Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-01-13

Surely a woman gifted as you are ear
never lack friends among her own sex
Have you never sought TO win Miss Bay
/ ard for nstance?'
There was moment s pause, then she
| looked full up into his face, her fingers
! ripping over the keys as she spoke.
Mr.. Holmes, has il never occurred q
you that i'll friendship, as in love q girl OF
Nellie Bayari IS age would prefer some
one much nearer her IN yearss''
He drew slowly back from the piano
| and stood AT his full height.
| ''The doctor is calling as to the dining
| room, Miss Forrest; may l offer my
/ army was his only reply, and she arose
and went with him.
They found the entire party grouped
/ about the table, which was now
decked with great punch bowl
of beautiful Workmanship. A pres
| ent, the doctor explained with
evident pride, from Baron Wallewski of
the Russian legation at washington
whom he had had the honor of pulling
through seige of insomnia two years
before 1t was more than anything else
To display the beauty of this costlS gift
that had impelled him to call them once
more around his board but-since they
were there, he would beg to fill their
glasses with punch of his own compost
ton there s not a headache in a Hell
delberg tun of il and pledged with
them the health of the distinguished
donor.
A ring came at the front door as Robert
was standing, tray in hand, at his
masters elbow. ''Say am engaged, if
anyone inquiries for me, - said the
doctor, and launched forth into some
"Reminiscences of the days when he and
Wallewski and Bodisco and others of that
ilk were at Old Point Comfort for a week
together Robert, returning from the
front hall stood In silence like the we'll
trained mental he was until his master
finished his narration and the guests had
slipped the toast 1t was a performance
of some minutes duration and at last the
doctor turned:
"'who was it7" he asked.
"Mr. Mclean, sab.
g Wanted to see mel?
No, sab. The commanding officer,
sab. He wouldn I come in; he Is standin
in the hall yet, sab Said s'cuse him,
but twas mos impawtant.
Major Miller instantly set down his
punch glass and strobe out through the
parlor into the front hall. 1t was a sea-
son of incessant rumOrs and alarms, and
the party could not forbear listening.
Hulle, Mclean! What up?' they
heard him say.
"a courier just in from the cavalry,
sir. They we had sharp fight over in the
Chug Valley, north of Hunton 5. Two
men killed and Lieutenant Blunt woun-
ded. The Indians went by way of Ea-
gle's Nest, and will try to recross the
Platte below us. Captain Terry is sad
ding up the Grays now, and sent me to
tell you. May | go with him, sir? ''
''I'll be down at once. Certainly You
may go Terry has no lieutenant for
duty otherwise - The major reappeared
an instant in the parlor whittier
by this time all the party had
hastily moved uttering exclama-
tions of dismay and anxiety, for
Blunt was a young officer, beloved by
everyone ''You IL excuse me, doctor:
| must start the troop ont in pursuit at
once, - continued the major, and then,
followed 10y his adjutant, he plunged
forth into the darkness.
When Nellie Bayard, with white
cheeks. peeped timidly into the hall, it
was empty. Mclean had gone without
look or word for her.
''By JoYe, doctor This sort of thing
makes my pulse jump, - exclaimed Mr..
Holmes the moment the colonel had gone.
''Can t go and see the start? I'd like
to offer prize to the trooper some
thing.
''Of course you can. IN go, too.
IN all go. l know the ladies want to.
Run up and get your wraps, though it
ism t raining now and the ladies, one
and all, scurried away up the stairs.
A moment later Mr.. Holmes was slip
ping into his beaver oYereoat that had
been hanging in the hall. Then he began
fumbling in the pockets, first one then
another. He tried the outside, then
threw it open and thrust his hand into
those within the broad lapels--a look of
beWilderment coming over his face.
''What IS the matter?'' asked the doe
tor. ''Want another cigar? Here,
man. There are plenty in the dining
room; let me get you one.
'sNo, no! 1t ism 4 that. I've smoked
enough. Wait moment - And again
he thrust his hands deep IN the pockets.
90 Hold on till i run mp to my room, - he
continued and darted lightly up the
stairs. The ladies were all futtering
down again and were grouped in the
lower hall as he came back, laughing,
but with an odd, white look about his
face.
s'Holmes! Something's the matter.
What have you lost. What's been tax
emp"
Nothing nothing of any consequence.
Come on. Let us hurry after the major
or we III miss the fan. Mrs. Miller, per-
NIT me, and he offered his arm to the
majors wife who stood nearest the door
''No, but | insist on knowing what is
missing, Holmes. 1t Is my right to
know - called the doctor as he struggled
into his army overcoat.
" Nothing but cigar case and an old
pocketbook I've mislaid them some
where and there IS no time to look. Come
on"
''Mr. Holmes, - said Mrs. Miller in
low tone, CT have abundant reason for
asking and-no Tell me. Where was
that pocketbook and how much money
was there in it?'
"ln my overcoat pocket-at sunset.
Probably d hundred dollars or so. l