The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-01-02
Copyright. 1919, by A. G. McClurg " CO.
CHAPTER XVI,
The Meetird.

The Meeting.
Hamlin's first impulse was to ignor,
the note, trusting his position in tn,
ranks would be sufficient barrier tt
prevent any chance meeting, and be
lieving his stay at that garrison woult
be only a brief one. Sheridan,was evi
IDENTIFY preparing for an early offensiv,
campaign, and it was rumored on al
sides that the Seventh Cavalry hat
been selected for active field service
Indeed, the urgent orders for the con
splidation of the regiment from scat
sered posts must mean this Any day
might bring orders, and he coulC
easily avoid this Mrs. Dupont unit
then. Except for a faint curiosity, the
Sergeant felt no inclination to meet
The woman. Whatever influence she
might have once exercised over him
had been thoroughly overcome by
years and absence. Even the unex
pected sight of her again-seemingly
as beautiful as ever-had failed tc
awaken the spell of the past. 1t was
almost with a thrill of delight that
Hamlin realized this-that he was in
truth utterly free of her influence.
There had been times when he had
anticipated such a possible meeting
with dread; when he had doubted his
own heart, the strength of his will to
resist. But now he knew he stood alb.
solutely Independent and could laugh
at her wiles. She who had once been
all-trusted, loved, worshipped with
all the mad fervor Of youth-had be-
some only dead memory. Between
them stretched a chasm never to be
hridged.
What could the woman possibly
want of him? To explain the past ?
To justify herself? He knew enough
already, and desired to know no more.
Could she hope-natural coquette that
she was-to regain her hold upon
him? The man smiled grimly, conf
dent Of his own strength. Yet why
'shOuid size care for such a conquest,
the winning Of common soldier?
There must be some better reason,
some more subtle purpose. Could it
be that she feared him, that she was
afraid that he might speak to her in.
jury? This was by far the most like
~ supposition. Molly McDonald-the
woman was aware of their acquaint-
ance, and was already alarmed at it's
possible result.
Hamlin stood up resolved He
would meet the woman, not from any
desire of his own, but to learn her
purpose, and protect the girl. The
meeting could not injure him, not
even bring swifter beating Of the
Ssart, but might give him opportunity
to serve the other. And LIE Fevre-
surely she could tell him something
of LIE Fevre.
Leave was easily obtained, and the
Sergeant, rejoicing in a freshly issued
uniform, dressed with all the care pos
sible, his interest reviving at this new
point of view. 1t was not far down
the bluff road to the squalid little vii
Iage which had naturally developed in
close proximity to the fort-near
enough for protection, yet far
enough removed to be lawless-a
rough frontier outpost town, of shacls
and tents, most of these dispensing
vile liquors. Among these, more en-
serprising spirits-hopeful of future
development-had erected larger
buildings, usually barn-like, with false
fronts facing the single main street.
filed with miscellaneous stocks of
goods or used for purposes not so le-
climate. One Of these housed the
Poodle Dog" saloon, with gambling
rooms above, while few doors below
was great dance hall, easily convert
ed into theater if occasion arose-a
grotesque, one-storied monstrosity. Be-
low these was the stage Office, built
against the three-storied wooden no.
tel, which boasted of a wide porch on
two sides, and was a picture of ugli-
ness.
By daylight all was squalor and dirt.
dingy tents Tapping in the ceaseless
wind, implanted shacks, wooden
houses with boards warping under the
hot sun, the single street deep in yell
low dust, the surrounding prairie lit
tered with tin cans, and all manner of
debris. But with the coming of night
much Of this roughness departed. Sol.
diers from the garrison on pass, idle
1lainsmen, bullwhackers, adventures
Of ill kinds stranded here because of
indian activity, stray cowboys from
the nearby valleys, thronged the nu-
nerous dives, seeking excitement.
gaudy of dress, shrill of voice,
aitted from door to door through the
jostling crowds. Lamps blazed over
che motley assembly, loud-voiced bark
ers yelled, and a band added its dis
cords to the din. The Poodle Dog"
glared In light, resounded with noise;
amps cleaned from the hotel win
dows, and the huge dance hall stood
wide open. Out from the shacks and
tents erept the days sleepers for a
n;Gh1p f revelry; along the trails rode
eager for excitement; it was
ryest-time OF those birds of prey