The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1913-06-26

them stretched a chasm never to be
bridged.
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
should she care for such 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
ly supposition. Molly McDonald-the
woman was aware of their acquaint-
ance, and was already alarmed at its
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 a swifter beating Of the
heart 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 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 viii
lage 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 shacks
vile liquors. Among these, more en-
terprising spirits-hopeful of future
development--had erected larger
buildings, usually barn-like, with false
fronts facing the single main street,
filled with miscellaneous stocks OF
goods or used for purposes not so le-
ultimate. One of these housed the
Poodle Dog" saloon, with gambling
rooms above, while few doors below
was great dance hall, easily convert
ed into tneater 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 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 vel
low dust, the surrounding prairie lit
tered with tin cans, and all manner O.
debris. But with the coming of nigh
e much of this roughness departed. Sol
q diers from the garrison on pass, idle
0 plainsmen, bull-wha ckers, adventurer
? of all kinds stranded here because 0
j. Indian activity, stray cowboys from
G the nearby valleys, thronged the nu
merous dives, seeking excitement
It Women. gaudy of dress, shrill of voice
J. fitted from door to door through tn
!. jostling crowds. Lamps blazed owe
the motley assembly, loud-voiced bark
ers yelled, and band added its dis
cords to the din. The poodle Dog
glared in light, resounded with noise
lamps cleaned from the hotel wiz
e dows, and the huge dance hall stoo
e wide open. Out from the shacks an
o tents crept the days sleepers for
e night of revelry; along the trails rod
d others eager for excitement; it wa
~. L. =; 1c hi,4Sr ~
e in saloon and gambling hell
II Hamlin saw all this, but gave tn
d surroundings little thought He wa
e. of the West, Of the frontier, and b
4 held nothing unique in the seen
t. Moreover, the purpose for which h
y was there overshadowed all else, lie
d him Indifferent to the noise, the jos
il ling, drunken crowd Some he MI
le who knew him and called his nam
1T but he passed them in word, ar
le pressed his way forward. At the h
m tel he mounted the steps and entere
" The office was in one corner of tt
x bar-room. The proprietor himself,
ly bald-headed Irishman, sat with fe
to cooked up on the counter. smokin
ds anu DafGly 6laHCli6 up do tAC oe
at geant asked for Mrs. Dupont.
in who are yer?" he asked.
e. MY name is Hamlin; / am here {
ad the ladys invitation"
og Sure; thet's Their name all rigt
lis me bhoy. Yer ter 80 out on the ca
to porch there, an wait bit whole
lb- sind her word yer here. Dim ina
gh inn' she he'd sum doubts about y
en- comm, the way she spoke"
tn How DO | get there?"
be- Through the winder OF the parl
en- over thar-sure, it's noice quiet sp