The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-02-15
CHAPTER xxxi.-contInued.

"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. l hardly expect
those fellows out there will ever
leave without a determined effort to
carry the house by storm. I have no
doubt they are simply drawing all this
fire in the hope that our ammunition
will thus be uselessly expended. 1t
Us an old army trick, and one l am sur
prised 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."
Major Brennan would scarcely vel
come any interference on my part"
But surely. as a soldier, he must
value the advice Of another soldier?"
Possibly you forget" l 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 l thought
that might all be owe 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 ever when l came here with
my troop. l believer"
mo; yet l 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 1t 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
supposed I had been sent here by
him to talk with you?" ..
II did not know. do not think
i realized" she ~stammered, vainly
seeking for words with which to make
clear her bewilderment. "I imagined
you might have come al his sueges-
ton to see that we were amply pro-
tected. This is all so very strange.
He does not eve know you are here
with us?"
NO." I admitted reluctantly. Per
haps l have no excuse eve for being
here at all. My duty as a soldier is
certainly elsewhere, but I could not
rest content until l knew you were in
q position of safety. Believe me, MRS.
Brennan, l have intended no indiscre-
tion, but I was informed by a soldier
that you were being held here under
fire"
Her hand touched mine impulsively,
and it was warm and throbbing.
Il can merely thank you with all
my heart, Captain Wayne, and assure
you'll both understand and appreciate
your purpose. But truly l do not wish
any trouble to occur again-you will
go back to your post. will you not?
You can serve me best in that way,
and retain the gratitude and admira-
t1on l have ever felt for you"
AT once. Mrs. Brennan" l returned
earnestly. Il realize l have done
wrong in eve coming here as l have.
It is my first act Of disobedience to
orders in all my military life. But
tell me first that l have forfeited
neither your confidence fnor your
friendship"
She paused a moment, then added
quickly, as though in sudden rush OF
feeling: mo friend stands higher in
my esteem than you-now please go,
Captain Wayne"
AS / crept back through the dark
mess; passing beneath the piano into
the front room, which was filled with
the choking fumes of powder. my