Gunnison news-champion., 1913-08-01


friend. DO yog recall selling a haver-
sack to Traveller on the last stage out
for santa Pc In june"
Vel ! do no; vas he a big fellowf
Maybe de Won vat vas killed-.hey7"
Yes, his name was Aioyi Ian, post
sutier at Fort Marcy"
Maybe dot vos II. Why you want
20 kRow-hey7"
NO harm to yea. ksplan." the Ser
seant explained. "OHiy I picked It
up out there after Moylan Was killed,
and Uncovered by some writing on the
nap that II originally belonged to .
triend of mine. l Was curious to learn
how IL got into your hands"
The trader shrugged his shoulders.
'Nud II be worth drink ?" he asked
sannily.
of eeurss. Franh, give kaplsa
shatever he wsnts. Nov, FIRE away"
'Vel,' and the fellow filed his glass
ssliserstely, 1T vss sold me sis
aonths before ~ . Dsls0w vet - Q
slack bsard-"
'I3p0otf"
"Dat vss - naos o. q sellas. ysA
No. . hasw H. . SO - Asss seaas
Doa. Isu koeV hto?"
-Dy SIGHT sely; he , - tAs esie
~ swner. - the 40 an trying -
ssss. Voc hsew nssAiaG q vAsss -
vst the haG. Drssxns?"
4 know noting more - I tell ysu
sDreatty," rather aisconsolately, as hs
realized that ons arink YES al he vao
geins TO receive.
Hanlin elbowed his way out to ths
street. Ne had learned something, bul
not much that was of any value. UR
1oubtedly the haversack had come In
10 Dupont's possession through M
wife, but this knowledge yielded no In
formation ~ TO the present where
abouts of lie Fevre. When the lattes
had separated from the woman, the
old army bag was left behind, ana,
aeedine money, Dupont had disposed
Of 1t, along with other truck, seeming.
ly of little value.
The Sergeant reached this eonclu.
sion quickly, and, satisfied that any
further Investigation along this line
would be worthless, reverted to his
earlier quest-the safety of Miss Me.
Donald Merely to satisfy himself OF
her presence, he crossed the street
and glanced In at the whirling dancers.
There were few loiterers at the door.
way and he stood for a moment beside
the guard, where he was able 10 sur.
vey the entire room. Mrs. Dupont was
upon the floor, and swept past twice,
without lifting her eyes in recognition,
but neither among the dancers, nor
seated, could he discover Miss Molly.
Startled at not finding her present,
Hamlin searched snxiously for the Ma
jor. only to assure himself of his sb.
senee also. Could they have returned
TO the fort as early as this? II SO,
how did 1t happen their guest was still
present, happily enjoying herself? OF
course she might be there under es-
cort OF some one else-Captain Bar.
rett, possibly. He would ask the In
fantryman.
Have you seen Miss Mcdonald
since support"
The soldier hesitated an instant, q
though endeavoring to remember.
No, l amt. now you speak of it. She
went out with that kid over there, and
he came back alone. Don't believe
he's danced any since. The Major was
here, though; Gonrors brought him q
note a few minutes ago. and he got his
hat and went out"
Hamlin drew q breath of relief
Girl must have sent for him to take
her home," he said. We'll. it's time
for me to turn in-eood-night, old
man."
He tramped along the brightly iflu-
mined street, and out upon the DARK
road leading up the bluff to the fort.
his mind occupied with the events Of
F the evening. and those other incidents
! leading up to them. There was no
doubt that Miss Mcdonald and her IA
ther had returned TO their home. But
what could he do to assist her? The
very knowledge that she had volun-
arily appealed to him. that she had
come to him secretly with her trouble,
brought strange happiness Moreover
his former acquaintance with Mrs. Du-
pont gave him = clue to the mystery.
Yet how was he going to unravei the
threads. discover the motive. fipd ont
the various conspirators! What were
they really af.er? Money probably. but
possibly revenge. What did the vom-
an know which enabled her to yiell
such influence over Mcdonald, what
sas the trap they proposed sprinsinsf :
The Sergeant felt that he could solve
these problems II gives IN opportunA
y. but he vas Aandicapssd by his -
sition: lhe could not leave his truo>.
,ould not meet Or ming3s With the sD.
eecfed parties; was Id. hand a,A
foot BY army aiscipli.e- He could "a
evea sbse1t himself non the Ssse
sffAout eaining sDec1Gl pesnhsasa n