Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-11-17

stood Immediately before the window.
AS he glanced mechanically from it he
was surprised to see that it command
ed an extensive view of the slope
below the eminence on which the
house stood, even beyond his furthest
line of pickets. The vase of flowers
each of which was nearly as large as a
magnolia blossom and striking in
color, occupied a central position be-
fore it, and no doubt could be quite
distinctly seen from a distance. OF
that he would satisfy himself here
after. But for the present he could
not resist the strong impression that
this fateful and extraordinary bios
son., carried by Miss Faulkner and the
mulatto, and so strikingly lin evil
dence' at the window, was in some
way a signal. Obeying an impulse
which he was conscious had a half
superstitious foundation, he carefully
lifted the vase from its position before
the window and placed il on "A side
table. Then he cautiously slipped
from the room.
But he could not as easily shake off
the perpleXitv which the occurrence
had caused, although he was satisfied
that it was fraught with M military
or strategic danger to his command,
and that the unknown spy had OBJ
tanned no information whatever. But
he was forced to admit to himself that
he was more concerned in his at
tempts to justify the conduct of Miss
Faulkner. with this latter revelation.
IL was quite possible that the dispatch
box had been purloined by some one
else during her absence from the
house-as the presence of the mulatto
servant in his room would have been
less suspicious than hers. There was
really little evidence to connect Miss
Faulkner with the actual outrage
rather might not the real spy have
taken advantage of her visit here to
throw suspicion upon her? lie re-
membered her singular manner-the
strange inconsistency with which she
had forced this flower upon him. She
would hardly have done SO had she
been conscious of it having so serious
an import. Yet what was the secret.
of her manifest agitation? A sudden
inspiration flashed across his mind; a
smile came upon his lips. She was
in lovei The enemy's line contained
some signing young subaltern with
whom she was In communication-and
for whom she had undertaken this
quest. The flower was their language
Of correspondence, no doubt. 1t eX-
planned also the young girls animosity
against the younger officers-hiS ad-
versaries; against himself-their conf
mander. lie had previously wondered
why-if she were indeed a spy-she had
not chosen-upon some equally spec
ious order from Washington the
Headquarters Of the division COM
mander, whose secrets were more val
liable. This was explained by the fact
that she was nearer the lines and her
lover in her present abode. He had no
idea hat he was making Gus for
her-he believed himself only just. The
recollection OF what she had said
of the power Of love-albeit IL had hurt
him cruelty at the time-was now
clearer to him, and even seemed TO NIT
igate her offense. She would be here
but q day or two longer; he could
afford to wait without i"nterrogating
her.
But as to the real intruder-spy or
thief-that was another affair, and
quickly settled. He gave an order to
the officer of the day peremptorily for
bidding the entrance of alien servants
or slaves within the precincts Of the
headquarters. Anyone TINS trespas-
sing was to be brought before him. The
officer looked surprised-he even fam
cied disappointed. The graces of the
mulatto woman's figure had evidently
not been thrown away upon his sub
alterns.
An hour or two later, when he was
mounting his horse for a round of in
spection, he was surprised to see Miss
Faulkner, accompanied by the mulatto
woman, running hurriedly TO the house.
He had forgotten his late order until he
saw the latter halted by the sentries,
but the young girl came flying on re-
CARELESS Of her companion. Her skirt
was caught in one hand, her straw hat
had fallen back In her fight, and was
caugt only by a ribbon around her
swelling throat, her loosened hair lay
in a black rippled loop on n shoulder.
For an instant Brant thought that she
was seeking him in indignation at his
order, but a second look at her set face,
eager eyes and parted scarlet lips
showed him that she had not even no
ticed him in the concentration of her
purpose. She swept by him into the
hall; he heard the swish OF her skirt
n rapid feet on the stairs; she was
gone. What had happened-or was this
another OF her moods?
But he was called to himself by the
apparition Of n corporal standing be-
fore him with the mulatto woman-the
first capture under his order. She was
tall, well formed, but Enthusiastically
showing the negro type, even in her
small features. Her black eyes were
excited, but unintelligent, her manner
logged, but with the obstinacy of half
conscious stupidity. Brant felt not only
disappointed, but had a singular i'm
preston that she was not the same
woman that he had first seen. Yet there
the tall, graceful figure, the dark
profile and the turbaned head thai he
had once followed down the passage by
his room.
Her story was stupidity simple. She
had known missy" from q chile! She
had just trapsed over to see her that
afternoon; they We're walking together
the sojers stopped her. She had
never been stopped before, even by
"patter rollers."% Her ole massa MAN
ly) had glib leaf to go see Miss Josey,
and hadn't said muffin about no "or-
More annoyed than he cared to con-
fess, Brant briefly dismissed her with a
warning. AS he cantered down the
the view Of the distant pickets re-
called n window in the wing and he
in his saddle to look at 1t. There
it was-the largest and most dominant
window in that part of the building
and within 1t. a distinct and vivid OBJ
ject, almost filing the opening, was
the vase of flowers which he had a few
hours ago removed, restored to it's
original position. He smiled. The hur-
ried entrance and CONSERVATION of Miss
Faulkner was now fully explained. He
had interrupted some impassioned mes
perhaps even countermanded
affectionate rendezvous beyond
lines. And it settled the fact thai
It was h who had done the signaling.
But would not this also make her cog
infant of the taking of the dispatch
He reflected, however, that the
room was apparently occupied by the
mulatto woman he remembered the
calico dresses n turban on the bed.