The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-08-15

her head East to where she could gain
a view outside. Hamlin pressed her
back with n hand. planting himself
sQuarely before the window. She met
his eyes s%pitefully.
Il was mistaken this time" she &C
knovledged 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 a Molly. You
made a hit with her all right. and she
certainly don't like me. Well. delight
full as 1t is to meet you again, l must
be going" She turned away. and then
paused to add over her shoulder:
Don't you think 1t would be just az
safe for you to attend to your "
business. Sergeant Hamlinf"
And let you alonef"
Exactly; and let me alone. I am
hardly the sort Of woman It Ii safe to
play with. 1t will be worth your while
to remember that"
He waited, m~otionless. Until assured
that she had passed down the hall as
far az the door OF the dining.room.
The sound Of shufBing chairs evi-
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 as they left the house. He again
turned down the light, and held back
the curtain.
The way Is clear now. Miss Molly"
There was no response, nc move
ment. He stepped outside, thinking
the girl must have failed to hear him.
The porch was empty. He stepped
from one end to the other, making
sure 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 see any one when she glanced out.
But where could the girl have gone!
How gotten away? He had heard no
sound behind him; not ven the rustic
Of a skirt to betray movement. 1t
was not far to the ground, i've or six
feet, perhaps; 1t would be perfectly
safe for one to lower the body over
the rail and drop. The matted prairie
grass under foot would render the act
noiseless. No doubt that was exactly
the way the escape had been accom-
plished. Alarmed by the presence OF
those others. suspecting that the wom-
an within would insist on learning
whom Hamlin was attempting to con
ceal. possibly .overhearing enough OF
their conversation to become fright
ened at the final outcome. Miss Nc
Donald, in sudden desperation, had
surmounted the rail, and dropped to
| the ground. The rest would be easy
| to hasten around the side of the house,
and slip In through the front door.
Assured that this must be the full
explanation. the S%ergeant's cheerful
ness returned. The company Of Off.
GERS and guests had already fled out
through the hall; he could hear voices
laughing and talking in the street, and
the band tuning up their instruments
across in tho dance hall. He would &C
over and make certain Of her pres
ence, then his mind would be at ease
He passed out through the deser,
hallway, and glanced in at the din
ing-room. where a number Of men were
gathering up the dishes. Beyond THU
the bar-room was crowded, a riffraf
Eood an bafaro tho e1oppv b,r o-o-,
these a number in uniform-unat
tached officers who had loitered be
hind to Quench their thirst. Hamlil
drank little, hut fingered a momen
just inside the doorway, to observ,
who was present. Unconsciously h,
was searching for Dupont. half in
clined to pick a quarrel deliberatel,
with the fellow or with Connors, deter
mined If he found she little rat alon,
to brighten whatever knowledge h,
possessed out of Jim. But neithe
worthy appeared. Having assured him
self of their absence, Hamlin turne,
to depart. but found himself facing
little mar with long hair, roughl
dressed, who occupied the doorway
The hooked nose. and bright eyes
peering forth from a mass of ur
trimmed gray whiskers, we're familiar
You keep the junk shop down b
the express office. don't you?"
Yep" briskly, seenting business 1
the question. I'm kaplan; vot coul
l do for ~you-hey?"
Answer a question II you vii
, friend. Do you recall selling a have,
, sack to a traveller On the last stage on
? for Santa Fe in June?"
vel, l do no; he a big fellow
Maybe dc o vat vas killed-hey?"
Yes; his name was Moylan, DOS
r sutler at Fort Marcy"
Maybe dot vos 1t. Why you val
to know-hey?"
mo harm to you, Kaplan,' the Sc
o geant explained. "Only l picked
up out there after Moylan was kille,
and discovered by some writing on Il
e flap that 1t originally belonged to
friend OF mine. / vas curious to lear
I how 1t got into your hands"
c The trader shrugged his shoulder