Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-04-27


ters were destined to come to climax
in more than one garrison affair, and
como to it this very night.
Mrs. Ray had been in ignorance Of
any serious difference between the Main
warnings and Blake. Indeed, she often
said she did not see how anybody could
take Blake seriously. But during the
dinner it had become apparent more
than once. Not in Mainwaring He, as
Blake put it, was as mannerless as ever.
Manwaring talked as much and as
loudly to Blake as he did to his hostess,
on whose right he sat. There were few
topics that could be discussed, outside
Of horseshoeing, grooming and company
kitchens, in which Mainwaring could
be considered authority, hut in one and
all was he dsputatious, challenging the
speaker to prove the words, even, as
sometimes happened, when the chal-
longed party was woman and entitled
to assert no stronger reason than "be-
cause,"
! Mainwaring carried u conversational
chip on his shoulder even at dinner par
ties, and tonight it had been more than
ordinarily in evidence 1t was after din
ner and before visitors came dropping
| ill., and the five ladies were chatting in
the parlor, that Mrs Mainwarng's con-
straint toward Mrs. Blake became mark
ed, as we'll as her frequent efforts at
breaking in upon the cordial friendly
talk between that lady and her niece.
Finally, just after midnight, when it
was time for all to be going to their
homes Blake, whose duty as officer of
the day had twice called him away,
again was missing. Ray promptly threw
his cape over his shoulders to escort
Mrs. Blake, although she lived close at
hand, and with merry chat and laughter
the various ladies and their escorts were
trooping forth into the keen night air,
when Mrs. Truscott, who was foremost,
held up her hand and said, "Hush l
hear something" and her face took on
an instant expression Of alarm.
The wind was no longer violent, bus
it blew with steady force across the
parade, and sounds from the direction
of the guardhouse near the south gate
or the stables along the east front were
carried out to the waste of prairie
stretching away toward the far, pine
crested heights of the Elk range. Yet it
was toward the guardhouse, whose
twinkling lights could be plainly seen,
that Mrs. Truscott was gazing. Main.
warning was, as usual, talking loudest
of the party and was the last to cease.
Nonsense, Mrs. Truscott, you cant
hear the baby crying" he almost de-
risively exclaimed, whereat the lady
stamped a shapely foot and spoke as her
father, their old colonel, would have
spoken when his wife was not present,
and this time with effect.
Some one, painting, came running
across the parade. 1t was tho corporal
of the guard.
Captain Ray" he cried, Captain
Blake says please come to him quick
at the south gate.
Ray went like shot. The corporal
started to follow, but Mrs. Blake,
alarmed and trembling, begged him to
stop
whats happened?' demanded
Mainwaring. "Who's hurt?'
>
that / know of, but there's patrol
out"
after some drunken man of Ray s
troop-that's all, " said Mainwaring,
land Blake don't want to put him un-
der guard. See if it amt. Come" he
said, rendering an arm to his wife.
But Mrs. Blake knew her own mind,
and without word of reply started
straight across the road in the direction
taken by Ray
ooh, don't 60, Mrs. Blake. " "Don t
90, Mamie" I'm sure it's nothing
serious, were the various cries that
followed her but she mover faltered.
Good night" she cried "I'm going
to Gerald" Reluctantly the doctor
called after her:
ooh, wait, Mrs. Blake. If you must
60, Ill-Ill escort you.
yes, " said Miss Leroy firmly, land
take me too" Saying which, she started
her escort almost on run.
pet Kate-iudeed | protest. In
deed you must not go!' called Mrs.
Mainwaring loudly.
Jaw, Kate, don't be so idiotic, "
shouted the major, but all to no pur-
pose. pet" and her obedient Escu-
lapus were already in swift pursuit
and, if not out of hearing, out of sight.
And then, all of sudden, the east
ward gable ends of the barracks, the
east side of the guardhouse tower, the
topmast of the tall white flagstaff, were
all for one brief instant flashed ON the
night in a lurid glare and as suddenly
died out of sight Away over beyond
the edge of the bluff dull smothered,
booming sound smote the wintry air,
and something shook the windows and
caused the earth to tremble, Then q
carbine cracked and sentry yelled,
half stiled; then came Il distant sound
J of cracking, like pistol shots; trumpet
pealed and sounds of rush and scurry
followed. There was only one explana-
tion-the magazine.
CHAPTER X.