The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-10-30
AgIROOPER
MsAl.AFlAD.
II CApTAfk
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CHAPTER XVII,
IcopyriGht ia0a . ,. . LipDiEoOts conpany.l

Another week opened. In honor Of
Captain Barclays restoration to health
the ErMziers had issued invitations for
picnic TO che White Gate. Many Of the
officers and ladies had accepted. Most
or them had been hidden. Captain Mul-
lane had been ON sick report four daya
Commissions resulting from tumbling
from q broken legged chair was the ex-
PLANTATION. But every Pat in the COM
mAnd had his tongue In his cheek when
he spoke OF it and OF matters growing
out Of the sscontusions'' mentioned.
Frazier had heard rumors Of the former
fracaa, and had notified MesMs. Null
lane. BraIligan, ct al. that he would
have no dueling in his bailiwick, and
deep was the mystery surrounding GER
tain consultations held by night in
Mullane's quarters.
1.-THE blood Of that young braggart
be on his own head, said Mullane to
his henchmen. IAN you, Hodge, can
console the disconsolate widow.
He had no more doubt of the issue of
the contemplated combat, no more COM
> junction in the matter. than had Thack-
cray valiant and inimitable little Gas
Kew. He lad long been the leader of
the IIibernian set, and despite every
effort on the part of the witnesses to
the affrav at the suffers to keep the
matter secret rumors got cut, ard the
Faugh "a Ballaghs knew their chief had
been braved by that hated coxcomb
Winn. Every one of them knew further
that Mullane must have sent his de-
mand for satisfaction, despite the fact
that his "pistol OF, the right, had been
damaged by the collision and was not
yet in condition for effective service.
Everybody who was in the secret knew
that Mr.. Winn had instantly accepted.
naming Brayton as his second, pistols
as the weapons. ard suggesting his
fathers old dueling set, that had seen
long years and some service in the old
army, as proper to the occasion. The
time and place, however, would neces-
sarily depend on the victim of the knock
down blow. All Winn asked and urged
was utter secrecy meantime
To Mullane there was nothing in the
episode over which to brood or worry
As dragoon sergeant in the old days he
had winged his man. according to
the methods described in .'Charles
% 'Mailey' and practiced occasionally
by his ssuperiors in rank. He had knows
many barroom broil and was at home
with pistol, fists or saber-no mean an
tagonist when net unsteadied by liquor
He had now chance of meeting on tho
field cne of the set he secretly hated,
..sthe snobocracy of the arrumy" and
he meant to shoot the life out of Harry
Winn if straight shooting would do it.
That Wiun bad taken advantage of him
and knocked him down when he was
drunk was excuse sufficient for the
crime be planned; that be had brought
the blow upon himself by an insult ten
times n.Olo brutal was 4 matter that
concerned him not at all He had no
wife or child to worry about. Mrs
MullaEe and the various progeny were
old enough to look out for themselves,
as indeed most Of them had long teen
accustomed to do. Mullane thirsted for
the coming meeting and for the prom
inence its outcome would give him
among all good soldiers ell over Texas.
And as for WINNIE who had come
riding home from his successful scout
barely a fortnight before. buoyant,
hopeful, almost happy-the change that
had come over him was something al
men saw and none could fully account
for. Cashing the draft from the banl
at San Antonio, he had now enough tC
take Trott S receipt in full for the value
of the stolen stores, even to some recov
cred plumber, slightly damaged ty
rough handling and by rain. He would
then still have some $4e0, and he asket
his wife for certain bills that had beer
frequently coming to her accompanied
by urgent demands. Laura said she hat
not kept them. Which ought to be pait
first? he asked. Which had been longes
outstanding? Laura's reply was tina
she did not know. but if he had go
that money from San Antonio at las
she ought to have some to send to Mime
Ohalmette. She positively had not
dinner dress fit to be seen. Winn dit
not even glance at the open doors of
big closet, hung thick with costl,
gowns his wife hao hardly worn at all
but that now, she said. were ont o
style. There were other matters to b
thought of than dinner gowns, he toll,
her gravely, and her face clouded a
once She had almost forgotten tn
troubles of the week gone by.
He went down TO his den and sa
there thinking. What ought he to dc
What should he do with this money
Every cent of it would be swallowed u
If he squared those commissary &C
counts and turned the balance int
fsshecks and sent it of to pay these bills
sakd then. If Mullane's bullet sped trT
to its mark. what would there be t
stake Laura and the baby north
Hone" he dared not say She had N
home. ,Collabone's diagnosis of that sit
uation WAS correct. Then. too. if Mul