Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-08

matte Frenchwoman Something of her
baleful influence he had seen and suspected
before ever they came to their exile, but
here at Sandy with full force he realized
the extent of her Vaccinations. Clarice
was not the woman to go prowling about
the quarters in the dead hours of the night,
no matter how nervous and sleepless at
home. Clarice was not the woman to be
having back-dOor conferences with the SER
wants of other households. much less the
striker of an officer with whose name
hers. as maiden. had once been linked.
He recalled with a shudder the events of
the night that sent the soldier Mullins to
hospital. robbed of his wits. if not of his
life. He recalled with dread the reluctant
admissions of the doctor and of Captain
Wren Sleep walking, indeed! CIarice
never elsewhere at any time had shown
somnambul1stic symptoms. 1t was Elise
beyond doubt who had lured her forth for
some purpose he could neither foil nor
fathom. 1t was Elise who kept up this
oscredltable and mysterious commerce
with Downs-something that had culmi-
mated In the burning of Blakelys home
with who knows what misunderstanding
that had terminated only with Downs
mad desertion and probable DEATH All this
ana more went flashing through his mind
as Miss Wren finished her brief and sig
nincant story. and 1t dawned upon him
that to him and to her whom he loved and
whose honor he cherished-was anything
put a calamity, thing to mourn.
100 generous to say the words. he yet
turned with lightened heart and met
Byrne's searching eyes, then those of Miss
Wren now fixed upon him with austere
challenge, as though she would saw the
flight and fate of this friendless soldier
We're crimes to be laid only at his door
Byrne saw the instant distress in his com
rade's face. and, glancing from him to her.
almost in the same instant saw the incit-
ing cause. Byrne had one article of faith
II he lacked the needful thirty-nine Wo-
men had no place in official affairs, no
right to NEEDLE in official matters and
what he said on the spur of his rising re-
sentiment was intended for her, though
spoken to him. so Downs skipped east
ward, did he, and the Apaches got him!
Well, Plume, that saves us hanging"
And Miss Wren turned away in wrath I'M
speakable.
That Downs had skipped eastward" re-
ceiVed further confirmation with the COM
ing day, when Wales Arnold rode into the
fort from personally conducted scout I'D
the Beaver. Riding out with Captain
Stout.s party, he had paid brief visit to
his. for the time, abandoned ranch, and
was surprised to find there unmolested,
the two persons and all the property he
had left the day he hurried wife and house.
hold to the shelter of the garrison. The
two persons were half-breed Jose and his
Hualpai squaw. They had been with the
Arnolds five long years were known to all
the Apaches, and had ever been In highest
favor with them because of the liberality
with which they dispensed the largesse of
their employer. Never went an Indian
empty-stomached from their door, All the
stock Wales had time to gather he had
driven in to Sandy. All that was left Jose
had found and corraled. Just one quad
ruped was missing-Arnold's old mustang
saddler, Dobbin. Jose said he had been
gone from the first and with him an old
bride and saddle. No Indian took him.
said he 1t was soldier. He had found
government boot tracks In the sand
Then Downs and Dobbin had gone togeth-
er, but only Dobbin might they ever look
to see again.
1t had been arranged between Byrne and
Captain Stout that the little relief column
should rest in deep canon beyond the
springs from which the Beaver took its
source, and later in the afternoon push on
again on the long, stony climb toward the
plateau of the upper Mogollon. There