The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-04-24

clew. He had pricked her in the Cas-
kins affair, there was no doubt or
that; she knew, or at least suspected,
the party firing the shot. She denied
at first having been married to LIE
Fevre, and yet later had been COM
PEELED to acknowledge hat marriage.
There then was a deliberate false
hood, which must have been told for
a purpose. What purpose? Did she
imagine 1t would make any difference
with him, or did she seek to shield
lie Fevre from discovery? The latter
reason appeared the more probable,
for the man must have been in the
neighborhood lately, else where did
that haversack come from?
So e%ngrossed was Hamlin with
these thoughts that he hardly real
lied that some one had lifted the win
dow curtain cautiously. The beam Of
light flashed across him, disappearing
before he could lift his head to seer
a the cause. Then a voice spoke,
and he leaned back to listen.
Not there; gone back to the dance
likely, while we were at the bar"
Nobody out there?" this fellow
growled his words.
Some soldier asleep with his head
on the rail; drunk, I reckon. Who
was she with this timer"
"Barrett?"
who? Oh, yes, the fellow who
brought in that troop Of the Seventh.
Lord, the old girl is getting her hooks
into him early. Well, as long as Gas
kins is laid up, she may as we'll amuse
herself somewhere else. Barrett is
rather a good locker, isn't he? Do
you know anything about the man?
Has he got any stuff"
Don't know" answered the gruff
voice. He's a West Pointer. Vera
likes to amuse herself once in a while;
that's the woman Of it. Heard from
Gaskins tonight"
ooh, he's all right" the man
laughed. THAT little prick frightened
him though. Shut up like a clam"
$50 l heard. He'll pay to keep the
story quiet, all right. AS soon as he
Is well enough to come down here.
we'll tap his bundle. Swore he was
shot by a cavalry sergeant, didn't he?"
"And sticks to it like a mule. Must
have 1t in for that fellow. Well, it
helped our getaway"
eyes, we're safe enough, unless Cas-
kins talks, and he's so in love with
the Mcdonald girl he'll spiel out big
rather than have any scandal now.
Wish I could get a word with Vera
tonight; she ought to see him tomor.
row-compassion, womanly sympathy.
and all that rot, you know, helps the
game. Let's drift over toward the
Palace, Dan, and maybe I can give
her the sign"
Hamlin caught a glimpse Of their
backs as they passed out-one in in
fantry fatigue, the other, a heavier
built man, fairly we'll dressed in citi-
zen's clothes. Inspired by a desire
to e their features the Sergeant
swung himself over the rail, and
dropped lightly to the ground. In an
other moment he was out on the
street, in front Of the hotel, watching
the open door. The two passed within
a few feet Of him, clearly revealed in
the light streaming from the dance
hall. The soldier Jagged somewhat
behind, an insignificant, rat-faced fell
low, but the larger man walked
straight, with squared shoulders. He
wore a broad-brimmed hat pulled low
over his eyes, and a black beard con-
cealed the lower portion of his face.
Hamlin followed as the two pushed
their way up among the idle crowds
c~ongregated on the wooden steps, and
peered n through the wide doorway.
Satisfied that he would recognize both
worthless when they met again, and
realizing now something Of the plot
being operated, Hamlin edged in
closer toward the sergeant who was
guarding the entrance. The latter
recognized him with a nod.
Pretty busy, Masters?"
"Have been, but there will be q lull
now; when they come back from sup
per thereIl be another rush likely.
Would you mind taking my job a min
ute while I go outsider"
mot in the least; take your time.
Let mt see what the tickets look like.
That's all r~ight-say, Masters, before
you go. do you know that big duffer
with a black beard in the front line 2"
The other gave a quick glance down
the faces.
1--WE seen him before; dealt faro
at the Poodle Dog a while; said to
be a gun-man. Never heard his name.
Oh, yes, come to think about 1t, they
called him 'Reb'-Confed soldier, I
reckon. Amt seen him before for a
month. Got into some kind Of a
shootin' scrap up at Mike Kelly's and
skipped out ahead Of the marshal.
Why?"
Nothing particular-looks familiar.
that's all. Who's the soldier behind
him-the thin-faced runt?"
"Connors. Some river-rat the re-
cruiting officers picked up in New
York; In the guard-house most of the
time; driver for Major Mcdonald
| when he happens to be sober enough"