The citizen., 1913-10-03

alter her in Dodge: how that search
ins had led directly to the discovery
ol crime. and finally the revealment
OF Major McDonalds body He told
Oh MS efforts at organizing a party to
.piloW the fugitives, inspired by be-
lleI that she was a prisoner, of the
"Trip through the blizzard, and of how
lie mad succeeded in outstripping Du.
pont in the race.
The girl listened silently. able from
her own experience to fill in the de-
talls OF that relentless pursuit, which
could not be halted either by storm
or bullets. The strength, the deter.
mination of the man, appealed to her
with new force. and tears welled into
her eyes.
Why, you are crying" he ex-
claimed in surprise.
That is nothing" her lips smiling,
as she loosened one hand from the
blanket and reached across to clasp
his. You must know, dear. how hap
py | am to have found you. No one
else could have done this"
On, yes, little girl" soberly. Was
son would have gone on. if | had been
the one to go down. The hardest part
OF it all was waiting for the storm to
cease, not knowing where you were
hldden-that nearly drove me insane"
l understands; uncertainty is harder
to bear than anything else. Shall
tell you now what happened to me?"
Yes tenderly, "as much, or as lit
tie as you please"
Then it shall be everything dear"
her hand-clasp tightening. A moment
she hesitated, looking out across the
snow plains, and then back into his
eyes. From their expression she
gained courage to proceed her voice
low, yet clear enough to make every
syllable distinctly audible.
II was frightened when you left
me alone on the balcony, and went in
to confront Mrs. Dupont. | knew the
woman and suspected that she would
only be too glad to find some indiscre-
tion she could use against me. 1t
seen me enter the parlor and was
there herself to make sure. II so, she
would hesitate at no trick to verify
her suspicious This thought so took
possession of me that | determined
to escape if possible. And it appeared
easy of accomplishment. There was
but short drop to the ground. while
few steps around the end of the
hotel would bring me safely to the
front entrance. The temptation to
try was irresistible l heard your
voices within and thought understood
her game. 1t was dark below, yet
knew how close the earth was, and
there was no sign of any one about.
| clambered over the railing let my
self down as far as | could, and drop
ped. The slight sail did not even jar
me, yet | was none too soon. AS |
crouched there in the darkness, she
flung open the curtains, and looked
out to the vacant balcony. | saw the
fash of light, and heard her laugh
it was not pleasant laughter; for she
Z.
After the curtains fell again l could
no longer hear your voices, and nay
sole desire was to get back into the
hotel unobserved. l was not afraid,
only | dreaded to meet any one who
might recognize me-
She paused in her recital. as though
to recall more clearly the exact facts.
The guests were already beginning
to straggle back to the dance hall
from supper, and waited in the shad-
ow of the building for an opportunity
to slip into the hotel unobserved.
While | hid there cavalry soldier
from the fort rode up. swung down
from his saddle, and ran up the steps
| heard him ask for Major Mcdonald
Almost Immediately he came out again
ard passed him on the porch. Just
inside the door | met my father. He
was leaving the hotel with Dupont,
and the latter swore savagely when
caught my fathers arm, asking what
message the orderly had brought. He
answered strangely, saying he had
on the stage; that he might be gone
several days There was nothing
about all that to startle a soldiers
daughter, but Dupont kept his hand
on my fathers arm, urging him 10
harry. The actions of the man aroused
my suspicious. knew my father was
acting paymaster, and | could perceive
the outlines of a leather bag bulglng
beneath his overcoat. If this contained
money, then l grasped Duponts pur-
pose. My plan of action occurred TO
me in a flash-I would accompany
him until-until he was safely In the
stage, and find opportunity to whisper
warning. | remember asking MIN 10
wait a moment for me, and rushing to
the cloak room after my coat. but
when | returned they were gone.
ran out into the street. but they were
not to be seen; they had not gone
toward the stage office, for the lights
revealed that distance clearly and
they had had no time In which to
disappear within. With the one
thought that Dupont had lured my
father out of sight for purposes OF
robbery, started to run down the
little alley-way next the hotel l know
now how foolish l was, but then
was reckless. 1t was dark and saw
and heard nothing TO warn me OF dan
ger. It was in my mind that my
father had been lured on to the open
II nd iN
| was seized roughly, and a cloth