10
THE ECBANTON TBIBUNE-SATUtlDAY MOltNINGK, JULY. 28. 1894.
CHAPTER, IX
When Cuptniu Armitago loft the cot
tage that night, ho did nut go lit unee
to his own room. Brief as was the con
versation ho had pujoyod with Miss
Renwick, it was all that futo voneh
Bofi'd liim for that tiato at least. Tho
entire party went to tea togothor at the
hotel, but immediately Uieroafter tlio
coluuul carried Armitago away, aud for
two long hours they wero closeted over
Bomo letters that had como from Sibley,
and when tho confereneo broke up aud
the wondering ladies saw tho two men
come forth it was late almost 10
o'cloek and tho captain did not ven
ture beyond tho threshold of the sitting
room. Ho bowed and bade them a some
what eeromouions good night. His eyes
rested lingered on Miss Renwick'B
uplifted face, and it was tho picture ho
took with him into tho stilluess of tho
Butniuer night.
Tho colonel accompanied him to the
steps and rested his hand upon tho
broad gray shoulder.
"God only knows how I linvo needed
you, Armitago. This trouble has nearly
crushed me, and it seems as though, I
were utterly alone. I had tho haunting
fear that it was only weakness on my
part and my love for my wife that made
me stand out against Chester's proposi
tions. He can only see gnilt and con
viction in every new phase of the case,
and though you seo how lie tries to
sparo mo his letters give no hopo of any
other conclusion. "
Armitago pondered a moment before
he answered; then he slowly spoke:
"Chester has lived a lonely and an
unhappy life. His first experience after
graduation was that wretched affair of
which yon have told me. Of course I
knew much of tho particulars before,
but not alL I respect Chester as a sol
dier and a gentleman, and I like him
and trust him as a friend; but, Colonel
Maynard, in a matter of such vital im
portance as this, and one of such deli
cacy, I distrust not his motives, but
his judgment. All his life, practically,
he has been brooding over tho sorrow
that came to him when your troublo
came to you, and his mind is grooved.
He believes he sees mystery and intrigue
in matters that otbtrs might explain in
an instant "
"But think of all the array of evi
dence ho has."
"Enough and more than enough, I
admit, to warrant everything ho has
thought or said of the man, but"
"He simply puts it this way. If ho
be guilty, can sho be less? Is it possible,
Armitago, that yon are unconvinced?"
"Certainly I am unconvinced The
matter has not yet been sifted. As I un
derstand it, you havo forbidden his con
fronting Jerrold with tho proofs of his
rascality until I get there. Admitting
tho evidence of tho ladder, tho picturo
and tho form at tho window aye, tho
letter, too I am yet to be convinced of
one thing. You must remember that his
judgment is biased by his early experi
ences. Ho fancies that no woman ia
proof against such fascinations as Jer
rold's." "And your belief?"
"Is that Eomo women many women
are utterly abovo such a possibility."
Old Maynard wrung his comrade's
hand "You mako mo hope in spite of
myself, my past experiences, my very
senses, Armitago. I have leaned on you
so many years that I missed you sorely
when this trial came. If you had been
there, things might not havo taken this
shape. Ho looks upon Chester and it's
one thing Chester hasn't forgiven in
him as a meddling old granny. You
remember tho timo ho so spoko of him
last year, tut ho holds you in respect
or is afraid of yon, which in a man of
hia caliber is about the samo thing. It
may not bo too late for you to act. Then,
when ho id disposed of ouco and for all,
I can know what must be done, whero
sho is concerned. "
"And under no circumstances can
you question Mrs. Maynard?"
"No, no! "If she suspected anything
of this, it would kill her. In any event,
sho must havo no suspicion of it now. "
"But does she not ask? Has sho no
theory about tho missing photograph?
Surely sho must marvol over its disap
pearance," "Sho does, at least sho did, but
I'm ashamed to own it, Armitago wo
had to quiet her natural suspicions in
, some way, and I told her that it was
my doing; that I took it to teaso Alice,
put the photograph in tho drawer of
my desk and hid tho framo behind her
sofa pillow. Chester knows of tho ar
rangement, and we had settled that
when the picturo was recovered from
Mr. Jerrold ho would Bend it to mo. "
Armitago was silent A frown settled
on his forehead, and it was evident that
tho statement was far from welcomo to
him. Presently he held forth his hand.
: Well, good night,' sir. I must' go
and havo a quiet think over this. I hope
you will rest well. You need it, colo
nel." But Maynard only shook his head.
His heart was too troubled for rest of
any kind Ho stood gazing out toward
tho park, where tho tall figure of his
ex-adjutant had disappeared among tho
trees. He heard tho low toned, pleasant
chat of tho ladies in the Bitting room,
but ho was in no mood to join them. Ho
wished that Armitago had not gone, ho
folt such strength and oomparativo hopo
in his presence, but it was plain that
even Arrrfitage was confounded by tho
array of facts and circumstances that he
had so painfully and slowly communi
cated to him. Tho colonel went drearily
r back to the room in which they had had
their long conference. His wifo and sis
ter both hailed him as hepassod tho sit
ting room door and urged him to oomo
and join them they wanted to ask about
Captain Armitago, with whom it was
evident they were much impressed but
ho answered that ho had somo letters to
put away, and ho must attend first to
that (.
Among those . that had been shown to
tho captain, mainly letters from Chester
telling of the daily events at tho fort
aud of his surveillance in tho caso of
Jerrold, was one which Alico had
brought him two days before. This had
seemed to him of unusual importance,
as tho others contained nothing, that
tended to throw now light ou tho case.
It said:
"I am glad you havo telegraphed for
Armitago aud heartily approve your de
cision to lay the wholo case beforo him.
I presume ho can reach you by Sunday,
and that by Tuesday he will be here at
tho fort and ready to act This .will bo
a great relief to me, for, do what I
could to allay it, thero is no concealing
tho fact that much speculation and gos
sip is afloat concerning tho events of
that unhappy night. Leary declared ho
has been close mouthed. Tho other men
ou guard know absolutely nothing, and
Captain Wilton is tho only officer to
whom in my distress of mind I betrayed
that thero was n mystery, and ho has
pledged himself to mo to say nothing,
bloat, too, has au inkling, and a big
one, that Jerrold is the suspected parry,
but I never dreamed that anything had
been seen or heard which in tho faint
est way connected your, household with
tho matter until yesterday. Then Leary
admitted to mo that two women, Mrs.
Clifford's cook and the doctor's nursery
maid, had asked him whether it wasn't
Lieutenant Jerrold ho fired at, and if it
was truo that ho was trying to get in tho
colonel's back door. Twice Mrs. Clifford
has asked mo very significant questions,
and three times today have officers made
remarks to mo that indicated their
knowledge of tho existence of somo
gravo trouble. What makes matters
worse is that Jerrold, when twitted
about lr absenco from reveille, loses
his tenip and gets confused. Thero
came near being a quarrel between him
and Rollins at the mess a day or two
since. Ho was Baying thatthe reason he
slept through roll call was the fact that
ho had been kept up very late at tho
doctor's party, and Rollins happened to
come in at the moment and blurted out
that if he was up at all it must havo
been after ho left the party and remind
ed him that ho had left before midnight
with Miss Renwick. This completely
staggered Jerrold, who grow confused
aud tried to cover it with a display of
anger. Now, two weeks ago Rollins
was most friendly to Jerrold and stood
up for him when I assailed him, but
ever siuco that night ho has no word to
say for him. When Jerrold played
wrathful and accused Rollins of mixing
in other men's business, Rollins bounced
up to him like a young bull terrier,
and I believe there would havo been a
row had not Sloat and Hoyt promptly
interfered, jerrold apologized, and Rol
lins accepted tho apology, but has avoid
ed him ever since won't speak of him
to me now that I have reason to want to
draw him out. As soon as Armitago gets
hero he can do what I cannot find out
just what and who is suspected and
talked alout.
"Mr. Jerrold, of course, avoids me. He
has teen attending strictly to his duty
and is evidently confounded that I did
cot press tho matter of his going to
town as he did the day I forbado it
Mr. Hoyt's being too lato to see him
personally gave me sufficient grounds on
which to excuse it, but ho seems to un
derstand that something is impending
aud is looking nervous and harassed.
Ho has not renewed his request for leave
of abseuco to run down to Sablon. I told
him curtly it was out of tho question."
Tho colonel took a few strides up and
down the room. It had como then. Tho
good name of thoso ho loved was already
besmirched by garrison gossip, aud ho
knew that nothing but heroic measures
could ever silence scandal. Impulse and
tho innate sonso of "fight" urged him
to go at once to tho scene, leaving his
wifo and her fair daughter here under
his sister's roof, but Armitago and com
mon senso said no. Ilo had placed his
burden on thoso broad gray shoulders,
and though ill content to wait ho felt
that he was bound. Stowing away tho
letters, too nervous to sleep, too worried
to talk, ho stolo from tho Outage, and,
with hands clasped behind his back,
with lowsbownd head, ho strollod forth
into tho broad vista of moonlit road
There wero bright lights still burning
at tho hotel, and gay voices camo flout
ing through tho summer nir. Tho piano,
too, was tmmming a waltz in tho par
lor, and two or threo couples wero
throwing embracing, slowly twirling
shadows on tho windows. Over in tho
bar and billiard rooms tho click of tho
balls and tho refreshing rattle of crack
ed ice told suggestively of tho occupa
tion of tho inmates. Keeping on beyond
tlieso distracting sounds, ho slowly
olimbed a long, gradnul ascent to tho
"bench," or plateau abovo tho wooded
point on which wero grouped tho glis
teningwhito buildings of tho pretty sum
mer resort, and having reached tho
crest turned silently to gazo at tho
beauty of tho scene at the broad, flaw
less bosom of a summer lake all sheen
and silver from tho unclouded moon..
Far to tho southeast it wound among
the bold and rock ribbed bluffs rising
from tho forest growth at their baso to
shorn aud rounded summits.
' Miles away to the southward twin
kled tho lights of oue busy little town.
Others' gleamed and sparkled over to
ward tho northern shorn, close under
tho polo star, while directly opposite
frownod a massive wulF of palisaded
rock that throw, deopand heavy and far
from shoro, its long ' reflection in the
mirror of water. Thero was not a
breath of air stirring in tho hoavons,
not a ripple on the faco of tho waters
beneath, savo where, 1 close under tho
bold headland down on tho other side,
tho signal lights, whito and crimson
and green, creeping slowly along in the
shadows, revealed ono of tho packets
plowing her steady way to tho great
marts below. Nearer at hand, just
shaving tho long strip of sandy, wooded
point that jutted far out into the lake,
a broad raft of timber, mashed by a hard-
. .irking, black fnnueled stem whooler,
was slowly forging its way to the out
let of tho lake, its shadowy edgo sprin
kled here and therewith littlo sparks of
lurid red the nil of. liifhtia that: cava
warning of its blow and silent coming.
tar down along tho southern shore,
under that black bluff line, close to the
silvor water edgo, a glowing meteor
seemed whirling through tho night, and
tho low, distant rurablo told of the At
lantic oxprcss thundering ou itn jour
ney. Hero, along with him on the level
plateau, wero other roomy cottages,
some dark, some still sending forth a
guiding ray, while lorn; lines of white
washed fence gleamed ghostly in the
moonlight and wore finally lost in tho
shadow of the great bluff that abruptly
shut in the entire point and plateau and
shut out all further sight of lake or
laud in that direction. Far beneath he
could hear tho Boft plash upon the sandy
shoro of tho littlo wavelets that camo
sweeping in tho wako of the raftboat
and spending their tiny strength upou
tho strand; far down ou tho hotel poiut
ho could still hear tho soft melody of
tho waltz. Ho remembered how tho
band used to play that samo air and
wondered why it waa ho used to like it.
It jarred him now.
Presently tho distant craek of a whip
and tho low rumblo of wheels wore
heard, the omnibus coming back from
the station with passengers from the
night train. lie was in no mood to see
atiy oue. Ho turned away and walked
northward along the edge of the bench,
toward the deep shadow of tho great
shoulder of the bluff, and presently he
oamo to a long flight of wooden stairs,
leading from tho plateau down to tho
hotel, and here ho stopped and seated
himself awhile. Ho did not want to go
home yet. He wanted to bo by himself,
to think and brood over his trouble.
Ho saw the omnibus go round tho bend
aud roll up to tho hotel doorway with
its load of pleasure seekers and heard
tho joyous welcome with which some of
their number wero received by waiting
friends, but life had little of joy to him
this night. Ho longed to go away, any
where, anywhere, could ho only leave
this haunting misery behind. Ho was so
proud of his regiment Ho had beeu so
happy in bringing homo to it his accom
plished and gracious wife. Ho had been
so joyous in planning for the lovely
times Alico was to have, the social suc
cesses, tho girlish triumphs, tho garri
son gayetics, of which she was to be tho
quoou, and now, so very, very soon, all
had turued to ashes and desolation I She
was so beautiful, no sweet, winning,
graceful. Oh, God ! could it bo that ono
so gifted could possibly bo so base? Ho
rose in nervous misery aud clinched his
hands high in air, then sat down again
with hiding, hopeless face, rocking to
and fro as sways a man in mortal pain.
It was long beforo. he rallied, and again
he wearily arose. Most of tho lights were
gono. Silence had settled down upou the
sleeping point. He was chilled with
the night air and tho dew aud stiff and
heavy as be tried to walk.
Down at the foot of the stairs he
could see tho night watchman making
his rounds. He did not want to explain
matters and talk with him. He would
go around. There was a steep pathway;
down into tho ravine that gave into the
lake just beyond his sietor's cottage,
and this he sought and followed, mov
ing slowly and painfully, but Anally
reaching tho grassy level of the path
way that connected the cottagos with
tho wood road up the bluff. Trees and
shrubbery were thiok on both sides, and
the path was shaded. Ho turned to his
right and camo down until ouco moro
ho was in sight of the white walla of the
hotel standing out thero on the point,
until close at hand ha could seo the light:
of his own cottage glimmering like t
faithful beacon through tho trees, tad
then he stopped short
A tall, slender figure a man in dark,
snug fitting clothing was creeping
stealthily up to tho cottage window)
Tho colonel held his breath. Hit
heart thumped violently. He waited
watched. Ho saw tho dark figure reaoh
tho blinds. He saw them slowly, softly
turned, and tho faint light gleaming
from within. Ho saw tho figure peer
ing in between tho slats, and then
lie saw the figure peering in between the
God, was It possible? a low voice, a
man's voico, whispering or hoarsely
murmuring a name. Ho hoard a sudden
movement within tho room, as though
tho occupant had heard and were reply
ing, "Coming." His blood froze. It
was not Alico's room. It wa3 his his
and hers his wife's and that was
surely her step approaching tho win
dow. Yes, the blind was quickly open
ed. A white robed figure stood at tho
casement. Ho could seo, hear, bear no
moro. With ono mad rush he sprang
from his lair and hurled himself upon
tho shadowy stranger.
"fou hound! Who are you?"
But 'twas no shadow that he grasped.
A muscular arm was round him in a
trico, a brawny hand at his throat, a
twisting, sinewy leg was curled in his,
and he went reeling back upou the
springy turf, stunned and woll nigh
breathless.
When ho could regain his feet and
reach tho casement, the stranger had
Vanished, but Mrs. Maynard lay thero
on tho floor within, a white and sense
less heap.
CHAPTER X
Perhaps it was as woll for all parties
that Frank Armltage coneludod that he
must havo another whiff of tobacco that
night as au incentive to the "think" ho
had promised himself. He had strolled
through the park to tho grove of trees
out on the point and seated himself in
the shadows. Here Ids reflections were
speedily interrupted by the animated
flirtations of a few couples, who, tiring
of tho dauco, camo out into the coolness
of the night and the seclusion of tho
grovo, where their murmured wordl
and soft laughter soon jgave the oaptaiu's
nerves a strain they could not boar. He
broke cover and betook himself to the
very edge of the stono retaining wall out
oa the Boinfc ,
Ho wonted to think calmly aud dis
passionately. He rnoant to weigh nil he
hud road and heard and form bis esti
mate of tho gravity of . the case before
going to bed. Ho meant to be impartial,
to judgo her us ho would judge any oth
er woman so compromised, but for the
lifo of him he could not Ho boro with
him the mute imago of her lovely face,
with its clear, truthful, trustful dork
eyes. He saw her as sho stood before
him on the littlo porch when they shook
hands on their laughing or his laugh
ing compact, for she would not laugh.
How perfeot she was I Her radiant
beauty, her uplifted eyes, so full of
their self reproach and regret at tho
speech alio had made at his expense I
How exquisite was the grace of her
slender, rounded form as alio stood
there beforo him, ono slim hand half
shyly extended to moot tho cordial clasp
of his own 1 He wanted to judgo and
be just, but that imago dismayed him.
How oould ho look on this picturo aud
thou ou that, tho ono portrayed in the
chain of circumstantial evidence which
tho colonel had laid beforo him? It was
monstrous I It was treason towomun
hQodl Ono look ia her eyes, superb in
their inuoqeuoe, was too much for his
determined impartiality. Armitage gavo
himself a meutal kick for what ho term
ed Ids imbecility and wont back to tho
hotel.
"It's uo use," he muttered "I'm a
slavo of the weed and can't bo philoso
pher without my pipe. "
Up to his Httlo box of a room ho
climbed, found his pipecaso and tobacco
pouch, and in five minutes was strolling
out to tho point onco moro, when ho
came suddenly upon tho night watch
man, a porsouago of whoso functions
and authority ho wasentiruly ignorant
The man eyed him narrowly and es
sayed to speak. Not knowing him, and
desiring to be alono, Armitago pushed
past and was surprised to find that a
hand was on his shoulder and the man
at his side beforo ho had gono a rod.
"Beg pardon, sir," said tho watch
man gruffly, "but I don't know you.
Are you stopping at the hotel?" ;
"lam," said Armitago coolly, tak
ing his pipe from his lips and blowing
a cloud over his other shoulder. "And
Who may you be?"
"I am the watchman, aud I do not
remember seeing you como today."
"Nevertheless I did."
"On what train, air?"
"This afternoon's up train."
"You oertainly were not on the omni
bus when it got hero."
"Very true. I walked over from be
yond the schoolhouso. "
"You must excuse me, sir. I did not
think of that, and tho manager requires
me to know everybody. Is this Major
Armitage?"
"Armitage is my name, but I'm not
a major. "
"Yes, sir; I'm glad to be set right
And the other gentleman him as was
inquiring for Colonel Maynard tonight?
He's iu the army, too, but his name
don't seem to be on tho book. He only
came in ou the lato train."
"Another man to see Colonel May
nard?" asked the captain, with sudden
interest. "Just come in, you say? I'm
sure I've no idea, What was ho like?"
"I don't know, sir. At first I thought
you was him. The driver told me ho
brought a gentleman over who asked
some questions about Colonel Maynard,
but he didn't get aboard at the depot,
and he didn't come down to the hotel
got off somewhere up there on tho
bench, and Jim didn't seo him. "
"Where's Jim?" said Armitage.
"Oarue with me, watchman. I want
to intorview him. "
Together they walked ovor to the
barn, which tho driver was just locking
up.after making everything secure for
the night
f "Who was it inquiring for Colonel
Maynard?" asked Armitage.
"I don't know, sir," was the slow
answer. "Thero was a man got aboard
as I was coming across the common
there in the villago at the station. There
were several passengers from the train
and some baggage, so ho may havo
startod ahead on foot, but afterward
concluded to rido. As soon as I saw
hini got in I reined up and asked whore
he was going. He had no baggago nor
nuthin, and my orders aro not to haul
anybody except peoplo of the hotel, so
he camo right forward through tho bus
and took tho seat behind mo and said
'twas aA right, ho was going to tho
hotel, and ho passud up a half dollar. I
told him that I couldn't toko the money
that bus fares were paid at tho offlco
and drove ahoad. Thou he haudod
me a cigar, and pretty soon ho asked
me if thero wero C'auy peoplo, and who
hyl the cottages, and when I told him
he asked which was Colonel Maynard'n,
but ho didn't say ho knew him, and tho
next thing I know was wheu we got
here to tho hotel ho wasn't in tho bus.
Ho must bavo otoppod back through all
those pasMsgars and slipped off up thero
on the bench. Ho was in it when wo
passed the littlo brown churoh upon tho
hill."
"What was ho liko?"
"I couldn't seo him plain. Ho stop
ped out from behind a trco as wo drovo
through tho common and camo right
into tho bus. It was dark in thero, and
all I know is ho was tall and had on
dark clothes. Somo of tho pooplo inside
must havo sooii hiin better, but they are
all gono to bed, I cupposo. '
"I will go over to tho hotel and in
quire anyway," said Armitago, aud did
so. Tho lights wero turned dowu, and
no ono was thoro, but ho could hear
voices chatting iu quiet tones ou tho
broad, sheltered . voranda without, and
going thither f ouud threo or four men
enjoying a quiet smoke. Armitago was
a man of action. Ho stepped at onco to
the group:
"Pardon me, gontlemon, but did any
of you como over in tho omnibus from
tho Btation tonight?"
"I did, sir," repliodono of tho party,
romoviag his cigar and twitching off
the ashes with his littlo finger, then
looking up with the air of a man ex
pootant of question.
"Tho watchman tells me a man camo
ovor who was making inquiries for
Colonel Maynard May I ask if you saw
or heard of such a person?"
"A gentleman got in soon after we
loft the station, and when the driver
hailed him he went forward and took a
seat near him. They had some conver
sation, but I did not hear it I only
know that he got out agpin a little
while beforo wo reached the hotel. "
"Could you see him and doscrlbo him?
I am a friend of Colonel Mayuard's, an
offloer of his regiment, which will ao
count for my inquiry. "
"Well, yes, sir. I noticed he was very
toil and alia, was dressed ia dark
clothes and wore a dark slonc'ued hat
well down over his forehead He was
what I would call a military looking
man, for I noticod his walk as ho got
off, but he wore big spectacles, bV.o or
brown glass, I should say, and had a
heavy beard"
"Whioh way did he go when he loft
tho bus?"
"He walked northward along tho
road at the edgo of the bluff, right up
toward tho cottages on the upper level, "
was the answer.
Armitago thanked him for his cour
tesy, explained that he had left the colo
nel only a short time beforo and that
ho was then expecting no visitor, and if
one had come it was perhaps necessary
that ho should be hunted up and brought
to tho hotel; then ho left the porch and
walked hurriedly through tho park to
ward its northernmost limit There to
his left stood the broad roadway along
which, nestling under shelter of tho
bluff, was ranged tho lino of cottages,
somo two storied, with balconies and
verandas, ethers low, single storied af
fairs, with a broad hollway in tho mid
dle of each and rooms on both north
aud south sides. Farthermost north on
tho row, almost hidden in tho trees and
nearest tho ravine, stood Aunt Graco's
cottage, where were domiciled the colo
nel's household. It was in the big bay
windowed north room that ho and tho
colonel had had their long conference
earlier in tho evening. Tho south room,
nearly opposite, waa used as thoir par
lor and sitting room. Aunt Grace and
Misa Ronwick slept in tho littlo front
rooms north aud south of tho hallway,
aud tho lights in their rooms wero ex
tinguished; so, too, was that in tho par
lor. All was darkness on the south and
east All was silence and peace as Ar
mitago approached, but just as he
reached the shadow of the stunted oak
tree growing in front of the house his
oars were startled by an agonized cry,
a woman's half stifled shriek. He
bounded up the stops, soized the knob
of the door and threw his weight
against it It was firmly bolted within.
Loud he thundered on tho panels.
"Tin I Armitagel" ho callod Ho
heard the quick patter of littlo feet, the
bolt was slid, and he rushed in, almost
stumbling against a trembling, terror
stricken, yet welcoming white robed
form Alice Renwick, barefooted, with
her glorious wealth of hair tumbling
In dark lusurianco all down over the
dainty nightdress Alice Renwick, with
pallid face and wild, imploring eyes. '
"What is wrong?" ho asked in haste.
"It's mother her room and it's
looked and she won't answer, " was the
fasplng reply.
Armitage Bpraug to the rear of the
hall, loaned one second against tho op
posite wall, sent his foot with mighty
Impulse and muscled impact against the
opposing lock, and the door flew open
with a crash. The next instant Alice
was bending over her seusoless mother,
and the captain was giving a hand in
much bewilderment to tho panting colo
nel, who was striving to clamber in at
tho window. The ministrations of Aunt
Grace and Alioewere speedily sufficient
to restore Mrs, Maynard. A teaspoonf ul
of brandy administered by the colonel's
trembling hand helped matters material
ly. Then he turned to Armitage.
"Come outside," ho said
Onco again in the moonlight the two
men faced each other.
"Armitago, can yon get a horse?"
"Certainly. What then?"
"Go to tho station, get men, if possi
ble, and head this fellow off. Ho was
here again tonight, and it was not Alice
he called but my but Mrs. Maynard
I saw him. I grappled with him right
here at the bay window where sho mot
him, and he hurled mo to grass as
though I'd been a child Iwautahorsel
I want that mau tonight How did he
get away from Sibley?"
"Do you mean do you think it was
Jerrold?"..
"Good God, yes! Who elso could it
bo? Disguised, of course, and bearded,
but tho figure, the carriage were jn6t
tho samo, and he camo to this window
to her window and called, and she
answered My God, Armitago, think of
it!"
"Come with me, colonel. You are all
unstrung, " was tho captain's answer as
ho led his broken friend away. At tho
front door ho stopped one moment, then
ran up the stops and into the hall, whero
ho tapped lightly at tho casemont
"What is it?" was tho low response
from an invisible sourco.
"Miss Alico?"
"Yes."
"Tho watchman is here now. I will
Bond him around to tho window to keop
guard until our return. Tho colonel is
a littlo upset by tho thock, and I want
to attend to him. Wo aro going to tho
hotel n moment before I bring him
home. You uro not nfraid to have him
leave you?"
"Not now, captain."
"Is Mra Maynard better?"
"Yes. Sho hardly seems to know
what has happened. Indeed uouo of
us does. Whut was it?"
"A tramp, looking for something to
cat, tried to open tho blinds, and tho
ooloncl was out here and mado a jump
at him. They had a scufflo in the
shrubbery, and the tramp got away. It
frightened your mothor. That's tho sum
of it, I think."
"Is papa hurt?"
"No; a littlo bruised and shaken mid
mad as a hornet I think perhaps I'll
get him quioted down and sleepy in a
fow ininutos if you and Mrs. Maynard
Will bo content to let him stay with mo.
I can talk almost nuy man drowsy."
"Mamma soems to worry for fear ho
is hurt"
"Assuro her solemnly that ho hasn't
a scratch. He is simply fighting mad,
and I'm going to try to find tho tramp.
Does Mrs. Maynard romembcr how ho
looked?"
"She could not too tho face at all.
Sho heard Bomo one at tho shutters and
a voico and supposed, of courso, it was
papa and threw open tho blind "
"Oh, I seel That's all, Miss Alico.
I'll go baok to the colonel. Good
nightl" And Armitage wont forth with
a lighter stop.
"Oue sensation knocked endwise, oolo
nel. I havo it on the best of authority
that Mrs. Maynard bo fearlessly went
to the window in answer to the voice
and noise at tho shutters simply because
she knew you woro out thoro somo
whore, and she supposed, it was you.
How simplo thoio mysteries become
whon a littlo daylight is let in on them,
after all I Come, I'm going to take you
over to my-room for a stiff glass of
grog, and then after his trampship
while you go baok to bed "
"Armitage, yon seem to make very
light of this night's doings. What is
easier than to connect' it all with the
trouble at Sibley?"
"Nothing was ever more easily ex
plained than this thing, colonel, and
all I want now is a chance to get that
tramp. Then I'll go to Sibley, and
'pon my word I believe that mystery
can bo mode as commonplace apioco of
He mounted a horte and trotted ovtr to
wit railway tiaiton.
petty larceny as this was of vagrancy.
Come,"
But when Armitage left the colonel
at a later hour aud sought his own room
for a brief rest he was in no suoh buoy
ant mood A night search for a tramp
in tho donso thickets among the bluffs
and woods of Sablon could hardly be
successful. It was useless to make the
attempt Ho slept but little during tho
cool August night and early in the
morning mounted ahorse and trotted
over to the railway station.
"Has any train gone northward since
last night?" he inquired at the office.
"None that stops here," was the an
swor. "The first train up comes along
at 11:56."
"I want to sond a dispatch to Fort
Sibley and get an answer without delay.
Can you work it for me?"
The agent nodded and pushed over a
package of blanks, Armitage wrote
rapidly as follows:
Captain Cheeter, Commanding Fort Sibley:
1 Jerrold there? Tell him I will arrive Tues
day. Anwer. F. Abuitaos.
It was along toward 9 o'clock when
the return message came clicking in on
tho wires, was written out and handed
to the tall soldier with the tired blue
eyes.
Ho read, started, crushed the paper
in his hand and turned from the office.
The answer was significant:
Lieutenant Jerrold left Sibley yeaterdav aft
ernoon. Not yet returned. Absent without
leave this morning. Chester.
CHAPTER XI.
Nature never vouchsafed to wearied
man a lovelier day of rest than the still
Sunday on which Frank Armitage rode
slowly back from the station. The soft,
mellow tone of the church belL tolling
the summons for morning service, float
ed out from the brown tower and was
echoed back from the rocky cliff glisten
ing in the August sunshine on the
northern bluff. Groups of villagers hung
about the steps of the little sanctuary
and gazed with mild ouriosityat the ar
riving parties from the cottages and the
hotel The big red omnibus came up
with a load of worshipers, and farther
away, down the vista of the road, Armi
tage could see others on foot and in car
riages, all wending their way to churoh.
Ho was in no mood to meet them. The
story that he had been out pursuing a
tramp during the night was pretty thor
oughly circulated by this time, he felt
assured, and every one would oennect
his early ride to the station, In some
way, with the adventure that the
grooms, hostlers, cooks and kitchen
maids had all been dilating upon ever
since daybreak. Ho dreaded to meet the
curious glances of the women and the
questions of Ufe few men whom he had
taken so far into his confidence as to
ask about the mysterious person who
camo over in the stage with them.
He reined up his horse, and then,
Boeing a little pathway leading into the
thick wood to his right, he turned in
thither and followed it some CO yards
among bordering treasures of coreopsis
and goldonrod and wild luxuriance of
vino and foliage. Dismounting in the
shade, ho threw tho reins over his arm
and lot his horso crop o juicy grasses,
whilo ho seated himself ou a littlo
stump aud fell to thinking again. He
could hoar tho reverent voices of one or
two visitors strolling about among the
peaceful, flower decked graves behind
tho littlo church and only a short stone's
throw away through tho shrubbery. He
could hear tho low solemn voluntary of
tho organ aud presently the glad out
burst of young voices in the opening
hymn, but ho knew that belated ones
Would still bo coming to churoh, and ho
would not come forth from his covert
until all wero out of the way. Then,
too, ho was glad of a little longer time
to think. Ho did not want to toll tho
colonel tho result of his morning inves
tigations.
To begin with, tho watchman, tho
driver and tho two men whom ho had
questioned wero all of an opinion as to
tho character of tho stranger "he was
a military man. " The passengers de
scribed his voico as that of a man of
education and social position; the driver
aud passengers declared his walk and
carriago to be that of a soldier. He
was taller, they said, than the tall, stal
wart Saxon captain, but by no means so
heavily built As to age, they oould
not tell. His board was black and curly
no gray hairs. His movements were
quick and elastic, but his eyes were
hidden by those colored glasses, and his
forehead by the slouoh of that broad
brimmed felt hat
At tho station, while awaiting the
answer to his dispatch, Armitage had
questionod tho agent as to whether any
man of that description had arrived by
tho night train from tho north. He had
seen none, ho said, but there was Lar
son over at tho postoffioe store, who
came down on that train. Perhaps he
could tell. Oddly enough, Mr. Larson
recalled just such a party tall, slim,
dark, dark bearded with blue glasses
and dark hat and clothes but ho was
bound for Lakeville, the station beyond,
and he remained iu the car when he
(Larson) got off. Larsen remembered the
man well beoause he sat in the rear
corner of the smoker and had nothing to
say to anybody, but kept reading a
newspaper, and "he way hi come to take
note of him was that while standing
with two friends at that oBdof the car.
Continued on Page II.
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