Gunnison news-champion., 1913-07-25
sAoasts Gaosasa ~ UaV ~ -

GnOwledged drawing away. but r1
like 10 know why you we're 10 anxious
- prevent my looking out. do you
know whom I thought you had there?"
As you please" rejoicing that the
girl had escaped notice.
That little snip Of a Nelly. You
made q hit with her all right. and she
certainly don't like me. Well. delight
ful as it is to meet you again. l must
be going" She turned away, and thea
paused to add over her shoulder:
Don't you think 1t would be just as
safe for you TO attend to your own
business. Sergeant Hanlln?"
"And let you slone?"
Exactly; and let me alone. I am
hardly the sort of woman II Is safe TO
play with. II will be worth yoar while
TO remember that"
He waitad, motiOnless, Until assured
that she had passed down the hall as
far as the door of the dining room.
The sound of shutting chairs evil
denced the breaking up of the party,
In preparation to return to the ball
room. II Miss McDonalds absence
we're to escape observation, she would
have to slip out now and reioin the
others as they left the house. He again
turned down the light, and held back
the curtain.
"The way is clear now, Miss Molly"
There was no response, no move
nent. He stepped outside, thinking
the girl must have failed to hear him
The porch was empty. He stepped
from one end to the other, making
sure she was not crouching in the
darkness. scarcely able to grasp the
fact of her actual disappearance. This,
then. WAS why Mrs. Dupont had failed
70 see any one when she glanced out.
But where could the girl have gonee
How gotten away? He had heard no
sound behind him; not even the rustic
Of q skirt to betray movement. Il
WAS not far TO the ground, five or sig
feet, perhaps; 1t would be perfectly
safe for one to lower the body over
the rail and crop. The matted prairie
grass under foot would render the act
hoiseless. No doubt Aat was exactly
the way the escape had been accom-
plished. Alarmed by the presence of
those others, suspecting that the wom-
an within would insist on learning
whom Hamlin was attempting to con-
ceal, possibly overhearing enough OF
their conversation TO become fright.
ened at the final outcome, Miss Me-
Donald, in sudden desperation, had
surmounted the rail, and dropped to
the ground The rest would be easy
10 hasten around the side of the house.
and slip IN through the front d1sr.
Assured that this must be the fuu
explanation. the Sergeant's cheerful
ness returned. The company of off,
GERS and guests had already fled cut
through the hall: he could hear voices
laughing and talking in the street, and
the band tuning up their instruments
across in the dance hall. He would go
over and make certain of her pres
ence, then his mind would be ar ease.
He passed out through the desert
hallway, and glanced in at the din
ing room, where a number of men we're
gathering up the dishes. Beyond this
the bar-room was crowded, a riffraf
lined up before the sloppy bar, among
these a number in Uniform-unat-
tsched officers who had lOitered be-
hind TO duench their thirst Hamlia
drank little, hut fingered a moment
Just inside the doorway, TO observe
who was present Unconscicusly he
was searching for Dupont. half in
cltned TO pick a quarrel deliberately
with the fellow or with COnnors. deter
mined II he found the little rat alons
to frighten whatever knowledge he
possessed out OF him But neither
worthy APPEARED Having assured him
self OF their absence, HamIin turred
to depart. but found himself facing a
little man with long hair. roughly
dressed, who occupied the doorway.
The hooked nose. and bright eyes,
peerissE forth from a mass Of IN
trirlEzed gray whlsk.rs. were familiar.
J On Keen the sur- sbou down hr