The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-06-23

|
"Well?"
There is no blood on your handker-
| chief"
Wardour snatched the handkerchief
| out OF Crayfords hand, and, turning
| away. approached the outer door OF the
hut. INC blood on the handkerchief"
he said to himself. There may be
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 too
late" he said. Il 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 WalIour.
Wardour pointed to Crawford.
THE lieutenant will tell you" he
said.
Crawford advanced and questioned
the quartermaster. What do you want
with Captain Heldins?" he asked.
Il have a report to make, sir. There
has been an accident IN the ice
ITO one of your rnen?"
NO, sir. To one Uf our officers"
Wardour-on the point of going out
paused when the quartermaster made
that reply. For 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.
II 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-
thorize3 you to speak of Miss. Burn
ham in that familiar manner"
Waldour 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 Wardours
language and manner.
"A 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. \ 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 overstrained politeness, to Frank.
Impossible TO dispute such a right
as yours he said. Perhaps you will
excuse me when you know that l am
one of Miss Burnham's old friends. Ny
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. Il was in the wrong-I lost
my TEMPER. Pray forgive me-"
Wardour looked at him with a
arr In TnE r,h;I. H. --..
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 vedding?" AS he
repeated the words Wardour stole one
glance at Frank, which Frank lem
ployed in buckttns his knapsack) failed
to see: Crayto-d noticed it--and Cray
ford's blood ran cold. Comparing the
words 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
dcur had loved and lost was-Clara
Burnham. The man who had robbed
him Of her was Frank Aldersley. And
Wardcur had discovered it in the in
terval since they had last met. Thank
Godr thought Crawford, the dice have
parted them. Frank goes with the
expedition: and Wardour stays behind
with me"
The reflection had barely occurred to
him-Frank's thoughtless invitation to
| WarCiour had lust passed his Inns