The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-01-09
Copyright. 1918. by T. c. McClurg 8 Co.
CHAPTER XVIII,
Another MESSAGE.

SE1HT En- HStJs
Another Message.
Hamlin sank back on the bench and
leaned his head on his hand. Had any
thing been accomplished by this in
terview? One thing, at least-he had
thoroughly demonstrated that the
charm once exercised over his imag!-
nation by this beautiful woman had
completely vanished. He saw her now
as she was-heartless, selfish, using
her spell of beauty for her own sordid
ends. If there had been left a shred
of romance in his memory of her, it
was now completely shattered. Her
GOODNESS, her adroit changing Of
moods. convinced him she was playing
no. What game? Nothing in har
words had revealed it's nature, yet the
man instinctively felt that it must In.
volve Molly Mcdonald. Laboriously
he reviewed, word by word, each SEN
tence exchanged, striving to find some
clew. He had pricked her in the Cas-
kins affair, there was no doubt OF
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 that marriage.
There then was a deliberate false
hood. which must have been told for
q a purpose What purpose? Did she
imagine it 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 engrossed 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 ascer-
tain the cause. Then a voice spoke,
and he leaned back to listen.
mot there; gone back to the dance
likely, while we we're 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 time?"
"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 Cas-
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. Hes a West Rointer. Vera
likes to amuse herself once in while;
that's the woman of it. Heard from
gGaskins tonight"
ooh, he's all right" the man
laughed. THAT little prick frightened
him though. Shut up like clam"
so l heard. He'll pay to keep the
story quiet, all right AS soon as he
is well enough to come down here.
well tap his bundle. Swore he was
shot by cavalry sergeant, didn't he?"
have it in for that fellow. Well, it
helped our getaway"
Eyes, we're safe enough, unless Gas
kins talks, and he's SO in love with
the Mcdonald girl he'll spiel out big
rather than have any scandal now.
Wish could get a word with Vera
tonight; she ought to see him tomor.
row-compassion womanly sympathy.
I and all that rot, you know, helps the
game Let's drift over toward the
Palace, Dan, and maybe can give
her the sign
Hamlin caught a glimpse of their
backs as they passed out-one in in
fantry fatigue. the other, heavier
built man, fairly we'll dressed in citi-
zen's clothes. Inspired by desire
to see 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
. few feet Of him, clearly revealed in
the light streaming from the dance
hall. The soldier Jagged somewhat
behind, an insignificant, rat-faced fel-
low, but the larger man walked
straight, with squared shoulders. He
wore q broad-brimmed hat pulled low
over his eyes. and black beard con-
ceaded the lower portion Of his face.
Hamlin followed as the two pushed
their way up among the idle crowds
congregated on the wooden steps, and
peered In 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 nod.
E Pretty busy, Masters 4" I
Have been, but there VIII be luil
now; when they come back from sup
per thereH be another rush likely
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