The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-01-16
Copyright. 1919, by A. c. AcC!urg + Co.
CHAPTER Xxx.

CHAPTER Xxx.
Molly Tells Her Story.
Her breath came in a little sob, and
she sank back on the bench.
For me? How do you mean?"
Surely l had every reason to dis
trust her. to question her character.
and could not believe you realized
the sort of woman she is. l felt IT
my duty to discover her purpose here.
and to warn you If possible
"And you have succeeded? You
learned her purpose in your inter-
vtew?"
mot exactly" with regret. my
suspicion was merely stimulated. To
tell the truth, we rather Grifted into
q renewal OF our old quarrel. How
ever, between what she said, and parts
Df another conversation overheard. l
Amow there is Matchmaking conspr-
acy on foot in which you are in
jvolved. May l speak very frankly? %
Il certainly desire it, proudly. Il
an not aware that have anything to
conceal"
Apparently the scheme these
people have on foot originated about
lieutenant Gaskins. He is wealthy,
4 understand"
'1 have been told so; yes, know
he is
This knowledge, coupled with the
1act of your engagement
my what?"
your engagement had heard it
1umored before, and Mrs. Dupont as
sured me it was true"
"But It is not true, Sergeant liam
,1in"-indignantly. II cannot imagine
how such report ever started. Lieu
tenant Gaskins has been very friend.
~: has" her voice breaking slightly,
..'even asked me to marry him, but
hut l told him that was impossible.
He has been just as kind to me since,
but there is nothing, absolutely moth
ing between US. l have never spoken
about this before to any one.'
II Hamlin's heart leaped wildly at
this swift denial there was no evi.
taence of it in his quiet voice.
1.-THE point is, Miss Molly that Mrs.
Dupont, and those connected with her,
think otherwise. They are presuming
on Gaskins' being in love with you.
Mrs. Dupont can be very seductive.
Little by little she has drawn the Lieu
tenant into her net. Believing him en-
gagged to you, they have him now
where he must either pay money for
silence or be exposed. Just how it
was worked, l do not know. The shoot
ding last night was done to convince
him they were serious. The fact that
Gaskins later denied knowing who his
.assailants were-even endeavored to
accuse me-is abundant proof of their
SUCCESS" He hesitated, wondering at
her silence. What puzzles me most
b why you were present"
present? Where?"
at this quarrel with Gaskins last
evening. AS ran by toward the scene
OF the shooting I passed you hiding
mt the angle of the barrack wall. OF
course I have mentioned the fact to
no one That was why l made no at
tempt to defend myself when arrest
ed"
She gasped for breath, scarcely able
to articplate.
'''You believe that? You think that
OF @me?'
II may have been deceived; l hope
20: there was but little light, and I
rot merely a glimpse" he explained
Il hastily.
''Ycu were deceived" impetuously.
Fl was not out of the house that eve
= Eing. I was in the parlor with my
fatsier when those shots were fired,
You are sure you saw woman there
hiding7"
There In no doubt of that; her
footprints were plainly to be seen
in the morning. This discovery, to-
Eether with the size Of the weapon
used, resulted in my immediate re-
lease. I saw her, and imagined her TO
be you. l cannot account for the mis-
take, unless you we're in my mind, and
possibly what had heard of your con-
nection with Gaskins. Then it must
s. sAA1vO OCOA DOROhG. h0k AOonS
4 reasonable. But she stays at your
home, does she not?"
''She makes our house her headquar-
tiers, but Is absent occasionally. Last
night she was here at this hotel Well,
we are getting this Strengthened out .
1ittle-that is, If you believe me-"
"Of course
''Then l am going to question you.
You spoke Of overhearing a converse
ton p
Yes; It was after Mrs. Dupont had
left Captain Barrett came, and took
her away. was sitting here thinking
when two men came into the parlor. 3"
who were they? Do you know
HOne was the soldier who drives you
about onnors; the other black
bearded, burly fellow called 'Reb.'"
i Mr.. Dupont"
ii What? Is that Dupont? Lord! No
wonder she's gone bad. Why, !