Daily camera., 1901-08-12

noon, she saw party of horsemen rid
ing in toward it, and in her half-crazed
state she believed them troops from the
post-Randy's men. So she turned
square to the north and rode for the
foothills. She had little store of pro-
visions and some wine in the large sad
dle-pouch, and only then discovered
that her bag was gone. She could ride
away round the ranch, find Mon Abri,"
and hide there during the night. She
had her Navajo blanket. Mignon would
have grass and water. What more could
army girl ask in that warm and rainless
region? Before sunset she had found
the romantic little spot, unsaddled and
picketed Mignon, and later moved her
farther down stream for fresh grass,
and, then, wearied, she herself slept for
hours; and when she awoke and would
have pushed on to the cantonment, 10.
Mignon was gone. Florence had heard
no sound. She could not account for it,
She could only sit and brood and think,
and then, rs the long, long day-the
second day--drew to its close, pray
heaven for Randy's coming. There,
more surely than anywhere else, if he
loved her, his love would lead him
What days Of jubilee there were at
IScdgwick when at last Randy was con-
valescent enough TO be moved, and the
ambulance brought him back through
the same old hole in the fence. Flor
encc seated by his side. Another pa
| tient was out on piazza farther down
| the row, taking the sweet fresh air and
listening languidly TO the purring Of
Minturn. who still worshiped at the
shrine deserted by Whitaker. Unde-
niably sallOw looked the Widow Nc
Lane, and her eyes gazed but languidly
at the joyous little cortege entering the
westward end of the road. Capt. and
Mrs. Grafton, the Haynes, and other
Isympathizing friends had focked
| thither to welcome the fugitives, and
SO it happened that there was no one
Mt home but Mrs. McLane and a much
perturbed young battery officer 10
greet two somewhat dusty civilians.
who had just driven out from the juno
tion, and now slowly ascended the
Grafton's steps. One - Mr.. Parry
came jauntily forward, The other-a
mutton-chop whiskered, plethoric-
looking party-hung revcrentially
back, as though waiting permission to
venture into the presence of queen.
With swift, anxious, imploring glance
the invalid searched the impassive fea-
lures Of her cxasperating brother-in-
law and read no hope; but even from
the depth Of her despopd sprang some
thing of her old-time coquetry as she
.lGnguiily lay back in the easy-chair
and extended q slender, bejcweled hand
to the adoring Swinburne. The bat
teryman bowed stifIly and pulled at his
mustachc III recognition OF this new ar
rival, and Ned Parry almost audibly
chuckled his enjoyment of the situa-
ton. Then stable call sounded and
| drew the warrior away and left the
! field in the hands of the civilian, and
then Parry decided he must "join the
| gang" at Merrlam's; and there pres.
emily he was pa,ting Randy on the back
| and showing symptoms of a desire to
kiss Mrs. Randy's hand, as he did Mrs.
| Grafton's. Mrs, Grafton hurried out,
| declaring she must 70 and order
more dinner, whereat Parry followed
her to the gate and called u halt. She
saw the twinkle in his eyes and stopped
you've brought her good news, |
know said she, with womanly eager
ness,
more than that" sn&r' Dry, with a
comicul grin. more than Fan deserves
| 10y good deal-Tve brought the fellow
/ that brings her the news. Never mind
! dlnncr-giye him ten minutes
"Ch, how did you get at the TRUTH"
u didn't couldn't. They were shy
OF me as though I'd been Pinkerton.
| | knew Swinburne was sore-smitten. l
/ knew he'd blow in his whole bank ac-
count if need be. l told him the story
and my suspicious and set him to work.
| He found the engineer and got the
proofs. She owes her deliverance to
| him"
Then it was as you thought-as you
told Capt. Grafton?"
Certainly. Mrs. McI.ane No. died
two months after she got her $4,000,
but the family couldn't afford TO lose
So fruitful member. They had read
| and written each others letters from
| childhood. Either surviving sister
could write just as well rs the young
est. They planned the game; they
| fooled McIane cOmplstelv and they rs
completely deceived poor young Jack,
She only reputable connection they had.
Fans all right now, thanks to Swin-
buIne. Let him be happy for ten min
utes-shell make him miserable the
rest of his life. Let's So back and look
at picture Of absolute biss-Floy
Merriam's face. Isn't she an ideal army
wife?"
| THE END.
|