The citizen., 1913-06-20

and you all know it 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; unless, 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
| should dislike TO believe any officer
of my command would be deliberately
guilty of so despicable an act. How.
I 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
somehow 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 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
pisiking the Lieutenant from the
first, and as strongly attracted by the
girl, his sympathies were now entire
ly with her. If she had shot him.
then it was for some insult, some out
rage, and he was ready to protect her
with his life. He stopped, glancing
back at The closed door, tempted to
return and ask permission to inter
view Gaskins personally. Then the
uselessness Of such procedure re.
Cured to him. the fact that nothing
could result from their meeting but
disappointment and recrlmination. The
man evidently disliked him, and would
resent any interference; he had some
thing to conceal, something at stake
for which he would battle strenuous
ly. 1t would be better to let him
alone at present and try to uncover
clue elsewhere. Later, with more facts
in his possession, he could face the
Lieutenant and compel his acknowl-
edgment. These considerations caused
him to turn sharply and walk straight
toward the ravine. Yet his investiga-
tions there brought few results. On
the upper bank were the marks of
woman's shoe. slender footprint
clearly defined, but the lower portion
of the ravine was rocky, and the trail
soon lost He passed down beyond
the stables realizing how easily the
fugtives, under cover OF darkness,
could have escaped The stable guard
could have seen nothing from his sta
ton, and just below was the hard
packed road leading to the river and
the struggling town. There was moth
ing to trace, and Hamlin climbed back
up the bluff completely baffled but des.
perately resolved to unlock the mys-
terry. The harder the solution ap-
peared, the more determined he be.
came to solve it, AS he came out, op-
posite the barrack entrance, a car
riage drove in past the guard-house
the guard presenting arms, and cir
cled the parade in the direction OF Of
ficers row. 1t contained a soldier
driver and two ladies. and the Ser
geant's face blushed under it's tan as
he recognized Miss Mcdonald Would
she notice him-speak tC him? The
man could not forbear lifting his eyes
TO her face as the carriage swept by
He saw her glance toward him, smile
with a little gesture of recognition
and stood there bareheaded, his heart
throbbing wildly. With that look,
that smile, he instantly realized two