At the
sight the lieutenant of police had taken from his pocket a notebook；
and on a flyleaf made a cross。 On the flyleaf were many other dates
and opposite each a cross。 It was Aintree's record and as the number
of black crosses grew； the greater had grown the resentment of Standish；
the more greatly it had increased his anger against the man who had put
this affront upon the army； the greater became his desire to punish。
In police circles the night had been quiet； the cells in the yard
were empty； the telephone at his elbow had remained silent； and
Standish； alone in the station…house； had employed himself in
cramming 〃Moss's Manual for Subalterns。〃 He found it a fascinating
exercise。 The hope that soon he might himself be a subaltern
always burned brightly； and to be prepared seemed to make the
coming of that day more certain。 It was ten o'clock and Las Palmas
lay sunk in slumber； and after the down train which was now due
had passed； there was nothing likely to disturb her slumber until
at sunrise the great army of dirt…diggers with shrieks of whistles；
with roars of dynamite； with the rumbling of dirt…trains and
steam…shovels； again sprang to the attack。 Down the hill； a
hundred yards below Standish； the night train halted at the
station； with creakings and groanings continued toward Colon；
and again Las Palmas returned to sleep。
And； then； quickly and viciously； like the crack of a mule…whip；
came the reports of a pistol； and once more the hot and dripping
silence。
On post at the railroad…station； whence the shots came； was Meehan；
one of the Zone police； an ex…sergeant of marines。 On top of the hill；
outside the infantry barracks； was another policeman； Bullard； once a
cowboy。
Standish ran to the veranda and heard the pebbles scattering as
Bullard leaped down the hill； and when； in the light from the
open door； he passed； the lieutenant shouted at him to find Meehan
and report back。 Then the desk telephone rang； and Standish
returned to his chair。
〃This is Meehan；〃 said a voice。 〃Those shots just now were fired
by Major Aintree。 He came down on the night train and jumped off
after the train was pulling out and stumbled into a negro； and
fell。 He's been drinking and he swore the nigger pushed him； and
the man called Aintree a liar。 Aintree pulled his gun and the
nigger ran。 Aintree fired twice； then I got to him and knocked
the gun out of his hand with my nightstick。〃
There was a pause。 Until he was sure his voice would be steady
and official； the boy lieutenant did not speak。
〃Did he hit the negro？〃 he asked。
〃I don't know；〃 Meehan answered。 〃The man jumped for the darkest
spot he could find。〃 The voice of Meehan lost its professional
calm and became personal and aggrieved。
〃Aintree's on his way to see you now； lieutenant。 He's going to
report me。〃
〃For what？〃
The voice over the telephone rose indignantly。
〃For knocking the gun out of his hand。 He says it's an assault。
He's going to break me！〃
Standish made no comment。
〃Report here；〃 he ordered。
He heard Bullard hurrying up the hill and met him at the foot of
the steps。
〃There's a nigger；〃 began Bullard； 〃lying under some bushes〃
〃Hush！〃 commanded Standish。
From the path below came the sound of footsteps approaching
unsteadily； and the voice of a man swearing and muttering to
himself。 Standish pulled the ex…cowboy into the shadow of the
darkness and spoke in eager whispers。
〃You understand；〃 he concluded； 〃you will not report until you
see me pick up a cigar from the desk and light it。 You will wait
out here in the darkness。 When you see me light the cigar； you
will come in and report。〃
The cowboy policeman nodded； but without enthusiasm。 〃I
understand； lieutenant；〃 he said； 〃but；〃 he shook his head doubtfully；
〃it sizes up to me like what those police up in New York call a
'frame…up。'〃
Standish exclaimed impatiently。
〃It's not my frame…up！〃 he said。 〃The man's framed himself up。
All I'm going to do is to nail him to the wall！〃
Standish had only time to return to his desk when Aintree stumbled
up the path and into the station…house。 He was 〃fighting drunk；〃
ugly； offensive； all but incoherent with anger。
〃You in charge？〃 he demanded。 He did not wait for an answer。
〃I've been 'saulted！〃 he shouted。 〃'Saulted by one of your damned
policemen。 He struck mestruck me when I was protecting myself。
He had a nigger with him。 First the nigger tripped me； then； when
I tried to protect myself； this thug of yours hits me； clubs me； you
unnerstan'； clubs me！ I want him〃
He was interrupted by the entrance of Meehan； who moved into the
light from the lamps and saluted his lieutenant。
〃That's the man！〃 roared Aintree。 The sight of Meehan whipped him
into greater fury。
〃I want that man broke。 I want to see you strip his shield off
himnow； you unnerstan'； nowfor 'saulting me； for 'saulting an
officer in the United States army。 And； if you don't；〃 he threw
himself into a position of the prize…ring； 〃I'll beat him up and
you； too。〃 Through want of breath； he stopped； and panted。 Again
his voice broke forth hysterically。 〃I'm not afraid of your damned
night…sticks；〃 he taunted。 〃I got five hundred men on top this hill；
all I've got to do is to say the word； and they'll rough…house this
place and throw it into the cutand you with it。〃
Standish rose to his feet； and across the desk looked ste