Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-08

j. and Laramie by ten o'clock, Mrs. Ray" said the major, reassuringly, 'and I will send you word at once. And, of course, Corporal Ray" he con tinued, and now with martial formali- ty addressing the lad at the tele- scope, T can rely upon you to re port at once in case you see anything suspicious toward the Big Horn"
 "Yes; sir" answered the boy, straightening up to attention. Then, scrupulously exchanging salutes, the old soldier and the young parted com pany, and the major returned to re- ceive the reports of the old and new officers of the day. These gentlemen were still with him, Capt. Chew, of the infantry, and the senior first lieutenant for duty with the -th, when Hay came hurrying up the board walk from the direction of the store. For reasons of his own, Webb had sent his orderly to the guard house to say to the officers in ques- tion tbat he would await them at his quarters instead of the little building known as the adjutant's office, in which were the offices of the com mander, the record room in which were placed the desks of the ser geant major and his three clerks, and the sleeping rooms of the special duty soldiers. It had happened more s,, ct hof or~~is stories of matters not supposed to be known outside the office had been traced back to that desk room, and now Webb's questions of his old of- 6cer of the day, and his instructions to the new, were not things he cared to have bruited about the post. He was listening intently to the captains report of the sentries' observations during the night gone by when Hay reached the gate and stopped, not wishing to intrude at such a moment.
 Come in, MT. Hay" said the com mander, cordially. ''This all will in- terest you" and, thus bidden, the trader joined the soldiers three on the veranda, and some of the young people of the garrison, setting up their croquet arches on the parade, looked curiously toward the group, and wondered what should keep the old officer of the day so long. Saun- tering down the walk, smiling radi- antly upon the occupants of the vari- ous verandas that she passed, then beaming between times into the face of her smitten escort, her black eyes and white teeth flashing in the rare sunshine, Nanette Flower was gradu- ally nearing the majors quarters. She was barely 20 yards away when, in obedience to some word of the major, MT. Hay held forth two white packages that, even at that distance, could be recognized, so far as the outer covering was concerned, as of- ficial envelopes. She was too far away, perhaps, to hear what was said. "It seems," began Webb, to his of- ficers, as he mechanically opened the first packet, "that Field took fire at Wilkins growls about the bother of keeping his funds, so the youngster slowed his money with Hay. He in sisted on turning over everything before he left, so I receipted to him Let's see," he continued, glancing at the memorandum in his hand Three hundred and seventy-two dollars and eighty-five cents post fund. and four hundred belonging to enlisted men, I may as well count it in your pres ence."
 By this time the long, lean fingers had ripped open the package marked four hundred, and were extracting the contents-a sheet of official paper with figures and memoranda, and then a fiat package, apparently. of currency. Topmost was $5 treasury note; bottommost. another of the same denomination. Between them deftly cut. trimmed and sized, were blank slips of paper to the number of perhaps 30, and the value of not one cent. With paling faces, the officers watched the trembling fingers slash open the second, its flap, as was that of the first envelope, securely eummed-not sealed. A nickel or two and few dimes slid out before the packet came. It was of like con- sistency with first, and of about the same value. Webb lifted up his eyes and looked straight into the amazed almost livid face of the trader.
 My God, Major Webb" cried Hay, aQhast and bewildered. Don't look at me like thatl No man on earth has ever accused me of crime. This means that not only my stable but my safe has been robbed-vand there is a traitor within my gates"
 Dr. Tracy, absorbed in contempla. tion of Miss Flowers radiant face, and in the effort to make his own words eloquent, had no ears for those of others. He never needed the traders excited outburst. He only saw her suddenly finch, suddenly , pale. then sway. His ready arm was around her in a twinkling. In a twinkHng she twisted free from his undesired clasp.
 "Just-my foot turned-a pebble!" she gasped.
 But when, all assiduity, Tracy would have seated her on the horse. block and examined the delicate ankle. she refused straightway. and with almost savage emphasis. and with rigid lips. from which all lowell ' ness had fled. bade him lead her home, where. despite protest and sP.