The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-10-06

cheek were still heavily bruised and
diScclOred His nose was somewhat
swollen
How did you happen to be in town
sergeant" was the abrupt demand.
Fitzroy colored to the brows. but the
answer was prompt:
II understood the colonel to say find
him. referring to Trooper Rawdon.
Friday night. and went in Saturday
morning thinking to help. Then we
couldn't get back. sir"
MY order was to the sergeant Of
the guard. not to you" interposed But
ton CURLY.
Sergeant Stowell was looking for
man in uniform. sir. and had never
seen Rawdon except in trooper dress
and would never perhaps have known
him."
Then how should you?" was the
sharp query.
FitZroy started. "I-had known him
longer. sir. and much better. had
occasion to reprimand him once or
the colonel will pardon meas none Of
the others knew him. There was that
young civilian Lowndes that went
along with us and got into trouble,
and-there were others. In fact. if
the colonel will pardon me again. sir.
1 do not hold high opinion of Troop
er RawdOn. and
mo more of that. SIR" broke in the
colonel angrily, unless you are ready
| to prove your words"
Give me two days and half
chance. Colonel Button" was the con-
fident answer. land I'll show he had
something to do with the paymaster's
| accident or-whatever it was"
| AS Captain Sumter said, the ladies
had gone no farther than the surgeons
| quarters that memorable Saturday, and
| with Sumter's full consent they had
| not gone even that far. Friday after
| noon he had wired his protest to the
father of Miriam Arnold, and with
startling emphasis the reply had come
early Saturday morning. Il repeat that
desire my daughter to return at
| once" The tone was abrupt if tele-
grams can be said to have either tone
or manner, but that wire settled the
| matter Miriam said she must obey,
and nothing short of DR.. Larrabee
| senior surgeon of the post. had pre-
vailed against her decision. He him
self had met the covered vehicle at bis
| gate and had insisted on their alight-
ing. Your train is half day late, y
| said he. You'll be wiser waiting here
than at the frowsy station. Besides,
| wish to see this young woman again.
| So saying he fairly lifted Miss Arnold
from the fur robed depths of the dark
interior and deposited her on the wind
| swept path. Run in" said he, then
| similarly aided Mrs. and Miss Sumter.
Less than half an hour the trio spent
under the doctors hospitable roof. Be.
| fore 2 o'clock the wind had increased
to a gale The snow was driving swift
| and hard. 81 checked you just in
time," said he. ''There'll be no train
| either way this night" And so by 2
o'clock and just as the paymaster was
| driving away down the front of Off
GERS row Mrs. and Miss Sumter, with
Miss Arnold, escorted by the two med
| ical officers. were struggling across the
open space between the surgeons
houses and the rear fence of the long
| line and presently entering the back
gate at Sumter's.
1t was an odd arrangement. some
| what peculiar to frontier stations of
| the day. The Enclosure of Fort Cush-
! ing was diamond shaped. The entrance
gate was at the eastern apex. The hos
| pital and surgeons quarters stood on a
line with this gate, their front perpen'
| dicular to the long axis of the diamond
/ Their rear elevations, therefore. were
not far from officers row. From the
| front of Sumter's house, around by
way of the main gate to the doctors
door-the first to the left north, of the
post trader's-was quite walk. From
back door to back door, however. il
was less than 200 PAGES. I'VE are near
neighbors," DR.. Larrabee had been say
ing, though my wife thinks it long
walk on windy day. | could reach
you day or night almost in minute
rs Mr.. Lanier sitting up?" Mrs. Sum
ter inquired. Il thought DR.. Schu
chardt was trying to keep him in bed
HE won't stay" was the answer.
"Dr. Larrabee." finally said Mrs
| Sumter, Miriam says she believes
it was all mere delusion-a dream
She blames herself bitterly and-begs
US to think no more of ito forgive
her. but
But why should / attempt to con-
ceal it? You know. and we have rea-
son to know. she did see some one
| there in her room who went out like
a thief. through the window and away
in spite of sentries. Captain Sumter
had the snow swept off before reveille
What was the use Of advertising ii
| further? Mr.. Barker and Mr.. Blake
saw it, too They hold it was some
garrison sneak thief. looking for jew
elry. Yet not so much as a ring. or a
pin was touched-only her desk"
did she tell of that?"
NO: Kate was the first to see it.
She few upstairs when she heard the
scream. found Miriam a senseless heap
| on the floor. the desk open on the little