The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-10-02


Nothing" said Brayton briefly. II
haven't seen him
"But he's up. The lights in his
window. He's writing-or something
Look here, Brayton, you know what's
got to come of this. That ID Irish
man must challenge him or be cut and
kicked about by all his kind in the cav
airy. 1t isn't Barclays fight; it's mine.
The more think Of it the more / know
that, contemplate a blackguard as
Braliigan is, he is still an officer Of the
regiment. He has been knocked down.
and has the right to demand the only
satisfaction there is for a blow. You
know it as we'll as do. What I've got
to do right here and now is to take that
fight off Barclays hands, and you've
got to help me.
"S'pose he don't want it taken of
his hands,, said Brayton sturdily. "He
told him plain enough he was ready to
meet any demand''-
Winp redeemed even in the pallid
moonlight. 81 say no man in this gar
rison fights on my wife's account except
me-or with me. They re mp with Bral-
Iigan now, two or three of them, and
want you to go there with me at once
as my witness. mean to cowhide him
tonight Then if he wants a meeting in
the morning I'm his man." And as he
spoke Winn thrashed nervously at the
railing with the stout whip ne carried
in his hand.
"That won't fix it, " answered Bray
ton, land you ought to have sense
enough to know it. Barclay has the
precedence. The Mick couldn't chal-
lepge you until he'd fought him-or
BEEN refused a fight. Yor GO to bed,
Winn," and Brayton spoke even lower.
Your wife must have heard you just
now, and first thing you know Barclay
will hear you, and'-with almost
comical irrelevance-''you don't want
to meet him this way, when you haven't
even called on him."
Winn Redeemed again. There was a
tinge of bitterness in his tone as he an
swered:
Don't trouble yourself about Mrs.
Winn's hearing. She's placidly asleep
long ago. As for my not calling, you
| know I've only been out of my bed
three days or so, and Captain Barclay
must understand that a man burdened
as / have been is IN no mood for social
observanccs. This is all begging the
question. You're the only man can
ask to be my second. Finish your dress
ing now and come"
"Winn, won't do it," said Eray-
ton, with fiat footed decision. This is
my captains affair, and from what I've
seen of him since he joined I'm bound
to say what's his is mine Besides,
| you've got no business mixing up in
the matter. You've got your wife 20
think of, and you've got that commits
sary business to straighten out. Bar
clay and / have no membranes of
either kind At the moment, fear
me, the young gentleman could have
added, "Thank God. - for with all his
appreciation of the physical perfections
of his classmates wife Mr.. Brayton
was keenly aware of her many extrava-
gances.
'Of course I've a wife," answered
Winn hotly. Its because of her feel
bound to take this up. AS for that COM
missary money, every cent will be here
to square the shortage, whether am or
not. I'll tell you what others No,
1 can't even tell you, Brayton. But an
old friend Of my fathers has offered his
help. Now; once more, will You come
or not?''
"No, Winn. You know we'll enough
I'd see you through if hush There's
Mullane and some one else coming out
of his quarters now."
"Then, by God, I'll go alone" ex-
claimed Winn, land it's got to be done
before they get away" And he would
have gone springing down the steps,
but Brayton seized and held him.
''For Gods sake, Harry, be quiet to-
night. Don't go near him. Quiet, man.
Can't you see? Those fellows are com
ing this way now.
True enough, Mullane and his com.
panion, who had issued from the fourth
set of quarters down to the left, turned
northward the moment they reached
the walk, the moonlight cleaning on
the buttons of their uniform frock coats
but the sight and faint sound Of scuf
fling en- Winn's porch seemed to attract
their attention. They stopped as though
to reconnoiter, and just then the from
door of Brayton's hall opened wide
and, with the broad light at his back
Captain Barclay stepped quietly forth
"Brayton," he raid, "you left the
door ajar, and it was impossible not I,
hear the latter part Of this conference
Mr.. Winn, I presume, % me continued
with calm, courteous bow, as the tw'
young men, unclasping, turned ant
faced him. 81 infer that you purpos'
going to Mr.. Bralligan's quarters-now
Let me urge that you do nothing Of th,
kind. Brayton is right. see that, lat
as it is, some Of their party are movini
this way. Pray remember that as We
this is entirely my affair."
There was no time for other answe
than a bow, mumbled word or two