The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-23

ed ne Lu4L% simply uncanny. What is he doing out here?''
 I've are taking him out to Laramie with us. He has letters to Colonel Meriwether, it seems. Cowles, what do you know about that man?'
 Nothing" said l, except that he purports to come from the English army"
 He's prowling about every military post he can get into"
 with a special reference to army officers born in the south?" I looked Belknap in the eye.
 There's something in that" he re- piled. "I don't like the. look of it. These are good times for every man to attend to his own business"
 A moment later ran across my for mer friend. Mandy McGovern. In her surprise she stopped chewing tobacco.
 well, I dee-clare to gracious she began, If here ain't the man I met on the boat! How'd you git away out here ahead of us? Have you saw airy buffeler? I'm gettin' plumb wolfish fer something to shoot at"
 What 1 was doing at that precise mo- ment, as must confess, was taking a half unconscious look once more to- ward the tail of the ambulance, where Orme and the young woman stood chatting But it was at this time that Orme came forward.
 By love-" he said, "here you are again. Am your shadow, MT. CowIes. or are you mine? It is really singular how we meet. I'm awfully glad to meet you, although I don't in the least see how you've managed to get here ahead of us"
 I explained to him the changes of my plans that had been brought about by the accident to the River Belle. "Lieutenant Bellznap tells me that you are going through to Laramie with him. I added. "As 1t chances, we have the same errand. It is my pur- pose also to call on Colonel Meriweth- CT there in case we do not meet him coming down.
 "How extraordinary Then we'll be fellow travellers for time and, hope. have a little sport together. Fine young fellow, Belknap. You'll eat at our mess tonight. of course. That's OUT fire just over there. and, Pm think ing the cook is nearly ready. There comes Belknap now"
 The confusion of these varied meet ings had kept me from learning the identity of the late passenger of the ambulance. I presume both Orme and 5elknap supposed that the young lady end I had met efore we took our I1aces on the ground at the edge of the blanket which served as a table. l sought glance at her face. which the next instant was hid by the rim of her hat as she looked down. removing her long gloves. At least saw her hands small hands, sun Drowned now. On one finger was a plain gold ring with . peculiar setting-the figure of a rose carved deep into the gold.
 After aIl," thought I to myself. ''there are some things which cannot be duplicated. among these hair like this, a profile like this. a figure like this" I gazed in wonder, then in cer tainty.
 No; there was no escaping the con clusion. This was not another girl but the same girl seen again.
 Belknap caught the slight restraint as the>girl and l both raised our eyes ''0h, I say, why-what in the world Mr.~Cowles, didn't you-that is, haven't you'-
 i'No," said I, "I haven't and didn't, I think. But think also''-
 The girls face was a trifle flushed but her eyes were merry. "Yes," said she, q think Mir. Cowles and I have met once before" She slightly empha- sized the word "once,'' as noticed.
 Gro Be ContInued)