The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1913-07-11

me majority-oflicers wives; the
frontier helpmates of the more prom.
i"ehl merchants of the town: women
from the surrounding ranches. who
mao deserted their homes until the In.
alan scare ceased: a scattered few
from pretentious small cities to the
eastward. and, here and there, Younger
races, representing ranchmens daupb.
tefs, with school-teacher or two Al.
together they made rather a brave
snow, occasionally exhibiting toilets
worthy OF admiring chances. naver
lacking ardent partners. and entering
with unalloyed enthusiasm into the
evenings pleasure. The big room nre.
sehted a scene of brilliant color of
ceaselessly moving figures: the air
was resonant with laughter and
trembling to the dashing strains NJ
the band. Primitive as it was in MANY
respects. to Hamlin. long isolated in
small frontier posts. the scene was
strangely attractive, his Imagination
responding to the glow of color the
merry chime of voices the trimming of
feet The smiling faces flashed mast
MS ears caught whispered words his
eyes followed the flying figures. For
Inc moment the man forgot himself
in this new environment of tboupbt.
less pleasure.
From among that merry throne os
strangers his eyes soon distinguished
that one in whom he felt special in.
terest-Mrs. Dupont. dancing now
with Mcdonald, the rather cornulert
Major exhibiting almost youthful asil.
ity under the inspiration of the music
The lady talked with animation. as
they circled among the others on fine
| floor, her red lips close to her mart.
ner's ear, but Hamlin, suspicious and
watchful, noted that her ewes were
busy elsewhere scanning the faces
They swept over him, apparently un-
seeing, but as the two circled swiftly
by, the hand resting lightly on the
Majors shoulder vas uplifted sudden.
ly in peculiar, suggestive movement
He stared after them until thev were
tOn00pnt
that the motion of those white-gIoved
fingers was meant as a signal of
warning. TO whom was it conveyed9
He glanced aside at the lam of figures
in the doorway. Both the blackwhis-
kered man and Connors had disap-
peared 1t was signal then, instant
ly understood and obeyed
The Sergeant mad scarcely Crashed
this fact when his attention was hi.
verified by the appearance of Miss Nc
Donald. She WAS dancing with CT
william, an Immediately dressed indi
vidual with rudy, boyish face. His
intense admiration of his partner was
plainly evident, and the girl, simply
dressed in white, her cheeks flushed
her dark eyes bright with endowment
set Hamlins cool nerves throbbing
He could not resist gazing at her, and
as their eyes met, she bowed, the full
red lips parting in a smile of recogni.
ton. There was no reservation. no
restraint in that quick greeting. as
she whirled by; he could not fail IN
had not forgotten, had no desire to
forget What he imagined he read
in her face swept all else from his
mind instantly. and, with eager eyes,
he followed her slight, girlish figure
as they circled the hall The music
ceased. and he still watched as the
lad led her to a seat, himself sinking
into a chair beside her Then the pass
ing out of several men, who desired
return checks, .laimed his attention
When the last of these had disap-
peared. he glanced again in her direc
ton. She was alone, and her young
partner was walking toward him
across the deserted floor The lad
came to the door. which by now con-
tanned few loterers, and stood there
a moment gazing out into the street
Are you Sergeant Hamin?" he
asked quietly.
Yes"
Miss Mcdonald requested me to
hand you this note unobserved |
have no knowledge of its contents"
in his palm. and stood silent, clinging
to it, as the other carelessly recrossed
the room. She was looking toward
him, but he made no motion TO I'M
fold the missive, until his eyes, search
ing the chairs. had located Mrs. Du
pont. The very secret of delivery
made him cautious, made him suspect
it had to do with that woman She
was beside the band-stand, still con
versing with the Major, apparently
oblvious to any other presence, her
face turned aside Assured of this he
opened the paper and glanced at the
few hastily scrubbed lines.
81 trust you, and you must believe |
do not do this without cause. During
the intermlssion be in the hotel par
lor."