Evening journal., 1892-08-02
SYNOPSIS.

=
CHAPTER I-Nita Guthrie. a 81. Iouis
girl, is visiting the family of Surgeon Holden.
in the camp of the Twelfth cavalry, in
Arizona. Captain Rolfe, an officer Of the
love affair is ia the way. Mia swOons over
some mysterious apparitiOn on the eve of her
departure for home. ll-After Nita leaves
camp Dr. Holden tries to unearth the mystery
OF her swoon. lie suspects that Sergeant
Ellis, recent recruit and a man with a his
tory, had some connection with it. Ill Lieu
tenant Curly brewster, another officer Of
the Twelfth, is In love with Winifred Berricn
the daughter Of Major Berrien. Captain RulfG
lights upon evidence that another woman
claims BrewsteI's devotion. lN-rhe society
at the fort gives a hop, and Mrs. Knowles. q
married dirt from "A nearby town, makes
scene with Brewster. at which Major 5errlen
and Wlniired are mystifel and indignant.
N-Before Brewster can explain to Winifred
about the Knowles oman his troop is ordered
TO march against the Sioux Indians in Dakota.
begun Tuesday, July 26-Back numbers at
the Counting Room.l
"Oh, Holdenl Where are your sun
no reply. "Odd," said Kenyon; Il
Thoughtful saw him in here. Who could
that have beeng With the confidence
of army intimacy he tramped through
the sitting room on the left Of the hall,
then into the dining room beyond No
one there. Then across the hall again
and into Holden's own sleeping room at
the rear of the house. The kerosene
lamp was burning on the dressing table.
The bed Nd been occupied. Evidently
Holden had turned in early, only to be
routed out by the orders of the colonel.
The floor creaked somewhere overhead.
Then he was sure he heard a quick,
light football on the stair "Oh. DOci
Here / am. It's Kenyon" he cried.
But no answer came. Once more re-
turning to the hall, and thence to the
sitting room, he found them empty as
before. The parlor door on the west
side was closed. Slowly he strolled out
on the front piazza, just in time to catch
sight of a tall form in the dark circular
cape striding up to the gate. Surely
that was Holden. Then he heard q
hail:
"Hello, Rolfe. That your"
yes. You go with us, do your"
Il do Won't you come I'M"
"Not just now; I've got to go to my
quarters a moment. III be in by and
by. Well have to make a night of it."
'All right. Kathleen will get us some
coffee after "A while. Bring in some Of
the others with you" Then the doctor
came bounding up the steps. Hello,
Kenyon. You here? Well, you were
right after all, weren't you? I've just
been over to the hospital to see to the
field chests"
Weren't you in here just nowy" asked
Kenyon.
Il? Mol Not for ten minutes"
"Well, some one was here-up stairs
and down, both. l called twice and got
no answer, but saw man and heard
the steps. Thought it was you"
"Rolfe, perhaps. He was in the road
just beyond cur gate as came back, but l
thought he had just come from his com
pany quarters"
IF it had been Rolfe he would have
answered, should think" said Ken
yon. Besides, the figure and the foot
steps wepe those of a much lighter
man"
"Queer" said Holden, his thoughts in
stantly reverting to the event of the
week before. "DidVou see hiny"
II saw a figure pass across the light
streaming from the sitting room door.
Then heard the step up stairs while
stood in your room, and then very quick
light steps on the stairs-some one com.
ing down like a streak, now that think
Of it."
"How long ago."
mot more than a minute before you
got here"
by Jove, I'm going to look into this!
said Holden quickly. "Of course you'v,
heard of the excitement we had here
Bring that candle, will you? III tax,
the lamp" Up the stairs they went-ul
to the landing where Mia Guthrie hal
her mysterious fright and fall. Thu
door Of the room she occupied was open
All was darkness within. Holden, fol
lowed by Kenyon, entered, and they Sc
their lights upon a table The side win
dow was shut and barred, the south win
dows as firmly closed. Everything
looked neat and undisturbed. but col,
and deserted. No sign of an intrude
for a moment to the eyes Of either man
Then of a sudden Holden made a spring
for the toilet table, seized a small silve
frame and stood glaring at it.
"By Jove! look herew
whats the natter" asked Kenyon.
"Don't you seey' was the answer, a
the doctor held the face of the franz
toward him, empty and gaping. .''Nit
Guthrie's photograph was in this franz
and on that table just before the hol
began when was mp here, and wher
is it nowy
CHAPTER VI.
Pallid and wan the first faint CLEAN o
the coming day was stealing slowly int
the eastern skies. Far away down tn
broad valley the mist was creepino iron