Middletown transcript., 1912-01-20

Dack to aid US, but your name wa
not mentioned"
"Then my appearance must hay
proven a complete surprise?"
Yes, and no" she answered frank
~. 1 was not sure it was you. O
course, and 1 did not venture tn ask
but l knew you were in the neigbbor
nood' and that such an act would b,
In way characteristic. 1 was Ger
tam you would come if you knew. ant
II, well really, I hoped it was"
In spite Of slight effort at restraint
groped in the darkness until
touched her hand. For the moment
she permitted me to retain it, as II
unconsciously. within my grasp.
Why?" I questioned, scarcely rely.
ing upon my own voice.
"Oh, one always trusts friends mere
readily than strangers, and I have
seen you in danger before, and pos
sess such confidence in your courage
and resource"
But Miss Minor took particular
care to inform me you felt little or no
interest in me-that you never even
spoke of me except as she compelled
you to do So"
For a moment She did not answer.
How constant the firing continues, :"
she said at last, as 1 sat struggling
dumbly with temptation.
"A mere waste of powder, I fear
was my reply, given thoughtlessly.
When the rush finally comes we are
likely to be without sufficient ammu-
milton to repel it. I hardly expect
those fellows out there Will ever
leave without determined effort to
carry the house by storm. have no
doubt they are simply drawing all this
fire in the hope that our ammunition
viii thus be uselessly expended. 1t
is an old army trick, and one 1 am sur
prlsed to see so experienced an officer
as Major Brennan yield to. In my
judgment they will make an effort to
rush US as soon as there is sufficient
light"
"But why not warn him?"
come any interference on my part"
But surely, as a soldier, he must
value the advice of another soldfer?"
Possibly you forget" I explained,
striving to speak as lightly of it as
might be, that there is a lack of
friendship between Major Brennan
and myself"
"Still?' she asked Truly I thought
that might all be over. Even if it sur
vived until now, this noble act of
yours in coming to our defense should
have earned you his gratitude. He
he has never once mentioned your
name to me since that night"
''Not even when I came here with
my troop. I believer"
mo; yet I did not connect that
fact with the other. I supposed it a
mere oversight, or that he believed
the mention of your name would not
greatly interest me. Surely, Captain
Wayne, you are not keeping open this
unhappy wound?"
"On my word, no; but l regret to
confess it is very far from being
closed"
"He-Major Brennan does not know,
then, that you are here now with me?"
She evidently hesitated to ask this
question.
Certainly not" in surprise at her
apparent innocence. you cannot have
I had been sent here by
lim to talk with you?"
II did not know. 1 do not thiak
realized" she stammered, vainly
seeking for words with which to make
lear her bewilderment. 81 imagined
'ou might have come at his sugges-
ion to see that we were amply pro-
ected. This is all so very strange.
Ie does not even know you are here
With us?"
NO" I admitted reluctantly. "Per-
Iaps l have no excuse even for being
ere at all. My duty as a soldier is
ertainly elsewhere, but 1 could not
est content until 1 knew you were in
position of safety. Believe me, MRS.
have intended no indiscre-
lon, but l was informed by a soldier
hat you were being held here under
re-"
Her hand touched mine impulsively,
nd it was warm and throbbing.
Il can merely thank you with all
~ heart, Captain Wayne, and assure
ou both understand and appreciate
our purpose. But truly do not wish
ny trouble to occur again-you will
D back to your post, will you not?
ou can serve me best in that way,
nd retain the gratitude and admira-
on have ever felt for you"
cat once, Mrs. Brennan" returned
Il realize 1 have done
rong in ever coming here as have.
is my first act of disobedience to
'ders in all my military life. But
ii me first that I have forfeited
either your confidence nor your
She paused moment, then added
lickly, as though in sudden rush of
cling: mo friend stands higher in
esteem than you-now please go,
aptain Wayne"
As crept back through the dark
ss, passing beneath the piano into
e front room, which was filled with
e choking fumes of powder, my
ind was a chaos Of emotions impos-
Die to analyze. The very depth of
7e which drew me to her operated
w in restraint. God alone knows
e struggle in the darkness as 1 con-
lued to move slowly away from her
d toward the door, So deep was my
ltation, so intense my thought, that
scarcely realized l was creeping
ing barely beneath the dead line of
ose bullets which constantly swept
apartment. Their crashing into
wall was almost meaningless, and
'arely noted either the dense smoke
the ftful flashes of fame as the
lie garrison returned shot for shot.
was Brennan's voice-how hateful
sounded. .then-which recalled my
ention.
'Mapes," he said, with the sharp
le of wearied command, take a
ok at that fellow over yonder by