Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1913-08-14

entered. Hamlin following. The for
mer explained the situation briefly,
while the commAndant leaned back In
his chair. his keen eyes studying the
younger man.
Very well. Captain Kane" be said
shortly ss the oticer's story ended.
We shall have to examine into this,
o. course, but will probably discover
the whole AFFAIR q false alarm. There
is, at present no necessity for alarm
ins any o,hers. Sergeant kindly e1-
plain to me Why Miss Mcdonald should
have come to you in her distress p
hamlln stepped forward. and told
the ssory again IN detail. answering
the oolonels questions frankly.
This, then. was the only time you
have me, since your ArrivA7"
Yes. sir"
And this Mrs Dupont' You have
had a previous acquaintance with
her.
Some yexrs ago
You consider her dangerous
~onan."
! know her to be utterly unscrupu-
lous, sir. ] Am prepared TO state that
abe Is here under false pretenses.
claiming 20 be . niece Of Major Nc
DoEslds. DO no; know her real pur'
pose. but an convinced It In an evil
one"
The Colonel shook his head doubt
fully. slAnoing a. the silent sdjutAnt
That remains 10 be proven. Ser.
geant have, OF course, met the lady,
and found her pleasai and agreeable
as 6 oupanion- DeucS pretty. too;
hey. Benson' Why DO .-ou say she
nasouersdes as MeDonald's aiece"
Because her maiden name was Car
son and the Majors sister married a
man named Counts"
There might have been another
marriage Surely Mcdonald must
know"
-kiss Molly says not. Colonel. He
aas known nothing Of his sister for
over twenty Year,. and accepted this
woman on her word
Wei. we'll Interesting situation;
hey. Benson' Like 10 get TO the bot
tom myself. namme IL II don't sound
like 8 novel. However. the thing be-
fore Us rish; now iG 10 discover what
has become o. Miss Mcdonald" He
Strengthened UP In his chair. then
leaned across the table. Captain
Kane, make q thorough examination OF
McDonAlds quarters frst II the girl
Is not found there. detail two mea 20
accompany Sergeant Hamlin on &
search o: the town
Very we'll. sir: come on, Sergeant"
Jus; g moment. we find the trail
leads beyond the town are We author
lied TO continue'"
Certainly. yes. Adtutant, wr1te out
the order. Anything more7-
i should prefer two men OF my own
troop sir. mounted"
Very we'll; see TO II, Captain
-,e ivo men walked down past the
dark row OF officers houses, the Ser
sssut & step TO the rear on the mar
row cin6er path. MeDonald's quarters
we're as black as the others, and there
was DO response from within when
Kane raped ST the door. They tried
the rear entrance with the same re-
sult-ihe place was plainly unoeeu-
pied
Pick out your men. Hamlin." the
Captain said siernly. and III call the
stable guard"
Ten minutes later. fully equipped
for field service. the three troopers cir
eled the guard-house and rode rapidly
down the dark road toward the yellow
lights az the town The Sergeant ex-
! planned briefly the cause OF the expedi.
,ion. and the two troopers. experienced
soldiers. asked no unnecessary aues-
tons. Side by side the three men rode
silently into the town. and Hamlln
swung down from his saddle at tie
door OF the dance hall With word
70 the guard he crossed the floor 10 In.
tercept Mrs. Dupont The latter re.
| sarded his approach with astonish.
msn,, her hand on Captain Barre,t's $
blue sleeve.
Certainly not" she replied rather
sharply 10 his first question. Il am no,
in charge OF Miss Mcdonald She is
no doubt amusing herself somewhere;
possibly lying down over at the hotel
she complained Of headache earlier
in the evening Why do you come 10
me-"
Yes" broke In the Captain. that
Is what wish TO know. Hamlin. by
what authority are you here'"
The orders Of the Colonel command,
ing. sir. respectfully. yet not permit.
ting his glance to leave the woman's
face You insist then, madam, that
Won know nothing of the rlrl's dIsnn