Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-08-28
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nave anything to report. make 1t
brief"
Hamlin glanced at the face of the
other. He knew little about him, ex,
cept that he had the reputation of be.
ing a capable officer.
Il will, sir" he responded quickly
you may never have heard of the az
fair, but ! was with Miss Mcdonald
during little Indian trouble out on
the trail few months ago."
The officer nodded.
Il heard about that; Gaskins brought
her in"
Well. ever since she has seemed
grateful and friendly. You know how
some women are; well, she is that
kind. Tonight she came to me, be
cause she didn't seem to know whom
else to go to, and told me of some trou
BILE she was having. realize, Captain
Kane, that 1t may seem a bit strange
to you that young lady like Miss Nc
Donald, an officers daughter. would
turn for help to an enlisted man, blu,
| am telling you only the truth, sir
You see, she got 1t into her head
somehow that was square, and--and
well, that cared enough to help her
Wait a minute, Sergeant" broke In
Kane. kindly. realizing the others EN-
barrassment, and resting one hand on
his sleeve. You do not need TO apollo
gize for Miss Mcdonald. know some
thing of what is going on at this post
although, damn me II I've ever got on
to the straight facts. You mean that
Dupont woman"
yes, she's concerned in the matter
but there are others also"
why couldn't the girl tell her ia.
ther?"
THAT is where the main trouble lies,
Captain. Major Mcdonald seems to
be completely under the control OF
Mrs. Dupont. He is apparently afraid
of her for some reason. That is what
Miss Molly spoke to me about. We
were on the side porch at the hotel
talking while the dancers were at sup
pert was the only opportunity the
girl had to get away-and Mrs. Dupont
and her husband came into the par
lor-"
Her husband? Good Lord, thought
her husband was dead"
HE isn't He's tin-horn gambler,
known in the saloons as 'Reb' a big
duffer, wearing black beard"
"All right. go on; don't know him. /"
We'll, | stepped into the room to
keep the two apart, leaving the girl
alone outside. We had BIT OF talk
before / got the room cleared, and
when l went back to the porch, Miss
Molly had gone"
Dropped over the railing to the
GRAND"
"That'sSWkat thought at the fine
sir, but what happened TO her after
that? She didn't return to the hotel:
she was not at the dance hail. and
hasn't come back to the post"
THE hell you say! Are you sure?"
Il am; l searched for her high and
low before left, and she could not get
in here without passing the guard
house"
Kane stared into the Sergeant's face
a moment, and then out across the pa.
rade ground. A yellow light winked
in the Colonel's office, occasionally
blotted out by the passing figure of a
sentry. The officer came to prompt
decision.
1.-THE old man is over there yet
grubbing at some papers. Come on
over, and tell him what you have told
me. believe the lass will turn up all
right, but 1t does look rather queer"
The Colonel and the Post Adjutant
were in the little office. busy over 0
pile OF papers. Both officers glanced
up, resenting the interruption. as Kane
entered, Hamlin following The for
mer explained the situation briefly
while the commandant leaned back ir
his chair, his keen eyes studying the
younger man.
Very well, Captain Kane" he SAID
shortly. as the officers story ended
I'VE shall have to examine into this
of course. but will probably discover
the whole affair false alarm. There
is, at present, no necessity for alarm
ing any others. Sergeant, kindly ex
plain to me why Miss Mcdonald shoult
have come to. you in her distress?"
Hamlin stepped forward, and tolt
the story again IN detail, answering
the Colonel's questions frankly.
This, then, was the only time yol
l. 81, or,.fx, I0ft
Yes, sir"
And this Mrs. Dupont? You have
had previous acquaintance will
herr"
Some years ago."
You consider her dangerous
woman"
Il know her to be utterly unscrupu
lous, sir. l am prepared to state tina
she Is here under false pretenses
claiming to be a niece of Major Nc
Donald's. do not know her real pur
pose, but am convinced 1t is an ovi
one"
The Colonel shook his head doubt
fully, glancing at the silent adjutant.
That remains to be proven, Ser
geant. have, OF course. met the lady
and found her pleasant and agreeable
as a companion. Deuced pretty, too;
hey. Bensonf Why do you say she
masquerades as McDonalds niece?"
Because her maiden name was Car
son and the Majors sister married Q
man named Counts"
There might have been another
marriage. Surely Mcdonald must
know"
Miss Molly says not, Colonel He
mas known nothing of his sister fol
over twenty years, and accepted this
woman on her word"
We'll, well! Interesting situation
hey, Benson? Like to get to the bot
tom myself Damme II II don't sount
like a novel. However. the thing be
fore US right now is to discover wha
has become OF Miss Mcdonald" HI
Strengthened up In his chair, ther
leaned across the table. Captain