The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-07-29

CHAPTER x1.-cosrrNuEp.

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CHAPTER X1.-CoNTINUED.
"Let us stroll down this path, Besant,
and intercept him at the gap yonder.
We may get something out Of him any
how"
"With pleasure, Major" and the two
officers started Tor the point suggested.
Evidently there was something on the
Majors mind, Frank thought, as they
walked slowly down the path, for he
was generally chatty and agreeable
enough, but now seemed moody and dis
inclined TO talk. ..-..,,
"You seem out Of sorts, Major"
Frank said at last, really anxious about
his superior's manner.
sand well ! may be, Frank. I am
very much concerned about Charlie Full
ton-not so much for his sake as for his
fathers, who Is an old and tried friend
Of many years"
"Oh, Charities all right, sir" Frank
said, confidently.
'You think so. Well, am sorry TO
say do not agree with you. Now, do
not like TO ask you boys TO tell tales Of
one another out OF school, and want
you to quite understand that am actu-
ated by no motives hostile to young
Fulton's interests, So"
81 quite understand that, Major.p
"Well, do you know any thing about
young lady named Lascelles?"
Frank was too amazed TO speak. He
was certain that not one living soul but
himself and young Fulton knew their
secrets Fulton, for his own sake, would
not have been likely TO mention her TO
: any one, and he was positive her name
had never dropped from his lips.
"Ah, see you have heard Of her-for
Gods sake, Frank, Ihope you are not
mixed up In this scrapep" His tone was
SO earnest and sympathetic that Franks
conscience smote him.
81 am in no scrape, Major"
mo, was wrong to doubt you, my
boy; but was afraid Fulton had drawn
you into some connivance with his guilty
correspondence with this woman"
"Guilty correspondence You amaze
me, Major Hopkins"
"Yet, am afraid there Is no other
expression that will describe II. With
out betraying confidence, can not ex-
plain to you what information has
reached me, or how have gained II,
but know that Fulton met Miss
Lascelles In Nashville more than once,
and, from something that has just oc-
CURED, am suspicious that our every
movement is communicated TO her, and
through her to others"
"Oh, sir. Impossiblel would stake
my life that Charlie Fulton could never
be 30 base" tfIf II.i
''Nay, you misunderstood me, Frank.
Do not for one moment suppose that I
imagine Colonel Fulton's son could ever
be traitor. lie has sinned unknow-
ingly: at least that's how ! read II.
Caught In the fascinating tolls OF this
handsome, but INSCRIPTIONS, young
woman. he has allowed himself TO be
cajoled by her into giving her valuable
information. can picture 70 myself
the bait with which she has played him
the tender inquiries about him and
his doings his whereabouts, his cx-
pected journeyings here and there, his
friends, his little bits Of camp news
all so interesting TO cns who loves him.
Pshaw, Il Is the old talo of Delllah over
again, and II you and do not put our
heads together, our poor young Sam
son win be surely shorn Of all his
locks f-ttFI th0t1
Franks brain seemed In a whirl.
'Mnjor Hopkins" he said at last, ''you
asked mo few moments ago II / knew
Miss Lascelles, and ! then evaded your
question. do know that lady, and
am going TO tell you how and where
made her acquaintance. But FIRST
need your word OF honor as a gentleman
that you win never reveal TO any one
what may tell you--Do, not even II you
htood on your oath before a court
martial"
II never will--so help me Heaven
the Major declared, with as much
solemnity as though he stood before u
whole bench Of judges.
Then Frank related from first to last
his adventures with Mary Lascelles,
emitting only the little episode Of the
garden and her gentle hints Of prefer
enoe for himself, which the honest lad
was 10th to believe even now were any
thing but sincere.
BY this time the mounted stranger
had approached short, thiclr-sct old
man, dressed In the garb Of minister,
with Bible and hymn book sticking con-
spicuously out Of his coatpoclset, and
mounted on lanIs, ill-fed mule.