, 1908-08-20

1tAAAA Ao'6 Ahoh any oAt
around here-know her-real name"
Brant stared i~ncredulously. do you
mean to insinuate that that young
woman is living in this community IN
der an assumed one? Why. she is
scarcely more than a child! What do
you mean man?"
The soldiers hat stiff rested on the
grass where I. had fallen, its military
insignia hidden.
81 guess know-what know
the fellow muttered. "What's-your
regiment"
Seventh cavalry"
The man stiffened up as II an cleo
trio shock had swept through his limp
frame. 1.-THE helli-and--did-she-
call you-Brant?"
The young officers face exhibited
his disgust. Beyond doubt thai Sc
questered nook was a favorite loung-
ing spot for the girl. and this iisrepu-
table creature had been watching her
fog some sinister purpose.
so you have been e~avesdropping.
have your" said Brant, gravely. And
now you want to try a turn at defam-
ing a woman? Well, o have come
to a poor market for the sale of such
goods. 1 am half inclined to throw
you bodily into the creek. / believe
you are nothing but a common liar,
bur I'll give you one chance-you say
you know her real name. What is It?
The eyes of the mummy had become
spiteful. "It's-none of-your damn
business. I'm-not under-your or
ders."
Under my orders! OF course not;
but what do you mean by that? Who
and what are you?"
The fellow stood up. slightly hump
backed but broad of shoulder, his
arms long. his legs short and some
what bowed, his chin protruding i'm
pudently. and Brant noticed an oddly
shaped black scar, as if burned there
by powder, On the back of his right
hand.
"Who-am II" he said, angrily. Tn
-Silent-Murphy."
An expression of b~ewilderment
swept across the lieutenant's face.
silent Murphy! Do you claim to be
Clusters scout?"
The fellow nodded. "Heard-of me
-maybe?"
Brant stood staring at him, his mind
occupied with vague garrison rumors
connected with this odd pc, sonality.
The name had long been a familiar
one, and he had often had the man
pictured out before him. There could
remain no reasonable doubt of his
identity, but what was he doing there?
? Yes, I've heard of you.'-and his
crisp lone instinctiyely became that
of terse military command,-"although
we have eve met, for | have been
upon detached service ever since my
assignment to the regiment l have a
troop in camp below he pointed
down the stream. "and am in COM
mand here"
The scout nodded carelessly.
Why did you not come down there
and report you presence in this neigh
borhood to me?"
Murphy grinned unpleasantly. "Rath-
er be-alone-no report-been over-
Black Observation-Disclosures or
ders."
DO you mean you are in direct COM
hluulSattpu WIN LeIs, WIZ
Custer?"
The man answered, with a wide
sweep of his long arm toward the
northwest. Coin to-be hell-out
there-damn soon."
How? Are things developing into
a truly serious afair-s rea cam
paign?"
Every buck-in the-Sioux nation
is mabin'-fer the-bad lands" and
he laughed %noiselessly, his nervous
fingers gesticulating. guess that
means-busiGess."
Brant hesitated. Should he attempt
to learn more about the young girl?
Instinctively he appreciated the fulfil
ity of ~endeavoring to extract iRforma-
ton from Murphy, and he experienced
a degree of shame at thus seeking to
penetrate her secret. He glanced
about, seeking some way of recross-
ing the stream.
IF you require any new equipment"
he said tersely, I'VE can probably sup
ply you at the camp. How do you
manage to get across here?"
Murphy. walking stifny, led the way
down the steep slope, and silently
pointed out a log bridging the narrow
stream. He stood watching while the
officer picked his steps across, but
made no responsive motion when the
other waved his hand from the oppo-
site shore, his sallow face looking
grim and unpleasant.
The young officer marched down
the road, his mind busted with the
peculiar happenings OF the morning.
II that prospect for early active
service limited at in the brief utter
ances of the old scout. Brant was a
thorough soldier. born into the service
and deeply enamored of its dangers;
yet beyond this he remained a man, a
young man, swayed by those emotions