Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-11-06

SAo"AJ AoNNo viz 'oAoAS AoOAAA ~~AAA
said:
~ never set eyes on this man in
my life before to-day"
CHAPTER XVIII.
To say that Mr.. Rays abrupt all
nouncement was surprise to the
dense throng of listeners is putting
it mildly. To say that it was re-
ceived with incredulity by part of the
soldiery, and concern, if not keen ap-
prehension, by old friends of Sandy's
father who were present, is but q
faint description of the effect of the
lads, emphatic statement.
To nine out of ten among the assem-
bly, the young officer was a total
stranger. 10 more than nine out of
ten the Identification of the dead as
Walter Foster, Maidie Rays luckless
lover, was already complete, and
many men who have made up their
minds are incensed at those who dare
to differ from them.
True, Mr.. Stuyvesant had said that
the sentry, No. 6, did not remind him
except in stature, form, and posi-
bly, in features, of the recruit he
knew as Foster on the train. He did
not speak like him. But, when close
ly questioned by the legal adviser of
the provost-marshars department..
the officer who conducted most of the
ner of a prosecuting attorney, Mr..
Steuyvesant admitted that he had
only seen Foster once to speak to,
and that was at night in the dim light
of the Sacramento station on what
might be called the off-side of the
train, where the shadows were heavy,
and while the face of the young SOL
der was partially covered with
bandage. Yet Vinton attached inn
portance to his aide-de-camp's opin-
ion, and when Ray came out fiat
footed, as it were, in support of Stuy-
vesant's views, the general was Wis
IDLY gratified.
But, except for these very few, Ray
had spoken to unbelieving ears.
Sternly the military lawyer took him
in hand and began to probe. No
need to enter into details. In ten
minutes the indignant young gentle
man, whoneverinh his life had told lie,
found himself the target of ten score
of hostile eyes, some wrathful, some
scornful, some contemptuous, some
insolent, some only derisive, but all,
save those of few silently obs servant
officers, threatening or at least iuim-
ical.
Claiming first that he knew Walter
Foster we'll land, indeed, it seemed
to him he did, for his mothers letters
to the Big. Horn ranch had much to
say of Maidie's civilian admirer,
though Maidie herself could rarely be
induced to speak of him), Ray was
forced to admit that he had met him
only twice or thrice during a brief
and hurried visit to Fort Averill to see
his loved ones before they moved to
Fort Leavenworth, and then he owned
he paid but little attention to the
signing swain. Questioned as to his
opportunities of studying and observ-
ing Foster, Sandy had been con-
strained to say that he hadn't OBJ
served him closely at all. He didn't
want to-exactly." They first met, it.
seems, in saddle. The winter wealth
| er was glorious at Averill. They had
a fine pack of hounds; coursing for
jack rabbit was their favorite sport,
and, despite the fact that Foster had a
beautiful and speedy horse, "his seat
was so poor and his hand so jerky he
never managed to get up to the front, "
said Sandy.
| 1t was not brought out in evidence,
but the fact was that Sandy could
never be got to look on Foster with
the faintest favor as a sutton for his
sisters hand. n fellow who could
neither ride, shoot nor spar-whose
accomplishments were solely of the
carpet and perhaps the tennis court
the boy had no use for. He and Maidis
rode as though born to the saddle
He had seen Foster in an English rid.
ing suit and English saddle and an
attempt at the English seat, but de.
cidedly without the deft English hand
on his fretting hunters mouth the one
! ICY oAAoo oIACy dPPCd1cu Ill Tic uelc
together, and the sight was too much
for Sandy. That night at dinner, and
the later dance, Fosters perfection Oh
dress and manner only partially re.
deemed him in Sandy's eyes, and
well-really, that was about all he
had ever seen of Foster.
! ;. Questioned as to his recollection OF
Fosters features, stature, etc., Sandy
did his best, and only succeeded in
portraying the deceased almost to the
life. Except, he sai1> Foster had long
thick, crlrving eyelashes, and 'sthis
man hasn't"-but it was remembered
that brows and lashes both were
singed off in the fire. so that point
failed. Questioned as to whether he
realized that his description tailed
closely with the. appearance of the
deceased, Sandy. said: that that all
might be, but still ''this isn't Foster
Questioned as to whether, if the de,
ceased were again to have the colo,
and action-the life that Foster hal
a year ago-might not the resem.
blance to Foster be complete ?--Sandy
simply Couldn't tell.' -Sss .a. z.
ITO Be Continued q.
She Should BE an Expert. \.
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