Eastern Colorado times., 1913-05-16


opportunity to explain. thought 1t
just as well to remain quiet, and let
the affair straighten itself out"
"Yet your action threw US complete
ly of the trail," broke in Mcdonald
impatiently. "It permitted the really
guilty parties to escape. Did you see
any one?"
BLACK smudges merely, Major. ap-
parently running toward the ravine.
My eyes were blinded, leaping from q
lighted room"
Mcdonald leaned forward eagerly
one hand tapping the table.
"Was one Of them woman?" he
questioned sharply.
Hamlin's heart leaped into his
throat, but he held himself motionless.
They were indistinguishable, sir;
mere shadows. Have you reason to
suspect there may have been woman
involved"
The Major leaned back in his chair,
but the commandant, after glance at
his officer, answered:
"The pistol used was q small one,
such as woman might carry, and
there are marks of woman's shoe
plainly visible at the edge of the ra-
vine. Lieutenant Gaskins was alone
when he left the officers club five min
utes before the firing began. You are
sure you have never had any contro-
versy with this offlcer?"
Perfectly sure, sir We have never
met except on the one occasion al
ready referred to, and then scarcely
dozen words were exchanged"
How then. Sergeant" and the Col
onel spoke very soberly, do you ac-
count for his denouncing you as his
assassin"
Il presumed he was Influenced by
my arrest, sir; that the shock had af-
fected his brain"
THAT supposition will hardly an
swer. The Lieutenant Is not severely
wounded, and this morning appears to
be perfectly rational. Yet he insists
you committed the assault; even re-
fers to you by name."
The accused man pressed one hand
to his forehead in bewilderment.
He still insists I shot him?"
Yes; to be frank, he's rather bitter
about 1t, and no facts we have brought
to bear have any apparent weight. He
swears he recognized your face in the
flare of the first discharge"
The Sergeant stood silent. motion.
less, his gaze on the Colonels face.
Il do not know what to say, sir" he
answered finally. II was not there,
and you all know 1t from the men Of
my troop. There has been no trouble
between Lieutenant Gaskins and my
self, and can conceive of no reason
why he should desire to involve me in
this affair-unless." he paused doubt
fully; "dnless, sir, he really knows
who shot him. and is anxious to shift
the blame elsewhere to divert sus.
picion."
"You mean he may be seeking to
shield the real culprit?"
THAT is the only explanation that
occurs to me. SIR"
The Colonel stroked his beard nerv.
ously. his glance wandering to the
faces of the other officers.
THAT might be possible" he ac-
knowledged regretfully, although l
should dislike to believe any officer
of my command would be deliberately
guilty Of SO despicable an act. How
ever, all we can do now is endeavor
to uncover the truth. You are dis
charged from arrest, Sergeant Ham.
lin. and will return to your troop"
Hamlin passed out the door into
the sunshine. dimly conscious that his
guarded answers had not been entire
ly satisfactory to those left behind.
Yet he had said all he could say, all
he dared say. More and more firmly
there has been implanted in his mind
a belief that Molly Mcdonald was
involved in this unfortunate
affair, and that her name must be
protected at all hazard. This theory
alone would seem to account for Gas.
kins' efforts to turn suspicion, and
when this was connected with the al
ready known presence Of a woman on
the scene, and the smallness Of the
weapon used. the evidence seemed
conclusive.
AS far as his own duty was con.
cerned, the Sergeant felt no doubt.
Whatever might be the cause, there
was no question in his mind but that
she was fully justified in her action.
Disliking the Lieutenant from the
first, and as strongly attracted by the
girl, his sympathies were now entire
ly with her. II she had shot him,
then 1t was for some insult, some out
rage, and he was ready to protect her
with his life He stonDed plopcin1