The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1913-07-18

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Lieutenant Gaskins He is wealthy.
| understand"
Il have been told so; yes, know
he is"
This knowledge, coupled with the
fact OF your engagement"
My what?"
Your engagement. had heard 1t
rumored before, and Mrs. Dupont as
sured me it was true"
But it is not true, Sergeant Ham
lin'-indignantly. Il cannot imagine
how such report ever started. Lieu.
tenant Gaskins has been very friend
ly; has" her voice breaking slightly,
even asked me to marry him. but
but told him that was impossible
He has been just as kind to me since.
bat there is nothing, absolutely moth
ing between us. have never spoken
about this before to any one"
If Hamlin's heart leaped wildly at
this swift denial, there was no evil
dence of 1t in his quiet voice.
The point is. Miss Molly, that Mrs
Dupont, and those connected with her,
think otherwise. They are presuming
on Gaskins' being in love with you.
Mrs. Dupont can be very seductive
Little by little she has drawn the Lieu
tenant into her'net Believing him en-
gagged to you, they have him now
where he must either pay money for
silence or be exposed Just how 1t
was worked, do not know The shoot
ing last night was done to convince
him they were serious. The fact that
Gaskins later denied knowing who his
assailants were-even endeavored to
accuse me-is abundant proof of their
success" He hesitated, wondering at
her silence. What puzzles me most
is why you were present"
Present? Where?"
AT this quarrel with Gaskins last
evening. AS ran by toward the scene
OF the shooting | passed you hiding
at the angle of the barrack wall. Of
course l have mentioned the fact to
no one That was why made no at
tempt to defend myself when arrest
ed"
She gasped for breath, scarcely able
to articulate.
You believe that? You think that
of me?"
q may have been deceived; | hope
so; there was but little light, and
got merely a glimpse" he explained
hastily.
You were deceived" iupetuously.
Il was not out of the house that eve
ming. | was in the parlor with my
father when those shots were fred.
You are sure you saw a woman there
-hiding?"
There is no doubt of that; her
footprints were plainly to be seen
in the morning. This discovery, to-
gether with the size of the weapon
used. resulted in my immediate re-
lease. l saw her, and imagined her to
be you. | cannot account for the mis-
take. unless you were in my mind, and
possibly what had heard of your con-
nection with Gaskins Then it must
have been Mrs. Dupont. That looks
reasonable. But she stays at your
home, does she not?"
She makes our house her headquar-
tiers. but is absent occasionally. Last
night she was here at this hotel Well.
we are getting this Strengthened out
little-that is. if you believe me-"
"Of course"
Then l am going to question you
You spoke of overhearing a oonversa-
TOM
Yes; it was after Mrs. Dupont had
left. Captain Barrett came, and took
her away. was sitting here thinking
when two men came into the parlor."
Who were they? Do you know"
"One was the soldier who drives you
the other black
bearded, burly fellow called 'Reb.'
Mr.. Dupont"
What? Is that Dupont? Lord! No
wonder she's gone bad. Why,
thought her husband was ranchman
down south somewhere, This fellow
is a tin-horn."
He did run cattle once, years ago
( think he was quite we'll off. but drank
and gambled it away. Papa told me
all about it, but | found out he was
the man by accident He's the one
| am really afraid of"