Evening star., 1903-07-28

Cutters, Westcrvelts and Trumans quar-
tiers. until they were swallowed up In the
general gloom about Lieut.. Blakely's. Pri-
yate Mullins could not say for certain
whether they had entered the door
or gone around under the deep shadows of
tho veranda. When next he saw them.
fifteen minutes later, coming as swiftly
and silently back, Mullins was wondering
whether he ought not to challenge and
have them account for themselves. His
orders We're TO allow inmates of the OFF,
ce1s' quarters to pass in or out at night
without challenge provided he recognized
them to be such" Now. Mullins felt NOR
ally certain that these two were Mrs.
Plume and Mrs. Plunes vivacious maid,
Erench-Canadian damsel. much admired
and sought in soldier circles at the post.
but Mullins had not their faces and
could rightfully insist it WAS his duty and
prerogative to do so. The question was.
how would the comma nding officers lady
like and take it2 Mullins therefore shook
Lis head. Il hadn't the nerve" as he
expressed 1t long afterward. But no such
frailty oppressed the occupant of the ad
Joining house. Just as the two had rea CHI
ed the rear Of Wrens quarters and were
barely ffty steps from safety the captain
himself, issuing again from the doorway,
suddenly appeared upon the scene and in
low, but Imperative tone accoSted them.
Who are you?'' said he, bending eagerly,
! sternly over them One quick look he gave
and almost instantly recoiling exclaimed.
Mrs. Plume! I beg" Then as though
with sudden recollection. NO madam, l
do not beg your pardon" and. turning on
his heel, abruptly left them. Without q
word. but with the arm of the maid sup
porting, the taller woman sped swiftly
across the narrow intervening space and
was lost again within the shadows of her
husbands home.
Private Mullins, silent and probably un-
seen witness of this episode, slowly tossed
his rifle from the port to the shoulder:
shook his puzzled head: stared a moment
at the dim figure OF Captain Wren again
IN the start morning. nervously tramp
| Ing up and down his narrow limit; then
mechanically sauntered down the roadway
pondering much over what he had seen
and heard during the brief period of his
early morning watch Reaching the south
| the lower. end OF his post he turned
| again, He had but ten minutes left Of
his o-hour tramp. The second relief was
| due to start at $3.50. and should reach him
| at 3:35. He was wondering would the on
Ger Of the day come nosin' round" with
| In that time. asking him his orders and
was everything all right on his post? And
| had he observed anything unusual? There
was Captain Wren, like a Gagged tiger,
! tramping up and down behind his quarters
A., At least aaau he had been. for now he had
| been. the two ladies in long clorks fitting
| In the shadows from the majors quarters
to those of the invalid lieutenant. Null
Inns certainly did not wish to speak about
might whisper later to Norah Shaughnessy,
the saddler serseants daughter-Norah,
who was nurse girl at the Westervelts',
and knew all the ins and outs of social
life at Sandy-Norah. at whose window,
! under the north gable. he gazed with love
In his eyes as he made his every round.
He was good soldier. was Mullins but
glad this night to get of post. Through
the gap between the second and third
quarters he saw the lights at the guard
house and could family see the black sill
houette Of armed men in front of them.
The relief was forming sharp on time, and