The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-09-17

it all, little by little" he whispered to
Miss Walton, and then, with calm de-
cision, stopped, and, encircling the
slender waist of the younger girl with
his arm. quickly lifted her to her feet.
A tress of her rich, red-brown hair was
caught in his shoulder-strap, but neither
noticed it. Such was the patients
prostration that for a moment even
brandy failed of it's stimulating effect.
Not until several spoonfuls had been
forced between her blue lips did there
come that shivering sigh that tells of
reviving consciousness. The white
hands began feebly to pluck at her
dress and the heavy eyelids to open
slowly. I'VE will fall back" whispered
Lambert. "I'll wait in the hail."
But when he turned to tiptoe away, a
very touzled, tangled, dishevelled, but
pretty head had to come, too. There
was too much of that fine, shining. SHIN
mering tress to let go. Burns was al
ready creaking out into the dark pas
sage. Miss Walton was absorbed in her
mothers face. Miss Katherine's round
ed cheek had flushed as red as the in
valid's was white, and both her tiny
hands were madly tugging and pulling
at the offending tendrils; but who could
work to advantage with the back or side
of ones head practically clamped to the
work bench? Miss katherine could not
tear herself loose except at the risk of
carrying away square inch or more
of scalp, for the strap would not yield,
and its wearer could not help so long
as her own hands were Juggling. There
was every likelihood, therefore, that the
tableau ON which Nine. Walton's open
ing eyes should gaze would be about
the very last she would care to see-the
bonnie head of her precious child re-
posing, to all appearance, on a shoulder
in Yankee blue-when Lambert, alive
to the desperate nature of the situation,
quickly cast loose the two or three
buttons of the flannel sack coat then so
much in vogue. and, slipping out of that
and into the hall, rejoined his imper-
turbable sergeant.
81 hope the lieutenant will pardon my
taking his flask. I saw it in the tent
this evening, sir. and the captain didn't
leave the key of the medical chest-with
me, leastwise.'
"You did right. That was some good
cognac they got for me in New Orleans.
I hope it will revive her. Ought we not
to send for DIR. Hand?''
NO, SIR" whispered Burns. "She
wouldn' have him for one of her niggers
and be damned to them. I know now
where Riggs had been getting his
liquor, and where our coffee and sugar
has been going. He's bribed these
thieving servants of hers to steal that
precious brandy, and those damn scoun-
drels broke into the cellar tonight to
get more"
But they must have been drinking
in the first place. Where could they
have got that liquor? Hers was gone
Sold"
I'm town, somewhere. I'll find out"
But here the lieutenant checked him. A
feeble voice was just audible in the adj
joining room:
"Have they gone? Have been i'll?
Esther-daughter. see that-No!
must see that young officer. at once"
"Not tonight, mother" answered the
elder girl, pleadingly. Not tonight.
Tomorrow; you'll be rested then"
THAT may be too late. Whatever
happens, there must be no court-mar-
tial. He said ] should have to testi-
fly; so would you. You saw. Esther,
and if under oath we should have to
tell"
Quick! Come out of this!" whis-
pered Lambert, hoarsely, and dragged
the sergeant after him to the dark and
wind-swept shadows of the yard.