Broussard did not wish to go at once to Mrs. Lawrence; she should have one hour alone with her husband.  Nor did he care to go to the officers’ club at that moment.  He walked toward the quarters of the non-commissioned officers, scarcely noticing where his steps led.  As he passed the McGillicuddy quarters, the door opened, and little Ronald ran out bareheaded.  He recognized Broussard, and Broussard, feeling strongly and strangely the call of the blood, took the boy in his arms and covered his little face with kisses much to the lad’s surprise, and sent him to the house.  The next minute, Broussard came face to face with Sergeant McGillicuddy.

The Sergeant, who did not often smile in those days, smiled when he saw Broussard.

“But, Mr. Broussard, you don’t look quite fit,” said the Sergeant.  “The Philippines, drat ’em, ain’t good for the complexion.”

“I know I look like the devil,” replied Broussard, “but I’m on sick leave and I hope Fort Blizzard is the right kind of a climate for me.  By the way, the man Lawrence, who deserted in January, has come back.  We travelled from San Francisco together.  He has already given himself up—­voluntarily, you know.”

In the gloom of the November twilight Broussard could not see the Sergeant’s face clearly.  There was a bench close by, on the edge of the asphalt walk, and the Sergeant dropped rather than sat upon it.

“Excuse me, sir,” he said to Broussard, “but the news you give me takes all my nerve away, and yet it’s the best news I ever heard in my life.  You know, sir, it was some words of mine—­and God knows I never meant to harm Lawrence—­that made him strike me, and then he got scared and——­”

“I know all about it,” replied Broussard, sitting down on the bench by the Sergeant.  “Of course, you felt pretty bad about it.  Any man would.”

Something between a sob and a groan burst from the Sergeant.

“I’ve worn chevrons for twenty-seven years, sir,” he said.  “I was made a sergeant when I was twenty-five.  I’ve handled all sorts of men and licked ’em into shape and I ain’t got it on my conscience as I ever tried to make a man’s lot any harder, or to discourage him, and I never spoke an insultin’ word to a soldier in my life, and I hope I’ll be called to report to the Great Commander before I do.  But I said something chaffin’-like to that poor devil and he struck me, and I didn’t hit him back—­I didn’t hit him back, thank God, nor threaten to report him.  But I had to tell the truth to the Colonel and take part of the blame on myself.”

“That’s right,” answered Broussard with deep feeling.  The Sergeant little knew how great a stake Broussard had in the business.

“And the chaplain, he seen something was wrong with me and so did Missis McGillicuddy—­she’s a soldier, sir, is Missis McGillicuddy.  I made a clean breast of it to the chaplain and he helped me a lot.  I’ve been goin’ to church on Sundays ever since I was married—­to tell you the truth, sir, Missis McGillicuddy marched me off every Sunday without askin’ me if it was agreeable, any more than she’d ask Ignatius or Aloysius.  But since my trouble, I’ve gone of my own will, and I’ve headed the prayin’ squad, I can tell you, Mr. Broussard.”