Gunnison news-champion., 1913-08-01


-eeav . A. u aaisr sseoeazss tsas
ostsrwss - the eesf7
Very well. Captain Kane he said
shortly, as the osficer's story ended
We shall have to examine into this.
Of course. but viii probably discover
the whole affair a false alarm. There
rs. at present. NO necessity for alarm
nag any eshers. Sergeant. kindly ca
plain 10 me why Miss Mcdonald should
have come to yoa In her distFess7"
Hsnlin s,eppsa tor ard. and told
the story again is detail, answering
the Colonel's questions frankly.
This. then. Mas the only time you
have met since your Arrivsl?"
Yes. sir"
And this Mrs. Dupont? You have
had q previous acquaintance With
her9"
Some years ago"
You consider her Q dangerous
woman?"
Il know her to be utterly unscrapu-
lous. sir. ! am prepared to state that
she is here under false pretenses,
claiming 10 be- . nisce u Major NJ
Donslds. ! 10 not know her real
pose, but aa eoavinced Il 10 an eshl
one"
The Colonel shook his head doubt
fully, GlaRcing Ut the silent adjutant.
That remains to be proven. Ser
GeaRt. have. Of course, met the lady,
and found her pleasant and agreeable
"A
hey. Benson? Why do you say she
mssqserades ss McDonald's nieee?"
"Because her maiden name was Car
son and the Majors sister married q
man named Counts"
There might have been another
marriage. Surely Mcdonald must
know"
Miss Molly says not, Colonel. He
has known nothing of his sister for
over twenty years, and accepted this
woman on her word"
We'll, WE'LL Interesting situation;
hey, Benson? Like TO get to the bot
tom myself Damme II It don't sound
like a novel However, the thing be-
fore us right now is to discover what
has become of Miss Mcdonald" He
Strengthened up in his chair, then
leaned across the table. Captain
Kane, make a thorough examination of
McDonalds quarters first. II the giIA
is not found there, detail two men to
accompany Sergeant Hamlin on a
search of the town"
VERY well, sir; come on, Sergeant"
Just a moment-if we find the trail
leads beyond the town are we author
ized TO continued"
Certainly. yes. Aejutant. write out
the order. Anything more?"
Il should prefer two men of my own
troop, sir, mounted"
Very well; see to it. Captain"
The two men walked down past the
dark row of officers houses, the Ser
geant a step TO the rear on the mar
row cinder path. MeDonald's quarters
were as black as the others. and there
was no response from within when
Kane raped at the door. They tried
the rear entrance with the same re-
sult-the place was plainly unoccu-
pied.
Pick out your men, Hamlin," the
Captain said sternly, "and Ill call the
stable guard"
Ten minutes later, fully equipped
for field service, the three troopers cir
oled the guard house and rode rapidly
down the dark read toward the yellow
lights of the town. The Sergeant ex-
planned briefly the cause of the expedl-
tion, and the two troopers. experienced
soldiers, asked no unnecessary ques-
tions. Side by side the three men rode
silently into the town, and Hamlin
swung down from his saddle at the
door of the dance hall With a word
70 the guard he crossed the floor TO in
tercept Mrs. Dupont. The latter re-
garded his approach with astonish-
ment, her hand on Captain Barrett's
blue sleeve
Certainly not" she replied rather
sharply to his first question. Il am not
in charge of Miss Mcdonald She is
no doubt amusing herself somewhere;
possibly lying down over at the hotel.
she complained of a headache earlier
in the evening. Why do you come to
me-"
YES" broke in the Captain. that
is what ] wish to know, Hamlin. BY
what authority are you hereF"
The orders of the Colonel command
ing. sir" respectfully, yet not permit
ting his glance 10 leave the woman's
ACE You insist then. madam, that
you know nothing of the girls dissp
I,earsnceF"
Mol" defiantly. her cheeks red
Nor Of what has become of Con
1ors. or your ranch manager"
She shrugged her shoulders, endeav-
Jrine TO smile
The parties mentioned are of verv
mall interest 10 me"
And Major Mcdonald" he insisted.
--erly ignoring the Increasing anger