Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-08-29

Sne waited an instant while he lefi
the room; then her eyes defiantly met
Hamlin's.
Il was told you had driven every one
out of here" she said coldly. .'Wha,
was the gamer"
This room was reserved"
"Pish! keep that explanation fol
some n else. You wanted the room
for some purpose. Who have you got
out there?' she pointed at the window
Whether there be any one or not
he answered, leaning against the win,
dow frame, and thus barring the pass.
age, Il fail to see wherein you are
concerned"
She laughed.
Which remark is equivalent to q
confession. Dave" suddenly changing,
why should we quarrel, and misjudge
each other? You cannot suppose l
have forgotten the past, or am indiffer-
ent- Cannot you forgive the mistake
OF a t~houghtless girl? Is there any
reason why we should not be, at least,
friendly?"
There was ar appeal in her voice,
but the mans face did not respond.
Il cannot say thai | feel any bitter
ness over the past" he answered light
ly. Il am willing enough to blot that
out. What l am interested in is the
present. ! should like to understand
your purpose here at Dodge"
Surely that is sufficiently clear. l
am merely an exile from home, on ac-
count OF Indian ~depredations. What
more natural than that I should take
refuge in my uncle's house"
You mean Major McDopald?"
"Certainly-he was my mothers
only brother"
Il think ] have heard somewhere
that the Majors only sister married a
man named Counts"
She drew in her breath sharply.
Yes, of course-her first husband
you We're a daughter then of her
first ~marriage?"
"Of course"
But. assumed the name Of Carson
when she married again."
THAT was when o met me-"
THE change was natural enough"
he went on. But why did you also be-
come Vera in place of Sarah?"
"Oh, is that It? Well, never attempt
to account for the vagaries Of a girl.
she returned lightly. as though dis
missing the subject. IT presume I
took a fancy tc the prettier name. But
how did you known"
Garrison umo picks up nearly
everything. and 1t is not very kind to
you. Mrs. Dupont. ! hope / am doing
you a favor in saying this. Your rath-
er open Irritation with Lieutenant Gas
kins is common talk, even among en-.
listed men, and have heard that your
relations with Major Mcdonald are pc
culiar."
Indeed" with a rising infection OF
III voice. How kind OF you, and SO
~delicately expressed" She laughed.
And poor Major Mcdonald! Really.
that is ridiculous. Could o imagine
my flirting with him?"
II have no recollection OF using that
term in this connection. But you have
strange influence over him. For some
reason the man is apparently afraid OF
you
Afraid of me? oh, no! Some one
has been fooling you, Dave. / am
merely Major McDonald's guest 1
wonder who told you that? Shall
guess q"
Before he could realize her purpose
the woman took a hasty step forward,
and swept aside the curtain, thrusting
her head past to where she could gain
a view outside. Hamlin pressed her
back with n hand, planting himsels
squarely before the windowY She met
his eyes spitefully.
4 was mistaken this time she ac-
knowledged drawing away 'but I'd
like to know why you were SO anxious
to prevent my looking out. Do you
know whom l thought you had there?'
As you please" rejoicing that the
girl had escaped notice.
THAT little snip OF q Molly. You
made q hit with her all right, and she
certainly don't like me. Well. delight
full AZ 1t is to meet you again. I must
be going" She turned away. and then
paused to add over her shoulder.
Don't you think 1t would be just as
safe for you to attend to your own
business, Sergeant Hamlin?"
And let you alone?"
EXACTLY: and let me alone. ] am
hardly the sort of woman 1t Is safe to
play with 1t will be worth your while
to remember that"
He waited, motionless, until assured
that she had passed down the hall as
far as the door Of the dinfng-room.
The sound OF stunning chairs eyi-
denced the breaking up Of the party.
In preparation to return to the ball
room II Miss McDonald's absence
were to escape observation, she would
have to slip out now and rejoin the
others AZ they left the house. He again
turned down the light, and held back
thu curtain.
The way II clear now, Miss Molly.
There wAs no response, no move
mont. He stepped outside. thinking
the girl must have failed to hear him.
Tho porch was empty. He stepped
from d end to the other, making
sur she was not ~crouching In. the
darkness, scarcely able to grasp the
fact Of her actual disappearance. This.
then, was Why Mrs. Dupont had failed
to : any one when she glanced out
But whore could the girl have gone?
How gotten &wayf He hatsheard no
sound behind him: not even the rustic
bfsa skirt to betray movement. Il
Was not far 20 the ground, nve or six
'feet perhaps: It would b perfectly
$50 Tor one 70 lower the body over