The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-10-15

they go you have no time TO lose.
He checked himself there, looking
Wardour full in the face. Good heav-
ens!" he cried, chow pale you are.
Has anything happened?
Frank, searching in his locker for
articles of clothing which he might re-
quire on the journey-looked round.
He was startled, as Crawford had been
startled, by the sudden change in War
dour since they had last seen him.
care you ill.," he asked" hear you
have been doing Bateson's work for
him. Have you hurt yourself?'
Wardour suddenly moved his head,
so as to hide his face from both Cray
ford and Frank. He took out his hand
kerchief and wound it clumsily round
his left hand.
Eyes," he said 81 hurt myself with
the AK. It's nothing. Never mind.
Pain always has a curious effect on
me. l tell you it's nothing; don't no
tice itv'
He turned his head toward them
again as suddenly as he had turned 1t
away He advanced few steps, and
addressed himself with an uneasy IA
miliarity to Frank.
Il didn't answer you clvilly when
you spoke to me some little time since.
mean, when l first came in here,
along with the rest of them. / apol-
ogize. Shake hands! How are you?
Ready for the march,"
Frank met the oddly abrupt advance
which had been made to him with per-
feet good humor.
Il am glad to be friends with you,
Mr.. Wardour. 1 wish l was as well
seasoned to fatigue as you are"
Wardour burst into hard, joyless,
unnatural laugh. Not strong, Ell?
You don't look it. The dice had bet
ter sent me away and kept you here.
l never felt in better condition in my
life" He paused and added, with his
eye on Frank, and with a strong en-
phasis on the words: 1--WE men of Kent
are made Of tough material"
Frank advanced step on his side,
with new interest in Richard War
dour. You come from Kent?" he
asked.
Eyes. From East Kent" He waited
a little once more and looked hard at
Frank. do you know that part of the
country?" he asked.
II ought to know something about
East Kent" Frank answered. Some
dear friends OF mine once lived there"
Friends of yours?" Wardour re-
peated. Zone of the county families,
suppose?"
AS he put the question he abruptly
looked over his shoulder. He was
standing between Crawford and Frank.
Crawford, taking no part in the con-
versation, had been watching him and
listening to him more and more atten-
lively as that conversation went on.
Within the last moment or two War
dour had become instinctively con-
scious of this. He resented Crayford's
conduct with needless irritability.
"Why are you staring at me?" he
asked.
"Why are you looking unlike your
self?" Crawford answered, quietly.
Wardour made no reply. He re-
newed the conversation with Frank.
zone CT the county families?" he re-
sumed. 1.-THE Witherbys of Yew Grange,
I daresay?"
NO" said Frank; "but friends of the
Witherbys, very likely-the Burn
hams"
Desperately as he struggled to main
tain it, Wardour's self-control failed
him. He started violently. The clum-
sily-wound handkerchief fell off his
hand. Still looking at him attentively,
Crawford picked it up.
"Tbe1e is your handkerchief, Rich
ard" he said. Stranger
what is stranger"
"You told us you had hurt yourself
with the AK"
"Well?"
"There is no blood on your handker-
chief"
Wardour snatched the handkerchief
cut of Crayford's hand, and, turning
away, approached the outer door of the
hut. mo blood on the handkerchief,
he said to himself. There may be a
stain or two when Crawford sees 1t
again." He stopped within few PAGES
of the door and spoke to Crawford
'You recommended me to take leave
, of my brother officers before it was toe
late" he said. 81 am going to follow
/ your advice"
The door was opened from the outer
side as he laid mis- hand on the lock
One of the quartz. masters OF the Wan
; derer entered the hut. "Is Captain
Helding here, sir? he asked, address
) ing himself to Waldour.
5 Wardour pointed to CRAWFORD.
? 1.-The lieutenant will tell you," n
;. said.
! Crawford advanced and questioneS
4 the qusrtermaster. "What do you wan
with Captain Heldins?" he asked.