The Portland daily press., 1892-09-16

avoided the officers, and even lectured
Mckee roundly for his courtesies to Maj.
Bond for sake of passes. Anyway, no
warning could come from that Office.
What could it mean? Again he took up
the envelope, handling it as though it
burned him, then holding it close to the
rudy blaze, only to find 1t densely
opaque.
"Who brought 1t, Mary?" he asked Of
the servant, still lingering by the table.
I''An orderly?"
"virry, SORT A dacint-shpoken lad
emo, barrin' tn blue" she answered, in
an accent that long residence nor long
devotion to the Meredith family had
been potant to conquer. "He sid it was
immayjit; and 1 sid I'd hand ut. to tn
masther In three winlks av pigs eyel
L wudn't be afther httin' tn likes O.
thin know WHITTIER he wor in or no."
! tsYou are right, Mary. Prudence can
do no harm these days. OF course Car
!roll only goes hunting, but"
'.Is 1t thatp Shure it's tn bad shot
hes grown, thin, fur whin he takes tn
longest "Trip tn bag comes in tn impti-
lest. But where he goes, an whin, is
his own bisiness, an none av tn blue
divirs matther." The woman spoke
ihotly and honestly, though there was
keen twinkle in her eye as she finished.
!; VERY well, Mary" the man an
swered,v looking keenly at her. ''rll
give him the letter as soon as he re-
turns" And, as theservant closed tho
door, Mckee resumed his restless walk,
iwith.msny glance at the suspicious
Enissive.
1t was q full hour after nightfau when
Carroll Meredith clattered up, dis
mounted and entered his own coy
apartment.
sHello, Williei U-ugh! but 1t is Bit
ter coldp' was his greeting, as he threw
of coat and gloves and stood with his
back tothe FIRE. /
81 should have thought you would
ride faster, ~ was the reply. Here's
letter for YOU"
"Faster! Selim and did the thirty
miles in an hour less than usual" Mere.
tdith answered, taking the letter care
,1essly. ''It was broad day before old
Pete padded into the creek; said the
river was full Of transports passing up.
Wonder if they oaa be massing for
"a move this weather" Il
"Were the creeks freezingp" tho other
asked, snxiously. Carroll, II the river
freezes, how can we ever get her
across?''
Upper route-Harper's-and CROSS
lon the ice, Meredith returned, prompt
~. q
mot # they're massing above WASH
ington. Besides, hang it, she's obstinate
as burro about that cursed anonymous
meddler. But for him I'd have had her
across that night" e
Ellis information was strictly cor
rect his friend replied. III
"Read your letter." Mckee retorted,,
abruptly; and the host read, slowly: H.
Maj. Bond begs to hand Mr.. Car
roll Meredith the inclosed, just received
from Wheeling, with request for imme-
diate delivery I'm! polite enough;
but I'm getting into good company fastl
Notes from headquarters!'' Ez
"Read the inclosed, Carroll; it may
be Important" III
Beyond doubt" the other chaffed
back, as he slowly slipped the Enclosure
from~its unsealed envelope. 1t bore
only his name and number, covering
large, stiff sheet of plain paper scrawled
over in careless writings syvide-lined and
ragged. Doubtless, Willie, Gen. Bald
win presents his compliments to Mr..
Carroll Meredith, and requests his views
upon prison discipline. You know he
is off on an inspection. Damned if this
isn't a puzzler. Itmight be written in
Chinese. Here, see if you can translate
it. dpn'tremember the writing, even."
Meredith tossed the sheet to his friend,
reaching for. his slippers and drawing
off one boot, as Mckee read aloud: Il.
"'Called off suddenly Don't delay
the hupt for me. Creeks may freeze and
ducks fly too high; so go ahead-alone.
Regrets to the ladies, especially Miss G.
Let her read this, but be careful the
heat (from her angry eyes, does not
burn it up before she reads my grief
between the lines. Ask her to pray for
my soul. Thine, HARRY"
ssWho in thunder is Harry had
no engagement to hunt with any fellow
lar less any WOIudu, MCiSoAoA
growled, pulling on one slipper.
"Who is Miss CO. Do you recognize
her?" Mckee queried in turn.
"Divvil a shpat av me! as Mary says"
the other returned. "Miss Carroll
Crenshaw-Colston? But I've no en-
gagement. It is some stupid jokel If
catch the fellow, I'll make him pray for
his own soul"
"That's It'll He is the mani" Mckee
started to his feet.
Damned if you don't read Chinese
after ALL" Meredith replied. staring.
"Well, his name2"
IT have no idea; but there's far more
than any joke in this. Carroll, its
writer is the same who sent the warn
ing"
''By George" the other cried, spring
ing to feet shod in one slipper and one
riding-boot. "Are you sure? Why,
man, he would have written to you No
one knows that l ever saw Carolyn
Clay"
'There may be good reason" Mckee
persisted. "See: Don't delay the hunt
co. ,ba,1 oLono, WHY (,arroJl II is