Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-03-10
say goodby. know the window"
He flashed up ut that with suspicious

6Hy HUOuDy. hhOW thS
He flashed up ut that with suspicious
anger.
"What do you want to see him for"
he whispered sullenly. "You told me to
save him, and have. but-but you are
mine now. I don't want you to see
him."
She laughed and put her hand in bis.
81 know, Holiness" she said. "you are
true and-and I love you better than
ever did, butt
He interrupted her by passionately
kissing her hand, and, STOPPING. he
could not note her frown.
"But that poor boy! He loved me,
too. and-and let me say goodby"
He let her 60. and she slipped up the
bluff and so to the barred window. At
once Favaps hand caught hers.
"The bar" she whispered. 1T Is
loose. The horses are at the cotton
wood clump on the river. Noel. Noel.
be careful!'
"My darling, shall be there = or
shot"
She was back with Holmes immedi-
ately, and, though her eyes sparkled,
she wiped them with her handkerchief.
Poor felloww she said and paused
and then went on: "And so he is gone
forever. Thank you, sergeant IL do
like you now"
Holnes took her in his arms and
kissed her.
"God bless you, Katy" he said, nllsd
with love. land may lie forget me II I
do not make you happy ell your lifew
He left her. daZed at that caress, and
went back to his duty, and the girl
looked after him with smile and
sigh.
The night passed on. punctuated by
the yawning sentries' calls. The men
marveled at their sergeant's unaccus-
toned cheerfulness. He chatted with
them and laughed. They remembered
afterward that for once they had heard
Holmes laugh. He did not lie down.
At II the sentry called the hour, and
Holmes shortly afterward left him.
saying he would patrol round the
guardhouse. At Favals window he
stopped. No noise came from within
save that of the prisoners snores. He
peered inside and made out that Fa.
vars hammock was empty. One bar
hung loose from its fastening at the
top. The sergeant put it in place soft
ly.
"He is gonew he thought. "Out Of
the way-out of the way-out Of the
way, and she is promised to me-"
The relief went out at o'clock, and
soon the tired sentries relieved came
tramping in with the corporal. Holmes
was lying on his bunk in the office, but
not asleep. Sleep was far from his
glad eyes. He heard the sentries gos.
sip as they prepared to lie down.
"Any Of the officers giving party
tonight"
Don't know. Why?"
"Cause q man and woman gal
loped past on the river trail | could
Just see them from No. g. They were
going B-Bar ranch way. and l thought
they'd maybe been visiting in officers
row."
Holmes raised his head-a man?
That was all right. A womanf Who
could they be? He sat up on the edge
Of his cot. A terrible thought filled his
mind. 1t could not be. Yet, yet
dared she play that trick? For u min
ute he sat still, and then without a
word Of excuse he left the guardhouse.
He went straight to Mother Malone's.
The angry woman was still sitting
there, awaiting her husband and
daughter.
"Where is KatyT the sergeant ask
ed, and his face was so white that the
scars stood out upon his brow and
cheeks in scarlet.
"Where, indeed?" cried Mrs. Malone.
"The baggage. She's not been in to-
night! She'll leave my house. Holmes.
Holmes! What is it? What has she
done now?"
With loud curse the sergeant turned
on his heel and rushed off. He made
for the stables of his troop and reused
the stable sergeant by furious blows
ON the gate.
"My horse. by order of the officer Of
the dayw he hoarsely yelled. "A pris-
oner has escaped"
II he had been capable Of thought,
capable of planning sure revenge, he
would first have reused the guard and
sent half troop after the fugitves.
Perhaps indeed he did think, but felt
that this was matter which con-
cerned him alone. Therefore he went
swiftly at gallop in pursuit. and the
sleepy stable sergeant went back to
bed, and the guard remained or watch,
wondering where their sergeant had