The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-01-23

Very well, sir; come on, Sergeant.
Just a moment-if we find the trail
leads beyond the town are we author
lied to continue?"
Certainly, yes. Adjutant, write out
the order. Anything more?"
Il should prefer two men of my own
troop. sir, mounted"
Very Well; see to it, Captain"
The two men walked down past the
dark row of officers houses, the Ser
geant a step to the rear on the mar
row cinder path. McDonald's quarters
were as black as the others, and there
was no response from within when
Kane raped at the door. They tried
the rear entrance with the same re.
subtitle place was plainly unoccu-
pied.
Pick out your men, Hamlin," the
Captain said sternly, land I'll call the
stable guard"
Ten minutes later, fully equipped
for Geld service. the three troopers cir
cled the guard-house and rode rapidly
down the dark road toward the yellow
lights of the town. The Sergeant ex-
planned briefly the cause of the expedi-
ton, and the two troopers. experienced
soldiers, asked no unnecessary ques-
tons Side by side the three men rode
silently into the town, and Hamlin
swung down from his saddle at the
door of the dance hall. With a word
to the guard he crossed the floor to in
tercept Mrs. Dupont. The latter re.
sarded his approach with astonish-
ment, her hand on Captain Barrett's
blue sleeve.
certainly not" she replied rather
sharply to his first question. Il am not
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 to
me?'
Yes" broke in the Captain, that
is what l wish to know, Hamln. 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
YOU know nothing of the girls disap-
pearance?'
MOI" defantly. her cheeks red
Nor Of what has become of Con-
nors, or your ranch manager"
She shrugged her shoulders, endeav-
oring to smile.
The parties mentioned are of very
small interest to me-"
And Major Mcdonald" he insisted.
utterly ignoring the increasing anger
of the officer beside her. POSSIBLY
you were aware of his departure?"
Yes" more deliberately; "he told
me of his orders, and babe me good
oye later. So fas ar Connors is con-
cerned, he was to have the carriage
here for us at two o'clock. Is that all,
Mr.. Sergeant Hamlin?'
You better make it ALL" threatened
the Captain belligerently, before l
lose my temper at this Internal i'm
pertinence."
Hamlin surveyed the two calmly,
confident that the woman knew more
than she would tell, and utterly indif-
ferent as to the other.
Very WELL" he said quietly, II will
learn what / desire elsewhere. shall
find Miss Mcdonald, and discover what
has actually occurred
My best wishes, | am sure" and
the lady patIed the Captains arm
gently. I'VE are losing this waltz"
There was but one course for Ham
lin to pursue. He had no trail to fol.
low, only vague suspicion that these
plotters were in some way concerned
in the mysterious disappearance. Thus
far, however, they had left behind no
clue to their participation. Moreover
he was seriously handicapped by fgno-
rance of any motive. Why should they
desire to gain possession of the girl?
1t could not be money, or the hope of
ransom. What then? Was 1t some
accident which had involved her in
the tolls prepared for another? If SO,
We're those unexpected orders for Ma
jor Mcdonald part of the conspiracy,
or had their receipt complicated the
AFFAIR." The Sergeant was soldier,
not detective, and could only follow
a straight road in his investigation.
He must circle widely until he found
some trail to follow as patiently as an
Indian. There would be tracks left
somewhere, if he could only discover
them. If this was hasty occurrence,
in any way an accident, something was
sure to be left uncovered, some slip re-
veal the method. He would trace the
movements of the father first, and
GO, .
~ . dAIIG