The aegis & intelligencer., 1901-03-22

had disgusted him once and for all with
single life. The next day he was officer
of the day and couldn't leave the post.
The day after that he had a cold. which
he had caught making his rounds, and 1t
confined him to the house.
As for Chester, the way he put In his
time never did become quite clear. but
for a period of six days there was
strange Englishman in a town some Is
miles the other side Of the Halloran
ranch-some % miles, that Is, or more
from the post. 1t was mud town. and
its hotel was as bad as its reputation,
but the Englishman staid there. He
wore a conspicuous suit Of clothes and
spent money ostentatiously. He let it
be understood that his name was Lovatt
and that he was a lord; also, that he was
travelling through the west and might. II
he fancied the country, buy ranch. 1t
was probably with that end in view that
he rode almost at once to the Halloran
place and explained to the haciendado
that he would like to be shown how q
ranch was run. He met Miss Halloran,
and her father told him that she was
engaged to q lieutenant at the neighbor-
ing post, but that a severe cold was con-
fining the officer to his house. He ex-
pressed a wish that Lovatt might meet
the lieutenant some day, and Lovatt
hoped that he would. 1t was possibly in
this hope that he called at the ranch for
six successive days, but always, had he
known 1t, at an hour when 1t was quite
unlikely that any one would be coming
over from the post. After that they
saw him NO more.
On the evening Of the seventh day
Chester was in charge of Strathmore's
quarters again. Srathmore was recov-
ering from the cold and he told Chester
that he had missed him profanely much.
Everything had gone wrong. He asked
what the striker had been doing with his
time.
Chester threw an armful Of wood upon
the fire and stood up. brushing the chips
from his sleeve. "Well. sir" he answer
ed, 81 have been getting engaged"
Strathmore's jaw fell. That meant that
he would have to hunt up new striker
of course. Then he remembered Mamie
Pearle. THAT'S rather a coincidence.
Chester; so have l."
Chester's congratulation was respectful.
but not so cordial as 1t might have been.
81 shall ask your permission and the cap
tain's to marry. SIR" he said.
Strathmore accorded his own. "But
shall be sorry to lose you. Chester; very
sorry. What il the girls name"
Chester grew red all over his nice, boy
ish face. He was finding out that saving
another is not all heroism necessarily.
He produced a piece Of paper from his
pocket-a piece Of flimsy. ruled. pink pa
per stamped with white dove. Strath-
more gave a little start. But Chester
was doing this because he thought It best
to deal the final blow at once. not to
mince matters in the least. and he did
not hesitate. He smoothed out the sheet.
"That's the name. sir" he said.
Strathmore read 1t. 1t was Mamie
Pearle.
"The last name" Chester explained. ''is
Halloran. She's the daughter Of Halo
ran of the ranch"
"Oh." said Strathmore dryly. His eye
had caught misspelled assurance of en-
during love. "Oh," he repeated. "And
may I ask II she knows who you are7"
Chester grew more red still. "WelF'-
he reflected that an entirely honest in
tent could never be prefxed by that
Yankee word-"well, sir, I began by let
ting her think that my name was Lovatt
part Of It really Is, strand that was
titled and rich, which am not, butt
he plucked up courage as he went on
''if she loves me, of course It will be all
right"
Strathmore handed him back the note.
"And II she doesn'tT"
"It-lt will still be all right"
Strathmore did not try to understand.
His opinion of Chester had fallen very
low. As for his opinion Of Mamie Pearle.
he realized suddenly that 1t had not drop
ped half so far.
II was almost retreat on the following
day when he took to Chester's room
bundle Of London papers that had just
come by the stage. He cast q quick
look around II see you've got the pho
tograph of the girl out again." he COM
mented.
Chester nodded, but added. with the
faintest shadow on his face, "She's q
married woman, SIR"
"Yes," said Strathmore and turned to
leave the room.
"Oh. lieutenant" Chester called.
Strathmore stopped. 81 thought you
might like to know, sir. that I'm not
engaged any more"
For a full half minute Strathmore look
ed into the Englishman's impenetrable
blue eyes. Then there came a twinkle
In his own. "1t seems to be another
coincidence. Chester" he said quietly.
"for neither am I."-Argonaut.