The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-08-01

he won't tell where he was. An I 1ookin' on!''
 Billy" sai MT. Arden as patient ly as possible. ''If you have not got fever and know what you are say ing, will you explain what you mean? | Carril is captured by the rebels?" "No, he's not. He's been court martia1ed for 1eavin' the place where he was on guard the night that Bea- trice was lost, when there was a battle, He was the sentry that the rebels got past. He left his post out on the desert all night, an he won't tell where he was, so they think he was with the rebels an not playin' square"
 tiful eyes wide. The room was turn ing black before her. Odd phrases rang in her ears. she saw the face of the Indian woman Manuela, and her whisper of "sangre." "All night you were alone all night.'' 8 voice beat at her memory. Lucian CarriPs dark grey eyes with their haunting familiarity rose before her. Mr. Arden reached her before she fell.
 What inconsistencies had taken away, inconsistencies restored. As they bent over her the girl opened her eyes and stood erect, supporting herself by her fathers arm:
 'He was with me!' she cried pite- ously. ''He was with me that night. That was the thing I could not re- member. When I fell from the train, ran a long way-I was fright ened, and I ran until I met him. That serape-he wrapped me in it and took me in his arms, and we rode all night to the Indian woman's house. I went to sleep there. and when I awoke I had forgotten. He was with me, with me! I begged him to take me to my friends. and he did,
 Stupefied, the three gazed at her, a score of minor circumstances re- curing to bring conviction. Mrs. Arden fell into chafr and fumbled for her handkerchief. Billy stood frozen in his place, the water pour ing from a glass he had snatched up to offer his fainting betrothed, and now held half inverted in his pre- occupation,
 "An' of course he'd hold his tongue" he murmured b1ankly. My dear, you had better go and lie down." advised MT. Arden huskily. Beatrice drew herself sharply away, her eyes flashing around the circle. "But you will go and tell them ?" she urged i'You will say he was Wllu HlS dIl I1c HI uSS AlOl OS shot-they will not kill him for saw | ing a woman. I would have died in l the desert if he had not helped me. Billy, Billy. you will tell them!" Billy opened his lips, but MT. Ar den took the reply from him: My dear child, if Lieutenant Car | Til is being punished for leaving his | post of duty, it would make no diff | ference whom he was with" he said | firmly "You know nothing of nIi1i-
 tary law.'
 ''But he could not leave me to die" l MT. Arden cleared his throat: | My dear Beatrice, a court mar l tiaI cannot consider such things. We would expose you to much unp1eas-
 ant comment by making this public. | and do poor Carril no good. No
 doubt he knew that himself, or he
 would have spoken to save his life" l "He would not" contradicted Billy | flat1y.
 | 'Btlford, have you considered Eea- | trice?" cried Mrs. Arden | Billy looked at the empty glass in
 his hand. set it on the table, and me- l chanically began to dry his wet cuff with a napkin.
 "She's goin' to be my wife, he
 reminded with a dignity of his own. | I've considered her. an I've consid- l cred Carril, who's waitin' to be stood
 up an shot full of holes. An I'm
 startin' back right now'' | Billy, dear Billy sobbed the girl in a passion of relief and gratitude. | "Bi1ford ?' Mrs. Arden walled fu- | til remonstrance. Are you sure 1t | will do any good? Of course, If it
 will-But think Of the newspapers" That is it, will it do any good?'' | objected Mir. Arden. "Even if you
 get there in time. will they believe
 you? More likely they will think | you framed up this story to save your friend" | Billy winced without flinching
 "I mean to try" he reiterated dog | gedly. Those people love Carri1;
 I believe they would hush up his
 1eavin' his post if they knew why he
 did it. Anyway, Trix an I will play
 fair-Im goin' back
 As he reached the door, Beatrice
 ran after him, her slim. dainty body tense, and her brown eyes burning.
 "The railroad" she panted. Billy, you can go some of the way on the lrailroad. The rebels are not inter
 fering with Americans. And there
 is no other way you can get back
 in tine.'
 He kissed her heartily and patted
 her shoulder.
 Don't fret" he recommended. q
 won't give up without ffghtin'. An you'd better go lie down."
 "Yes, I will go and lie down." she acQuiesced, her eyes lingering
 strangely on his. Billy, Billy. I am so proud of you!"
 | (To Be Continucd)
 Copyright, 1922. Thompson Feature Service.
 RACE PREPARING. l -