The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-24
CHAPTER KIN.


away. He was beginning TO see through
it all. He knew that two ladies of the
garrison were calling at his quarters
just at that Iuckless hour near retreat
when. as he had urged. Merriam went
thither and asked for Mrs McLane He
knew that they had left and gone on up
the row while his wife was expostulating
with Fanny aloft and Randy was wait
ing below. He knew that one at least of
their number would be sure TO tell what
was occurring. not as a matter of malice
by any means. but simply because. she
couldn't help telling anything and every
thing that she saw and heard. He knew
that sympathizing women were dropping
in every few minutes to see dear Flor
RE" herself. If possible thing, or to in
quire how she was, and he quickly con-
jectured that one or more of these visit
ors had let fall the fatal observation
What Grafton did not know was that
such a visitation had befallen after
Florence had virtually asked Randy TO
tell where he had been, and after his
hapless failure TO explain Immediately
the entire circumstances. 1t reused the
demon of her passionate nature TO be told
the truth by other lips than his. But
this in itself, reasoned Grafton, was not
enough TO drive Florence into flight
She must have watched for his later
coming, must have seen him go-oh,
fatal step! for which he. George Grafton,
and no one else. was responsible-away
from the path that led to his wife and
home, straight to that which bore him
TO the side of the woman he had loved
before ever he set eyes on Floy Ire
maine And thither she, perchance, had
followed; but there-what had she seen?
what had she heard? There were
aching hearts in many households at
Sedgwick that cloudless morning, but
the man who suffered most was Grafton.
The whole truth flashed upon him as he
followed the prints of Mignon's nimble
hoof. He would have TO tell his wife
and Mrs Hayne, but no one else.
mo word of this to any one; Whit
taker." therefore he cautioned with
sign.
well, I'm not all asinine,'' was the
troubled subaltern's reply, though 1
''God forbid that 1 should Judge any
man." thought Grafton to himself, latter
what I've done this past night
Harriet Grafton was greatly shocked
when told her husbands fears. and did
not altogether meekly accept his eau
ton TO keep the secret from Fanny. who
still slept the sleep Of the innocent and
virtuous and clear OF conscience. Hop
Ling had been told to go indoors, put all
the rooms to rights. have the breakfast
table set and breakfast prepared as
usual. and he wondered but obeyed.
Mrs. Hayne was speedily aroused by the
announcement that Mrs. Grafton was
below, and was well aware that some
thing extraordinary had occurred to
warrant a call at so early an hour. Even
the children, wearied after last nights
vigil, were still asleep. Downing a wrap
per. she FASTENED out on the landing and
softly called over the balusters, 81 know
you have news for me, Mrs. Grafton;
please come up"
And in the telling Of her tidings was
1t any wonder that the younger matron
burst into tears?
I'VE must try to make it seem that she
has ridden off at dawn In hopes of meet
ing Randy on his return with the pris-
oners," was Mrs. Haynes decision after
she had recovered from the shock and
had heard the whole story; and this
commended itself to Grafton as wise
when his wife came back to him and he
had returned from the never-to-be-
neglected morning stables" And this
too was what they intended at first to
say to Merriam when he should come In
ravenous for breakfast and astonished at
not finding his wife. But high noon
=
words of the acting adjutant, high noon
brought only high jinks.
Crane, officer of the day, and q dozen
other officers had seen Hop Ling's frantic
charge across the parade at reveille, and
numbers of men had heard his announce
ment of the general hegira at Merriam's.
Before guard mounting it was known
that Mignon's trail led straight away to
the upper fords of the Santa Clara-far
from the direction in which Randy had
gone At 10 a herdsman came in who
said he "reckoned the lady must have
dropped this" He saw her riding like
the wind the short cut for Jose's ranch
on the old Navajo trail, and he handed
over poor Florries little travelling bag,
which she had evidently strapped to her
saddle, never OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES never
caring-what the strain might be- never
missing 1T when it was gone They sent
IT 10 Mrs. Hayne, who could no longer
Keep up her brave face. but sobbed over
1T as would a mother over some priced
relic of lost and beloved child.
Then Bux ordered out three of his
swfftest trailerS and riders and the best
light wagon at the post With the wagon
went the post surgeon and Mrs. Hayne,
who left her brood to a neignbor's care.
They took with them such rugs and
restoratives as seemed necessary. and at
noon they were across the Santa Clara
on the road to the cantonment. expect
ing 10 reach Jose's by nightfall and find
their runaway darling there, exhausted
by her long hours in saddle and COM
PEELED to stay under that friendly shell
ter, as sometimes with her father and
twice at least with Randy she had
stayed on her journeys to and fro. There
she would have TO remain over night
until Mignon should be able to go on
again with the rise of the morning star.
Meantime the wires from Cimarron
junction had been hot with news, and
McGrath, the operator, lived the day of
MS life. for hours the most important
man at the post The rioters had got
wind of the coming Of troops and had
sought TO block the way by wrecking a
freight caboose in Calamas gorge The
Rifiers swarmed out and had things in
shape within an hour. and went
whistling on again. Every one knew
trouble would end the moment they got
10 the scene of the strike. but what