The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-28


proud or too mach afraid of conse-
quences to ask the reason Of the cold
shoulders and averted looks. Gray has
taken seven days leave and gone of with
that little girl Of his to place her with
relatives in the east. Ho has heard the
stories, and it is presumed that some of
the women have told her. She was
down sick here q day or two"
"Well, now for the window and the
ladder. Iwaht to see the outside through
your eyes, and then l will view the in
terror with my own. Tho colonel bids
me do so."
Together they slowly climbed the long
stairway leading up tho face Of the cliff.
Chester stopped for breathing spell
more than once.
YOU'RE all out Of condition, man."
said the younger captain, pausing i'm
patiently. "What has undone your"
"This trouble and nothing else. BY
gad, it has unstrung the whole garri-
son, believe. You never saw our peo-
pie fall off so in their shooting. OF
course we expected Jerrold to 60 to
pieces, but nobody else. "
"There were others that seemed to
fall away too. Where was that cavalry
team that was expected to take the
skirmish medal away from us?"
"Sound as q dollar, every man, with
the single exception of their big SER
geant don't like to make ugly com
parisons with man whom believe to be
moro than half interested in woman,
but it makes me think Of the old story
about Medusa. One look at her face is
too much for man. That Sergeant Nc
Leod went to grass the instant he caught
sight of her and never has picked up
since"
Consider me considerably more than
half interested in the woman in this
case, Chester. Make all the compari-
sons that you like, provided they illu-
mine matters as you are doing now, and
tell me more Of this Sergeant Mcleod.
What do you mean by his catching
sight of her and going to grass?"
81 mean he fell fiat on his face the
moment he saw her and hasn't been in
good form from that moment to this.
The doctor says it's heart disease. "
"That's what the colonel says troubles
Mrs. Maynard. She was senseless and
almost pulseless some minutes last
night. What manner Of man is Nc
Leod?" ...
"A tall, slim, dark eyed, swarthy
fellow, man with history and q
mystery, l judge" " r..
"a man with a history, q mystery,
who is tall, slim, has dark eyes and
swarthy' complexion and faints away ut
sight of Miss Renwick might be said
to possess peculiar characteristics, fam
lily traits, some Of them. OF course
you've kept an eye on Mcleod Where
is he?"
Chester stood leaning on the rail,
breathing slowly and heavily. His eyes
dilated as he gazed at Armitage, who
was surveying him coolly, though the
tone III which he spoke betrayed new
interest and vivid one.
II confess / never thought Of him in
connection with this affair."" said Ches-
! ter.
'"There's the one essential point Of
difference between us, was the reply.
"You go in on the esupposition that there
is only one solution to this thing, and
that woman must be dishonored to be-
gin with. believe there can be several
solutions, and that there is only one
thing in the lot that is at all impossi-
BILE. "
whats that?" '.
! Miss Ronwick's knowledge Of that
nights visitor OF Of any other secret or
sin. l mean to work other theories first,
and the Mcleod trail is q good one to
start on. Where can l get look at
him?" " -.Nr'.'e. '' 49, -
Somewhere out in the Rockies by
this time. He was ordered back to his
troop five days ago, and they are out
scouting at this moment unless I'm
vastly mistaken. You have seen the
morning dispatches?"
about the Indians? Yes. Looks
squally at tho Spirit Rock reservation,
Do you mean that Mcleod is there?"
"That's where his troop ought to be
by this time. There is too small force
OH the trail now, and more will have tC
90 if big outbreak is to bo prevented. u
"Then he has gone, and l cannot set
him. Let mo look at the window then. ~
A few steps brought them to the ter.
race, and there, standing by the west
wall and locking up at the closed slat:
Of the dormer window, Captain Chester
rotold the story of his night adventure.
Armitage listened attentively, asking
few questions, When it was finished,
the latter turned ana walked to the real
door, which opened on the terrace II
was locked -
"The servants are having holiday,
I presume" he said. $50 much the bet
ter. Ask the quartermaster for the key
Of the front door, and III go in while
everybody is out looking at dress parade
There goes first call now. Let your or
derly bring it to me here, will you?"
Ten minutes later, With beating heart
he stood and uncovered his handsome
head and gazed silently, reverentlJ
around hHn. He was in her room.
1t was dainty as her own dainty self
The dressing table, the windows, the
rretty white bed, the broad, inviting
lounge, tho work table and basket, til,
very washstand, were all trimmed ant
decked alike, white and yellow prevail
ing. White lace curtains draped tn,
window on the west-that fateful win
dow-and tho two that opened out o.
the roof of the piazza. White lace cur
tains draped tho bed, the dressing tabl
and the washstand White lace o
tome equally dimsy and feminine ma
terial hung about her bookshelves an'
workable and over the lounge, and bow
! ,.r