The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-05-31

ard he said. Strange!
What is stranger"
'sYou told US you had hurt yourself
with the AK"
"Well?"
"There is no blood on your handker-
Chief
Wardour snatched the handkerchief
out of Crayford's hand, and, turning
away. approached the outer door OF the
but. "No blood on the handkerchief,
he said to himself. There may De
stain or two when Crawford sees II
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 TOO
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. rs captain
Helding here. sir?' he asked, address,
ing himself to Waldour
Wardour pointed to Crawford.
"The lieutenant will tell you.' he
said.
Crawford advanced and questioned
the ouartermaster. What do you want
with Captain Heldins?" he asked.
81 have a report to make, sir. There
has been an accident IN the ice"
''To one of your nldn?"
mo, sir. To one OF our officers.
Wardour-on the point of going out
paused when the quartermaster MADE
that reply For a moment he consid-
cred with himself. Then he walked
slowly back to the part of the room in
which Frank was standing. Crawford,
directing the quartermaster, pointed to
the arched doorway in the side OF the
hut.
81 am sorry to hear of the accident, !"
he said. "You will find Captain Held
ing in that ROOM
For the second time, with singular
persistency, Wardour renewed the con-
versation with Frank.
80 you knew the Burnhams?" he
said. "What became of Clara when her
father died?"
Franks face flushed angrily on the
instant
''Clara?" he repeated. What au-
thorizes you to speak of Miss Burn
ham in that familiar manner?"
WALDORF seized the opportunity of
quarreling with him. what right
have you to ask?" he retorted coarsely.
Franks blood was up. He forgot his
promise to Clara to keep their engage
ment secret-he forgot everything but
the unbridled insolence of Wardour's
language and manner.
GA right which [ insist on your re-
specting," he answered. "The right of
being engaged to marry her."
Crayford's steady eyes were still on
the watch, and Wardour felt them on
him. A little more, and Crawford
might openly interfere. Even War
dcur recognized, for once, the necessity
of controlling his temper, cost him
what it might. He made his apologies,
with oyerstrained politeness, to Frank.
Impossible to dispute such right
as yours he said. Perhaps you will
excuse me when you know that / am
one of Miss Burnham's old friends. My
father and her father were neighbors.
We have always met like brother and
sister,
Frank generously stopped the apol-
ogy there. Say no MORE" he inter
posed. II was in the wrong-I lost
my temper. Pray forgive me-"
Wardour looked at him with
strange reluctant interest while he was
speaking. Wardour asked an extraor-
binary question when he had done.
rs she very fond of your
Frank burst into laughing. my dear
fellow" he said, come to our wedding
and judge for yourself
Come to your wedding?" AS he
repeated the words Wardour stole one
glance at Frank, which Frank (em-
ployed in buckling his knapsack) failed
to see. Crawford noticed it-and Cray
ford's blood ran cold. Comparing the
wor.is which Wardour had spoken to
him while they were alone together,
with the words that had just passed
IN his presence, he could draw but one
conclusion. The woman whom War
dour had loved and lost was-Clara
Burnham. The man who had robbed
him of her was Frank Adversely And
Wardour had discovered it in the in
terval since they had last met. THANK
God!' thought Crawford, ''the dice have