The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-01-18
CHAPTER Z

night as an incentive TO the think he
had promised himself. He had strolled
through the park to the grove Of trees
out on the point and seated himself in
the shadows, Here his reflections were
speedily interrupted by the animated
airtations of a few couples, who, firing
Of the dance. came out into the GOODNESS
Of the night and the seclusion Of the
grove, where their murmured words
and soft laughter soon gave the captains
nerves a strain they could not bear. He
broke cover and betook himself to the
very edge of the stone retaining wall oui
on the point
He wanted to think calmly and dis
passionately. He meant TO weigh all he
had read and heard and form his esti-
mate of the gravity Of the case before
going to bed. He meant to be impartial,
to Judge her as he would Judge any 9TH
OF woman SO compromised, but for the
life of him he could not. He bore with
him the mute image Of her lovely face,
with its clear, truthful, trustful dark
eyes. He saw her as she stood before
him ON the little porch when they shook
hands on their laughing-or his laugh
ing-compact, for she would not laugh.
How perfect she was! Her radiant
beauty, her uplifted eyes, SO full Of
their self reproach and regret at the
speech she had made at his expensei
How exquisite was the grace of her
slender, rounded form as she stood
there before him, one slim hand half
shyly extended to meet the cordial clasp
Of his own! He wanted to Judge and
be just, but that image dismayed him.
How could he look on this picture and
then on that, the one portrayed in the
chain Of cirCumstantial evidence which
the colonel had laid before him? 1t was
monstrous 1t was treason to woman
hoOdI One look in her eyes, superb in
their innocence, was too much for mis-
determined impartiality. Armitage gave
himself mental kick for what he term
ed his imbecility and went back to the
hotel.
Its no use," he muttered. "I'm a
slave Of the W iced and can't be philosO-
pher without my pipe "
Up to his little box of a room he
climbed, found his pipecase and tobacco
pouch, and in five minutes was strolling
ont to the point once more, when he
came suddenly upon the night watch
man, n parsonage of whose functions
and authority he was entirely ignorant.
The man eyed him narrowly and es-
sayed to speak. Not knowing him, and
desiring to be alone, Armitage pushed
past and was surprised to find that a
hand was on his shoulder and the man
at his side before he had gone a rod.
'Beg pardon, sir, ;" said the watch
man gruff1y, but I don't know you.
are you stopping at the hotel?"
II am, said Armitage coolly, tax
ing his pipe Fl ON his lips and blowing
a cloud over his other shoulder. "And
who may you be?"
II am the Waterman, and I do not
remember seeing you come today"
Nevertheless I did. -
"On what train, sir?''
''This afternoons up train"
"You certainly were not On the omni-
bus when it got here. ;"
every true. I walked over from be-
gond the schoolhouse. F."
"You must excuse me, sir. did not
think of that, and the manager requires
me to know ey erybody. Is this Major
Armitage?"
"Armitage is my name, but I'm not
a major
''Yes, sir; I m glad to be set right.
And the other gentleman-him as was
inquiring for Colonel Maynard tonight
He's IN the army, too, but his name
don't seem to Do on the book. He only
came in on the late train.
Another m an to see Colonel May
nard?' asked the captain, with sudden
interest. "J1st come in, you say? I'm
sure I've no idea What was he like?"
81 don't know, sir. At first thought
you was him. The driver told me he
brought a gentleman over who asked
some questions about Colonel Maynard,
but he didn't get aboard at the depot,
and he didn't come down to the hotel
got of somewhere up there on the
bench, and Jim didn't see him. "
"Where's Jtm?' said Armitage.
''Come with me, Waterman. I want
to interview him.
Together the y walked over to the
barn, which the driver was just locking
up after making everything secure fol
the night
Who was it inquiTing for Colonel
Maynard?'' asked Armitage.
81 don't know, sir, " was the slow
answer. ether was q man got aboard
as I was coming across the common
there in the village at the station. There
were several passengers from the traiI
and some baggage, so he may have
started ahead On foot, but afteTwarC
concluded to ride. AS soon as saw
him get in I refined up and asked where
he was going He had no baggage no.
nuthin, and my orders are not to hau
anybody except people of the hotel, ST
rs came right forward through the bui
and took the seat behind me and sait
twas all right he was going to tn
hotel, and he passed up half dollar.
told him that couldn' { take the money
that bus fares were paid at the offlo,
and drove ahead. Then he handel
me cigar, and pretty soon he askes
me if there were many people, and VIII
had the cottages, and when I told hin