Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-07-18

DAuSh uhh1Al "A VSASS JSAASN
excitedly: Post Sikh Post SIKH
With a single leap the Sergeant was
across the sill, and dropped silently to
the ground. Still blinded by the light
he ran forward, jerking his revolver
from the belt. As he passed the cor
ner of the barracks the sentry fred
again, the red flash cleaving the night
In an instant's CHASTITY vividness. 1t
revealed a woman shrinking against
the yellow stone wall, lighted up her
face, then plunged her again into OBJ.
security.
The Sergeant caught the glimpse,
half believing the vision a phantasy
of the brain; he had seen her face,
white. frightened, agonized. yet 1t
could not have been real. He tripped
over the stone wall and half fell, but
ran on, his mind in a turmoil. but Ger.
tain some one was racing before him
down the dark ravine. There had been
a woman there! He could not quite
blot that out-but not she; not Molly
Mcdonald. If-if 1t were she; If he
had really seen her face In the flare,
II it vas 40 dream. then what? Why,
AO Aluo . A01 "
give her opportunity to slip away.
This was the n vague, dim thought
which took possession of the man 1t
obscured all else; 1t sent him blindly
crashing over the edge Of the ravine.
He heard the sentry at his right cry
hoarsely, he heard excited shouts from
the open windows OF the barracks;
then his feet struck a mans body, and
he went down h%ead1ong.
Almost at the instant the sentry was
upon him, a gun-muzzle pressing him
back as he attempted to rise.
BE still, We hell hound" was the
grun order. "or I'll blow yer to king
dom come! Sergeant of the guard,
quick here! Post Number Ski"
Hamlin lay still, half stunned by the
shock Of his fall. yet conscious that
the delay, this mistake of the sentry.
would afford her ample chance for es-
cape. He could hear men running to-
ward them, and his eyes caught the
yellow, bobbing light Of a lantern. His
hand reached out and touched the
body over which he had fallen. feeling
a military button, and the clasp of a
OACll Wdo q SOIOlCA thCA YIN q
been shot. Gould she have done 1t?
Or did she know who did? Whatever
the truth might be. he would hold his
tongue; let them suppose him guilty
for the time being; he could establish
innocence easily enough when it came
to trial. These thoughts flashed
through his mind swiftly; then the
light OF the lantern cleaned in his
eyes, and he saw the faces clustered
about.
"AIl right, Mapes," commanded the
man with the light. Let the fellow
up until / get a look at him. Who the
hell are your"
Sergeant Hamlin. Seventh Cay
airy" y
"Darned If it amt. Say. what does
all this mean, anyhow? Who's shot:
Turn the body over, somebody. BY
God! It's Lieutenant Gaskins!"
Hamlin's heart seemed to leap into
his throat and choke him; for an in
slant he felt faint; dazed. staring down
into the still face CHASTITY under the
rays OF the lantern. Gaskins! Then
she was concerned in the affair; he
really had seen her hiding there
| against the wall. And the mans eyes
were open, we're staring in bewilder
ment at the faces. The Sergeant o.
the Guard thrust the lantern closer.
Lift his head, some o. yer, the
mans alive. Copley. get some water
an two Of yer run fer the stretchel
leg it now. Well have yer out o
here In q minute. Lieutenant. Wha1
happened, sir? Who shot yer?"
Gaskins' dulled eyes strayed from
the speakers face until he saw Ham
lin. still firmly gripped by the sentry
His lips drew back revealing his teeth
his eyes narrowing.
That's the one." he said family
You've got him!"
One hand went to his side In
spasm OF pain, and he tainted. Thu
| Sergeant laid him back limp on tn,
grass, And stood UP.
Where Ii your gun, Hamlin?"
Il dropped It when fell over tn
Lieutenant's body. It must be back o
YOU