The citizen., 1913-06-13


e&citedly: Post Six! Post Ski"
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 fired
again, the red flash cleaving the night
IN an instant's CHASTITY vividness It
revealed q woman shrinking against
the yellow stone WALL lighted up her
face, then plunged her again into OBJ
scurity.
The Sergeant caught the glimpse,
half believing the vision a phantasy
OF the brain; he had seen her face,
white, frightened, agonized, yet it
could not have been real He tripped
over the stone wall and half fell, but
ran on, his mind in a turmoil. but GER
tam some one was racing before him
down the dark ravine. There had been
woman there! He could not quite
blot that out-but not she; not Molly
Mcdonald lift it were she; if he
had really seen her face in the flare,
II 1t was no dream, then what? Why,
he must screen her from discovery,
give her opportunity to slip away.
This was the one vague. dim thought
which took possession of the man 1t
obscured all else; it 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 headlong.
Almost at the instant the sentry was
upon him, gun-muzzle pressing him
back as he attempted to rise.
BE still, ye hell hound" was the
gruff order, "or I'll blow yer to king
dom come! Sergeant of the guard,
quick here! Post Number Ski"
Hamliu lay still, half stunned by the
shocs 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, bo5bing light of lantern. His
hand reached out and touched the
body over which he had fallen, feeling
a military button, and the clasp of
belt-it was a soldier then who had
been shot. Could she have done it
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.
"All right, Mapes," commanded the
man with the light. Let the fellow
up until | get look at him. Who the
hell are YOU"
Sergeant Hamlin. Seventh Cav
airy"
"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 iG 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 of
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 stretcher
leg it now. Well have yer out o
here in minute, Lieutenant. What
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 III a
spasm of pain, and he tainted. The
Sergeant laid him back limp on the
grass, and stood up.
Where is your gun, Hamlin?
81 dropped it when l fell over the
Lieutenant's body. 1t must be back Of
you"