Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-09
CHAPTER VI.

Rays gallant half hundred, as has heen said, took the route for the north at break of day. Before them spread the open prairie, apparently level and unbroken for full five miles to the front and either flank, the dis tant slopes and ridges bounding the level expanse growing more distinct with every moment, and presently lighting up in exulting radiance in response to the rosy bushes of the eastward sky. Scorning the dusty stage road, the troop commander pointed to a distant height just visi- ble against the northward horizon, bade the leading guide march straight on that; then gave the order, Right by twos," that he might the more readily note the gait and condition of every horse and the bearing and equipment of his rider. There was still time to weed out the weddings of either class should any such there be. Riding slowly along the left flank, one after another, he carefully scanned every. man and mount in his little de tachment, then, at quicker pace, passed around to the eastward side of the column, and as critically, carefully studied them from that point of view. A light of quiet satis faction shone in his fine, dark eyes. as he finished, for, next to his wife and children, that troop was Rays supreme delight. The preliminary look-over by lantern light had been all sufficient. This later inspection on the move revealed not a .steed amiss, not an item of equipment either misplaced or lacking.
 As has been said, Rays senior subaltern was on detached service. His. junior, Mir. Clayton, had joined but the year before, and this threw MT. Field in command of the leading platoon and to the side of the leading guide. Now, as the senior officer took the head of column and MT. Clayton fell back to the rear, the si- lence of the first mile of march was broken and, though sitting erect in saddle and forbidden to lounge or ."slouch," the troop began its morn ing interchange of chaff and com ment. Every mothers son of them rejoiced to be once more afield with . chance of stirring work ahead.
 Its time to throw out our ad- vance, Field" said Ray, in kindly, cor dial tone, as he scanned the low di- vide still some miles ahead and refined in beside the stern-faced young sol dier. Send Sergeant Scott forward with three men and the same number on each Aank-corporals in charge"
 He had more than liked Webb's adjutant. He had been his stapchest friend and supporter among the troop and company commanders, and was eager to befriend him now. He had expressed no. wish to have him sent on the hurried move, but we'll he knew the post commanders reasons and approved his course. Still, now thxt Field was being re- moved, for the time at least from the possibility of an entangling al- liance that might prove disastrous. in every way in his power Ray meant to show the mortified, indeed sorely angered, officer that his personal re- gard for him had suffered no change whatever. If he could succeed in winning Fields confidence it might we'll be that he could bring him to see that there were good and suffi- cient grounds for the post command CTS action-that for Fields own rood, in fact, 1t was . most desirable move. The soul of loyalty and square dealing himself. Ray had never for . moment dreamed that anything other than foolish escapade had occurred-a ride by moonlight per haps, demanded of her devotee by . thoughtless, thoroughbred coquette. whose influence over the young fel- low was beginning to mar his use fulness, if not indeed his future pros poets. Just what to think of Ma nette Flower Ray really did not know. Marion. his beloved better half. was his unquestioned authority in all such matters, and it was sn uncommon tenet of that young ma tron never to condemn until she had cause. Instinctively she shrank from what she had seen of Miss Flower. even though her woman's eye re- joiced in the elegance of Miss Flow CTS abundant toilets; and conscious of her intuitive aversion, she would utter no word that might later prove unjust. Oddly enough. that instinct i've aversion was shared by her clos est friend and neighbor. Mrs. Blake; but. ss yet. the extent of their con demnation had found vent only in the half whimsical. half petulant ex- precision on part of the younger lady -Blake's beautiful wife. ''I wish her name weren't-so near like mine for Man" had been her pet name almost from bsbyhood. Vaguely con scious were they both, these lords of creation. Messrs. Blake and Ray. that the ladies of their love did not sp- prove of Miss Flower. but Ray had ridden forth without ever asking or knowing why. and 90. unknowing. was i'll prepared to ersPple with the