Evening star., 1896-09-19

at supper. Both had heard Of her, but
neither had seen her before. The captain
did his best to start a conversation with
her. but the girl was brusque In her an
swers and soon discouraged him. She con-
fired herself to monosyllables until just as
they were ready to leave the table: then,
having opened the door to the bar room
and made sure that her father was not
| there. she tiptoed back to the captain and
whispered.
Don't let the soldiers get hold of any of
| dads whisky tonight-'
''Why?' he asked. as he regarded her
with surprise.
"Because-'
Her fathers step was heard in the bar
room. and she passed into the cook room
| without completing the sentence A MIN
| ute later the captain left the table and
sauntered out doors There was Mild
| play Of lightning among the black clouds
| In the west but the storm was yet miles
away. Strolling out to the shed he nodded
| to the sergeant who had just finished his
supper. and as the latter came over to
| him, he caid
Sergeant. you know the reputation Of
! this place.
''Yes, SIR
Robertson is an old scoundrel and hates
| the military like poison. While he's all
alone here. he wouldn't hesitate to play us
shabby trick. No whisky. remember
! mot a drop. sir"
I you will post a sentinel here at the
shed and another in the bar room, and
! let the other men be ready to spring at
the first alarm"
Eyes. sir May ask If you have seen
| or heard anything to arouse your sus-
picionT'
Nothing of account. but we know what
Robertson is. No whisky. remember"
Not If we were offered barrels sir"
| At that moment the sergeant had the
| quart bottle in his pocket, and he not only
meant to have his nip, but to pass 1t
around. mo whisky" meant getting
| drunk, as he interpreted 1t, and seven
| eight Soldiers fpat W
| headed on a quart of whisky. which cid
Robertson would be sure to dilute at least
! one-third. He stationed the sensinels.
after giving each one a drink from the
bottle. and half an hour later the storm
| broke. and a wild night came on. For a
| few minutes after lighting up the house
| Old Robertson hung atcut the bar room
| and acted nervous and uneasy, and he
| looked at his guests in strange way.
Then he observed that as no other callers
| couli be expected and he was not feeling
we'll, he'd go to bed. He disappeared into
the living room. passed out of the rear
| door and had any one been looking hs
| might have seen him by the flashes of
lightning as he ran up the trail. A few
master and his clerk went to their rooms
leaving their doors open. while the senti.
| mel sat down on a chair and wohdel ed
that he should have been posted there
| There were thirty minutes of wind, delug'
and reverberating thunder, and then the
storm settled down to work. as i; were
there being a steady downpour. with Eow
and then a blaze of lightning The out.
side door had been shut to keep the storm
out. and by and by the captain asked the
sentinel If 1t could not be opened. Nc
answer. He raised his voice and repeat tee
the question. and then got ont of bed tc
find the soldier fast asleep in his chair
He shook him. but the nan did not awake
Whisky. eh?" whispered the paymaste
as he bent over and got sniff of ths
mans breath. III he got it some Of the
others did also. Queer whisky! He va.
perfectly sober thirty minutes aso!"
At that moment the door of The livinl
room opened and the girl Kit stepped into
the bar. She walked straight up to th'
man. noticed his condition, and turned OF
the captain with:
Didn't l tell you to warn em?"
And so l did he replied.
They've all got 1t and It's been drugged
Daddy fixed to drug the coffee. but
beat him at it. He's out now to meet {
gang and bring 'em in to get the safe. ant
you'd better see how your men are!''
The clerk came out at that moment. ant
the two men started for the shed. 1t wa