The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-05-08
CHAPTER Xxx.
Molly Tells Her Story.

~ S'S
Her breath came in a little sob, and
she sank back on the bench.
For me? How do you mean?"
Surely / had every reason to dis
trust her, to question her character,
and l could not believe you realized
The sort of woman she is. / felt 1t
my duty to discover her purpose here,
and to warn you if possible"
"And you have succeeded? You
learned her purpose in your inter
yiew?"
mot exactly" with regret. "My
suspicion was merely stimulated. To
tell the truth, we rather drifted into
a renewal of our old quarrel. How
ever, between what she said, and parts
If another conversation overheard, l
know there is a Matchmaking conspir-
acy on foot in which you are in
volved. May l speak very frankly"
81 certainly desire it," proudly. II
am not aware that l have anything to
conceal"
Apparently the scheme these
people have on foot originated about
Lieutenant Gaskins. He is wealthy,
[ understand"
81 have been told so; yes, ! know
be is"
"This knowledge, coupled with the
fact of your engagement"
my what?"
Your engagement. I had heard it
rumored before, and Mrs. Dupont as
Sured me it was true"
"But it is not true, Sergeant Ham
Iin"-indignantly. 81 cannot imagine
how such a report ever started. Lieu
tenant Gaskins has been very friend
ly; has" her voice breaking slightly,
"even asked me to marry him, but
but l told him that was impossible.
He has been just as kind to me since,
but there is nothing, absolutely moth
Ing between us. / have never spoken
about this before to any one."
II Hamlin's heart leaped wildly at
this swift denial, there was no evil
1ence Of it in his quiet voice.
"The point is, Miss Molly, that Mrs.
Dupont, and those connected with her,
think otherwise. They are presuming
On Gaskins' being in love with you.
Mrs. Dupont can be very seductive.
Little by little she has drawn the Lieu
tenant into her net. Believing him en-
gagged to you, they have him now
where he must either pay money for
silence OF be exposed. Just how it
was worked, I do not know. The shoot
Ing last night was done to convince
him they were serious. The fact that
Gaskins later denied knowing who his
assailants were-even endeavored to
accuse me-is abundant proof Of their
success" He hesitated, wondering at
her silence. what puzzles me most
ls why you we're present"
present? Where?"
AT this quarrel with Gaskins last
evening. AS l ran by toward the scene
Of the shooting 1 passed you hiding
at the angle of the barrack wall. OF
course I have mentioned the fact to
no one. That was why I made no at
tempt to defend myself when arrest
ed"
She gasped for breath, scarcely able
to %articulate.
"You believe that? You think that
Of me-"
II may have been deceived; I hope
SO; there a but little light, and /
got merely a glimpse" he explained
hastily.
you were deceived" impetuously.
81 was not out of the house that eve-
ming. I was In the parlor with my
father when those shots were fired.
You are sure you saw a woman there
hiding"
There is no doubt of that; her
footprints were plainly to be seen
In the morning. This discovery, to-
gether with the size Of the weapon
used, resulted in my immediate re-
lease. l saw her, and imagined her to
be you. l cannot account for the mis-.
take, unless you were in my mind, and
possibly what I had heard Of your con.
nection with Gaskins. Then it must
have been Mrs. Dupont. That looks
reasonable. But she stays at your
home, does she not?"
"She makes our house her headouar-
tiers, but Is absent occasionally. Last
night she was here at this hotel. Well,
we are getting this Strengthened out q
Httle-that is, II you believe me-"
"Of course"
Then I am going to question you.
You spoke of overhearing a converse
tion?"
"Yes; 1t was after Mrs. Dupont had
left. Captain Barrett came, and took
her away. I was sitting here thinking
when two men came into the parlor."
who were they? Do you know
Zone was the soldier who drives you
about-Connors; the other a black
bearded, burly fellow called 'Reb.'"
Mr.. Dupont"
What? Is that Dupont? Lord! No
wonder she's gone bad. Why, I
thought her husband was a ranchman
down south somewhere! This fellow
ia a tin-horn."
HE did cattle once, years age.
! think he was quite well OF, but drank
and gambled it away. Papa told me