Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-03-08
TTE BURLINGTON WI. FREE PREsS FRIDAY MARCH, s 1ssa

he returns" and Hatton stopped vaguely.
! He knew it might lie an hour before the
man got back That would give him time
| TO think.
"Wcll. That will have to do. Come to
my quarters then and if a lot of women
are there, you-you say you want TO see
me about somcthng-anything- and I'll
come out. ! don't want them todrcam I'm
| investigating anything. And here the
major stopped uneasy and glanced UPSTAIRS
then looked nquiringly at Hatton. "Who's
| up there - he asked.
| "No one sir TO my knowledge. Blrnt's
door is closed. and he is sleeping. Weeks
was there not 10 minutes since and stopped
| TO see me on the way down. Why do you
/ asl, -
"Why-I thought heard something-a
woman's dress and light football. | even
| thought | saw shadow at the head of the
stairs. -
| Hatton's heart gave a great thump, and
he felt his face glowing under his comman-
dcrs gaze, but he answered steadily.
ct is possible. sir Mrs. Post and Miss
Forrest both have been coming along the
upper gallery frequently, bringing things to
both Blunt and Mclean. Mrs Post comes
over TO inquire every hour or so and they
tp-toc in and out light as a kitten. Shall |
run up and see -
"Oh, mono! If that's the explanation
it is simple enough No I'm all upset.
II fancicd there was some ono listening.
! Come to me as soon rs you can, llatton.
| BY the way, have you heard from Mr..
, Holmes"
"No, sir. lie was called suddenly to the
ranch and presume he is there
II know. know. But did he see Mclean
before he left 80
''Scc him Yes. sir: but that's about all
he could do Mclean was in no condition
to receive visitors and Weeks hustled him
out somewhat uncercmoniously.
"Well, that's all just now I'll expect
you soon after tattoo.
VERY good, sir
And then the MA ior went away, closing
the hall door after him. Hatton stood there
a moment as though rooted to the spot his
brow moistoned with beads of sweat that
seemed starting from every pore. Despite
his secrecy then: despite MClcan's dcstruc-
ton of the evidence of her visit the night OF
the disappearance of their property; despite
their determination to shield The sister OF an
absent comrade from suspicion or disgrace,
in some way the story must have gotten
around. Possibly there were other thctts OF
which he knew nothing, in which suspicion
Dbl Iblllcu 10 ucE. b>Nl1lN In' vague
confessions. duplicating no one. which he
had made to Mrs Miller, taken in connec-
tiun with events of which he had no knowl-
edge. had proved sufficient to weave n chain
of circumstantaI evidence about her. and
now the commanding officer was aroused
and was coming down ON him and poor Mac.
for full details of their losses and their
knowledge of the affair He would give
anything to secure the po,tponement Of that
dreaded interview until he could talk over
matters with his comrade, but when would
that he possibility just rs soon as the
attendant returned he must go to his com
mandcr and either make Il clean breast of it
on refuse to utter word What course
would he ask or expect OF "A Comrade if il
were his. Hatton'S sister. who was here
alone and defencrcss, BY heaven Mclean was
right They must shield her 20 far as Shield
ofthcirs could serve until Forrest himself
could come to be her adviser and protector
Then he. too, stopped, listened and looked
up the stairs Then he too started but
with Il start 10 which the majors sudden
turn was a mere languid gesture. Hardly
could he believe his eyes hardly could he
trust his rccling senses but it was she
Fanny Forrest-not standing at the head of
the stairs but coming swiftly down upon
him, her finger at her lips her other hand
gathering her skirts 81 that they should
make as little rustic As possible as she swoop-
ed quickly down the stairs. Another in
slant and she was at his side: her eyes
cleaning like fiery Goals, her face burning
her lips tirm. set and determined He was
too much startled to speak. 1t was She
, who broke the silence in words lear cut
and distinct-yet soft and low
; "Mr Hatton, saw your major coming
here. have heard within two days more
than you know. know why he wishes to
see you tonight and-yeS. listened. There
is more at stake than YOU dream of. Now.
| hasten to you--thcre is no time to explain
no time to answer questions. If you
would save friend from wrong and ruin.
don't 90 near Major Miller tonight | ali
iure you. find some excuse. I'll find one
5 for YOU. if it is only to delay that attendant
, but mark what say: Don't go near Major
Miller tonight or tell him what you know
until Mr.. Holmes returns. 1--we sent for
him. Will you promise -
"Promise,' he uttcrS slowly, a da2ed look
in his eyes. ''Good God Miss Forrest.
would do anything in my power for Capt.
l Forests sister. and for him; but Tiff
this thing is known, what can my silence
avail -
Never mind Capt. Forrest or Capt.
Forests sister. This is vital Do YOU
promise 1t is only for a day. Mr.. Holmes
will be here in ~ hours
"What can his coming or Soing-pardon
e me, but I'm at IL loss to see how he is in any
way concerned. -
y manly step was heard on the porch
D without. She turned glance of terror at
the hall door and flew to spring the latch,
but the step went ON toward the south
= nall.
at is the DOCTOR she said fateringly
> He is going to our quarters and ] mus
hurry back the way | came, Mr.. Hatton
Tell no one ! came to you here-and as fol
! the rest, implore you to be guided 10y wha
say. one thing more she whipped
from her pocket a white silk handkerchief
o put this back among his-not on top but
l anywhere among them otherwise"
D And thrusting the soft fabric into his
; hand without another word, she flew up the
old wooden stairs, her skirts rushing anC
i 'swishing' over the floor, her slippercd fee
twnkling over the rickety flight, light n
kittcns-Swift rs terriers, and in an instan
K she was through the upper hal-out on tn