The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-06-10

err officers before
they go you have no time to lose."
He checked himself there, looking
Wardour full in the face. Good heav-
ons! he cried, chow pale you are.
Has anything happened?"
Frank, searching in his locker for
articles of clothing which he might re-
qu!re 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.
"AEe 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.
YES" he said, II 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 it."
He turned his head toward them
again as suddenly as he had turned it
away. He advanced few steps, and
addressed himself with an uneasy ia
miliarity to Frank.
Il didn't answer you civilly when
you spoke to me some little time since.
mean. when 1 first came in here,
along with the rest of them. 1 apol-
og!ze. 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
81 am glad to be friends with you
Mr.. Wardour. I wish l was as we'll
seasoned to fatigue as you are.''
Wasdour burst into hard, joyless,
unnatural laugh. mot Strong, eh?
You don't look it. The dice had bet
ter sent ME away and kept you here.
I 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 a step on his side,
with a new interest in Richard War
dour, 'Ycu 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.
Il ought to know something about
East Kent" Frank answered "some
dear friends or mine once lived there"
Friends of yours?" Wardour re-
reated lone of the county families. I
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
"One c. the county families:" he re-
sunled. The WitherDys of Yew Grange,
1 daresay?"
NO. said Frank; "but friends of the
Withe1bys, 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 attentiyely,
Crawford picked it up.
There is your handkerchief, Rich
ard he said. stranger"
What is stranger"
"Ycu told US you had hurt yourself
with tbs AK" -
"Well?"
There is no blood on your handker-
Chief
Wardcu- snatched the handkerchief
cut OF Crayford's hand, and, turning
| away, approached the outer door of the
hut. INC blood on the handkerchief.
he said to himself. There may be a
stain or two when Crawford sees it
/ 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. ~ am going to follow
Your advice"
! The door was opened from the cute,
side as he laid mis- hand on the lock
: One OF the quartz. masters of the Wan.
; derer entered the hut. lis Captain
J. Hehing here, sir, he asked, address.
ing himself to WaYiour.
Wardour pointed to CRAWFORD.
"The lieutenant will tell you," h,
!. said. ....
CRAWFORD advanced and questioned
T! the quartermaster. "Whxt do you wan
with Captain HeldinE?" he asked.