The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-01-25

quarters. he appeared to resent my
having been to his quarters Calls it
spying, I presume. -
What permission had he TO be
aWay?r
I gave him leave to visit town on
t personal business yesterday afternoon.
He merely asked to be away a few hours
to meet friends IN town, and Mr. Hall
took tattoo roll call for him ASH do
not require any other officer to report
the time Of his return, did not exact
it Of him, but Of course no man can be
away after midnight without special
permission, and he was gone all night.
What is it, Armitage? Has he followed
her down there?"
Somebody was there last night and
capsized the colonel pretty much as no
did you the night of the ladder episode, -
said Armitage coolly.
By heaven, and I let him gor'
How do you know twas he?''
who else could it be, Armitage?"
That's what the colonel asks, but it
isn't clear to re yet awhile.
Iwish it were less clear to me. said
Chester gloomily. "The worst is that
the story is spreading like a pestilence
all over the post. The women have got
hold Of it, and there is all manner Of
talk I shouldn't be surprised if Mrs.
Hoyt had to be taken violently i'll. She
has written to invite Miss Renwick to
visit her, as it is certain that Colonel
and Mrs. Maynard cannot come, and
HOyt came to me in a horror of amaze
yesterday to know if there were any
truth in the rumor that had caught ;
man coming out Of Mrs. Maynard's
window the other night. I would tell
him nothing, and he says the ladies
declare they won't go to the german if
she does. HeaYensl I'm thankful you
are come. The thing has been driving
me wild these last 10 hours. I wanted
to go away myself. Is she coming up?"
''No, she isn't, but let me say this,
Chester-that whenever she is ready to
return 1 shall be ready to escort her."
Chester looked at his friend in amaze
ment and without speaking
Eyes, ! see you are astonished, but
you may as well understand the situa-
ton, have heard all the colonel could
tell and have even seen the letter. and
since she left here a mysterious stranger
has appeared by night at Sablon, at the
cottage window, though it happened to
be her mothers this time and don't
believe Alice RenWick knows the first
thing about it. "
"Arnitage, are you in lover"
Chester, I am in my sound senses.
Now come and show me the ladder and
where you found it and tell me the
whole story over again. I think it grows
interesting. One moment. Has he that
picture yet?"
I suppose so. IdOn't know. In these
last few days everybody is fighting shy
Of him. He thinks it is my doing and
looks black and sulky at me, but is too
proud or too much afraid Of conse-
quences to ask the reason Of the cold
shoulders and averted looks. Gray has
taken seven days leave and gone off with
that little girl of his to place her with
relatives in the east. He has heard the
stories, and it is presumed that some Of
the women have told her, She was
down sick here a day or two"
"WeIl, now for the window and the
ladder. Iwant to see the outside through
your eyes, and then will view the in
terror with my own. The colonel bids
me do so.
Together they slowly climbed the long
stairway leading up the face of the cliff.
/ Chester stopped for a breathing spell
more than once.
you're all out of condition. man, "
said the younger captain, pausing i'm
patiently. 'What has undone you?"
''This trouble and nothing else. By
CAD, it has unstrung the whole garri-
son, I believe. You never saw our peo-
pie fall off so in their shooting. Oh
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 dollar, every man, with
the single exception Of their big ser
geant. I don't like to make ugly com.
| parsons with a man whom l believe to be
/ more than half interested in a woman,
! but it makes me think of the old story
about Medusa. One look at her face il
| too much for man. That Sergeant Nc
Iced went to grass the instant he caught
sight Of her and never has picked VI
since,
Consider me considerably more thar
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, anC
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 fat On his face th'
moment he saw her aud hasn't been Il
good form from that moment to this
The doctor says it's heart disease. "
, That's what the colonel says trouble
Mrs. Maynard. She was senseless ant
almost pulseless some minutes las
night. What manner of man is nc
Leod?"
"a tall. slim, dark eyed, swarth,
fellow, a man with history and
J mystery, I judge.
Il man with a history, mystery
who is tall, slim, has dark eyes ant
swarthy complexion and faints away a
) sight of AIiss Renwiek might be san
) to possess peculiar characteristics, fam
Sly traits, some Of them. Of oouE
j, / you've kept an eye On Mcleod. Wher
is he?,
Chester stood leaning ca the raj