Then, Anita was in such high spirits at dinner that the Colonel told Mrs.Fortescue in their nightly talk while the Colonel smoked, he believed Anita had completely forgotten Broussard.

At this, Mrs.Fortescue smiled and remained as silent as the Sphinx.
The winter was slipping by, and work and study and play went on in the snow-bound fort, and Colonel Fortescue was congratulating himself upon the wonderfully good report he could make of his command.

There had not been a man missing in the whole month of February.

But one day Lawrence, the gentleman-ranker, was reported missing.
The Colonel had no illusions concerning broken men and said so to Mrs.
Fortescue.
"The fellow has deserted--that's the way most of the broken men end.
He was in the aviation field yesterday and his going away was not premeditated, as he did not ask for leave.

But something came in the way of temptation, and he couldn't stand it, and ran away." The "something" was revealed by Sergeant McGillicuddy, with a pale face, while he was shut up with the Colonel in his office.
"It's partly my fault, sir," said the Sergeant.