Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 112, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1913 — Molly McDonald A TALE Of THE FRONTIER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Molly McDonald A TALE Of THE FRONTIER

By RANDALL PARRISH

Keith o% Border? My Lady 9/ Doubt? My Lady affix, Soifln? efc, etc.., , COfWOHT Wtt BY A-C-MKXURG a«k

SYNOPSIS.

Major McDonald, commanding an army post near Fort Dodge, seeks a man to Intercept his daughter, Molly, who is headed for the post. An Indian outbreak Is threatened. “Brick’’ Hamlin, sergesuit who has just arrived with messages to McDonald, volunteers for the mission. Molly arrives at Fort Ripley two days ahead of schedule. She decides to push on to Fort Dodge by stage In company with "Sutler Bill” Moylan. Gonsales. a gambler. Is also a passenger. Hamlin meets the stage with stories of depredations committed by the Indians. The driver deserts the stage when Indians appear. The Indians are twice repulsed. Hamlin and Molly escape in the darkness. Molly Is wounded. Hamlin is much excited at finding a haversack marked C. S. A. He explains to Molly that he was in the Confederate service and dismissed In disgrace under charges of cowardice. At the close of the war he enlisted in the regular service. He says the haversack was the property of one Capt. LeFevre, who he suspects of being responsible for his disgrace. Troops appear and under escort of Lieut. Gaskins Molly starts to join her father. Hamlin leaves to rejoin his regiment He returps to Fort Dodge after a summer of fighting Indians, and finds Molly there. Shots are heard In the night. Hamlin rushea out, sees what he believes Is the figure of Molly hiding In the darkness and falls over the body of Lieutenant Gaskins, who accuses Hamlin of shooting him. The sergeant Is proven innocent He sees Molly In company with Mrs. Dupont, whom he recognises as a former sweetheart, who threw him over for LeFevre. Mrs. Dupont tells Hamlin LeFevre forced her to send him a lying note. Hamlin declares he has been looking for LeFevre to force him to clear his record. CHAPTER XVlll.—Continued. Left alone, except for the Infantry man at the other side of the entrance, and with nothing to do beyond keeping back the little crowd of curious watchers thronging the steps, Hamlin interested himself in the assembly, although keenly conscious of those two men who continued to linger, staring into the brilliantly lighted room. That the two were closely involved with Mrs. Dupont in some money-making scheme, closely verging on crime, was already sufficiently clear to the Sergeant’s mind. He had overheard enough to grasp this fact, yet the full nature of the scheme was not apparent Without doubt It involved Gaskins as a victim; possibly Barrett also, but Hamlin was not inclined to Interfere personally for the protection of either of these officers. They could look after themselves, and, if they succumbed to the charms of the lady, and it cost something, why, that was none of his affair. But somehow the suspicion had come to him that he had accidentally stumbled upon a more complicated plot than mere blackmail. Mrs. Dupont's intimacy with Molly, and the use she was making Of her distant relationship with the Major to further her ends, made him eager to delve deeper into her real purpose. At least these two, apparently Ignorant of their guest’s true char-

acter, should be warned, or, if that was impossible, protected from imposture. Their open friendliness and social endorsement were the woman’s stock in trade at Dodge, and whatever the final denouement might be, McDonald and bis daughter would inevitably share in the ensuing disgrace of'discovery. Even if they were not also victimized, they would be held largely responsible for the losses of others. Had Hamlin been a commissioned officer he would have known what to do —his plain duty as a friend would have taken form in a frankly spoken warning. But, as it was, the chains of discipline, of social rank, made it seemingly impossible for him to approach either the Major or his daughter openly. He did not actually know enough to venture such an interview, and mere suspicion, even

though coupled with his former Intimacy with the woman, was not sufficient excuse for his interference. The Major would treat the revelation with Indifference, even disbelief, and Miss Molly might even resent his meddling in the affair. Besides he was not altogether convinced that the girl had not been actually present at, and in some manner connected with, the attack on Gaskins. The memory of that face, shrinking behind the corner of the barrack wall, remained clear in his mind. He might be mistaken, but perhaps it would be best to go slow. It was a huge, bare hall, although the walls were concealed by flags, while other draperies were festooned along the rafters. -The band was stationed upon a raised platform at the rear, and a hundred couples occupied the floor. The men present were largely officers attired in dress-uniforms, although there was a considerable sprinkling of civilians, a few conspicuous in garments of the latest cut and style. Evidently invitations had been widely spread, and, considering time and place, liberally responded to. Among the women present the Sergeant saw very few he recognized, yet it was comparatively easy to classify the majority—officers’ wives; the frontier helpmates of the more prominent merchants of the town; women from the surrounding ranches, who had deserted their homes until the Indian scare ceased; a scattered few from pretentious small cities to the eastward, and, here and there, younger faces, representing ranchmen’s daughters, with a school-teacher or two. Altogether they made rather a brave show, occasionally exhibiting toilets worthy of admiring glances, never lacking ardent partners, and entering with unalloyed enthusiasm into the evening’s pleasure. The big room presented a scene of brilliant color, of ceaselessly moving figures; the air was resonant with laughter and trembling to the dashing strains of the band. Primitive as it was in many respects, to Hamlin, long isolated in small frontier posts, the scene was Strangely attractive, his imagination responding to the glow of color, the merry chime of voices, the tripping of feet The smiling faces flashed past, his ears caught whispered words, his eyes followed the flying figures. For the moment the man forgot himself in this new environment of thoughtless pleasure. From among that merry throng of strangers bls eyes soon distinguished that one in whom he felt special interest —Mrs. Dupont, dancing now with McDonald, the rather corpulent Major exhibiting almost youthful agility under the inspiration of the music. The lady talked with animation, as they circled among the others on the floor, her red lips close to her partner’s ear, but Hamlin, suspicious and watchful, noted that her eyes were busy elsewhere, scanning the faces. They swept over him, apparently unseeing, but as the two circled swiftly by, the hand resting lightly’on the Major’s shoulder was uplifted suddenly in a peculiar, suggestive movement He stared after them until they were lost in the crowd, feeling confident that the motion of those white-gloved fingers was meant as a signal of warning. To whom was it conveyed? He glanced aside at the jam of figures in the doorway. Both the black-whis-kered man and Connors had disappeared. It was a signal then, instantly understood and obeyed. The Sergeant had scarcely grasped this fact when his attention was diverted by the appearance of Miss McDonald. She was dancing with a civilian, an immaculately dressed individual with ruddy, boyish face. His intense admiration of his partner was plainly evident, and. the girt, simply dressed in white, her cheeks flushed, her dark eyes bright with enjoyment, set Hamlin’s cool nerves throbbing. He could not resist gazing at her, and, as their eyes met, she bowed, the full red lips parting in a smile of recognition. There was no reservation, no restraint in that quick greeting, as she whirled by; he could not fail to comprehend its full significance—she had not forgotten, had no desire to forget. What he imagined he read in her face swept all else from his mind instantly, and, with eager eyes, he followed her slight, girlish figure as they circled the hall. The music ceased, and he still watched as the lad led her to a seat, himself sinking into a chair beside her. Then the passing out of several men, who desired return checks, claimed his attention.

When the last of these had disap peared, he glanced again in her direct tlon., She was alone, and her young partner was walking toward him across the deserted floor. The lad came to the door, which by now contained few loiterers, and stood there a moment gazing out into the street, “Are you Sergeant Hamlin?” he asked quietly. -- "Yes." "Miss McDonald requested me to hand you this note unobserved. I have no knowledge of its contents.” Hamlin felt the flutter of the paper in his palm, and stood silent, clinging to it, as the other carelessly recrossed the room. She was looking .toward him, but he made no motion to unfold the missive, until his eyes, searching the chairs, had located Mrs. Dupont. The very secret of delivery made- him cautious, made him suspect it had to do With that woman. She was beside the band-stand, still conversing with the Major, apparently oblivious to any other presence, her face turned aside. Assured of this, he opened the paper, and glanced at the few hastily scribbled lines. “I trust you, and you must believe I do not do this without cause. During the intermission be in the hotel parlor.” I

CHAPTER XIX. A. Full Confession. There were two more dances scheduled on the program. The last of these had begun before the infantry sergeant returned, and, apologizing for his long absence, resumed his duties at the door. Across the room, Hamlin’s eyes met those of Miss McDonald, where she danced with an unknown officer; then he turned and elbowed his way to’the street. The hotel opposite was all bustle and confusion, the bar-room crowded with the thirsty emergency waiters who had rushed about the hall completing final preparations. The Sergeant, intent on his purpose, and aware that the band had ceased playing, dodged past these and entered the parlor. Jt was already occupied by four men, who were playing cards at a small, round table and smoking vigorously, entirely engrossed in their game. None of them so much as glanced up, and the intruder hesitated an instant, quickly determining his course of action. There was little choice left. The girl would never make an appointment with him except through necessity, and it was manifestly his duty to protect her from observation. Two of the men sitting there were strangers; the others he knew merely by sight, a tin-horn gambler called Charlie, and a sutler’s clerk. His decision was swift, and characteristic. "Gents,” he said, stepping up, and tapping the table sharply, “you’ll have to vamoose from here.” “What the hell—” the gambler looked up into the gray eyes, and stopped. “That’s all right, Charlie,” went on Hamlin coolly, one hand at his belt. “Those are my orders, and they go. Hire a room upstairs if you want to keep on with the game. Pick up, the stuff, you fellows." “But see here,” the speaker was upon his feet protesting. “The old man told us we could come in here.” “The old man’s word don’t go for this floor tonight, partner. It’s rented by the post officers. Now mosey right along, and don’t come back unless you are looking for trouble —you too, Fatty.”

Right or wrong there was plainly no use continuing the argument, for Hamlin’s fingers were upon the butt of his revolver, and his eyes hardened at the delay. The gambler’s inclination was to oppose this summary dismissal, but a glance at his crowd convinced him he would have to play the hand alone, so he yielded reluctantly, swept the chips into the side pocket of his coat and departed, leaving behind him a trail of profanity. The Sergeant smiled, but remained motionless until they disappeared. “The bluff works,” he thought serenely, “unless they make a kick at the oflice; some peeved, Charlie was.” He stepped over to the window, and held back the curtain. A burly figure occupied the bench, with feet upon the rail. Even in that outside dimness could be distinguished a black beard. The very man, and the Sergeant chuckled .grimly with a swiftly born kope that "the fellow might create a row. Nothing at that moment could have pleased him more. He blew out the parlor light, partially closed the door, and stepped forth op to the porch. “Say, you,” he said gruffly, dropping one hand heavily on the other's shoulder. “Did you hear what I said to those fellows inside? Well, it goes out here the same. Pack up, and clear the deck.”

“Reb** dropped his feet to the floor and stood up, his bearded lips growling profanity, but Hamlin gripped his wrist, and the man stopped, with mouth still open, staring into the Sergeant's face. All bravado seemed to desert him instantly. “Who —who says so?” and he stepped back farther into the shadow. “I do, if you need to know,” pleas-

antly enough. 'Sergeant Hamlin, Seventh Cavalry." “Oh!" the exclamation came from between clenched teeth. "Hell, man, you startled me." “So I see; nervous disposition, I reckon. Well, are you going quietly, or shall I hoist you over the rail?” “1 had an appointment here.” “Can’t help that, partner. This porch Is going to be vacant inside of one minute, or there Is a declaration of war. Your easiest way out Is through that window, but you can go by rail If you prefer." The black beard wasted half his allowed time In an effort to bluster; then, to Hamlin’s utter disgust, slunk through the open window and across the darkened parlor. “The pusillanimous cuss,” the latter muttered, "he’s worse than a cur dog. Blamed if he wasn’t actually afraid of me. A gun-fighter—pugh!” He lifted his voice, as “Reb” paused in the light of the hall beyond and glanced back, a fist doubled and uplifted. “Oh, go on! Sure, you’ll Ret me? You are the brave boy, now,” and Hamlin strode toward the door threateningly. “Lope along, son, and don't turn around again until you face the bar.” He drew the door partially to again, and sat down facing the opening, where a stray beam of light fell across the floor. Thus far the adven-

ture had scarcely proven interesting. The last encounter had been a distinct disappointment. The dispersal of the card-players was, as anticipated, easily managed, but the reputation of “Reb" as killer and bad man had given him hope of resistance. But instead he had proven a perfect lamb. Hamlin crossed his legs and waited, his mind divided in wonder between what Miss McDonald might want, and the cowardice of the fellow Just driven out. The man was actually afraid—afraid to start a row. Yet he had got to his feet with that intention; It was only after he had looked into Hamlin's faceand asked his mame.thathe began to hedge and draw back. Could he have recognized him? Could Mrs. Dupont have warned him of danger In his direction? That would seem impossible, for the woman had not been with him for even a minute since their conversation. She had given him a swift signal at the door of the dance hall, but that could scarcely account for his present desire to avoid trouble. An engagement? Probably with Mrs. Dupont. But What was the use of" speculating? Pefrhaps when the girl came she would have some light to throw on these matters. Surely her sudden determination to see him privately must have connection with this affair.

These thoughts came swiftly, for his period of waiting proved to be but a short one. He heard the laughter and talk as the merry-makers came into the hotel from the dance hall, crowding the passage, and thronging in to where the tables were set. Then a rattle of dishes, and the steady shuffling of waiters rushing back and forth. Occasionally he could distinguish a shadow out in the hall, but never changed his motionless posture, or removed his eyes from the aperture, until she slipped noiselessly through and stood there panting slightly, her hand clasping the knob of the door. Apparently in the semidarkness of the room she wps uncertain of his presence, while her white dress touched by the outside reflection made her clearly visible.

(TO BE CONTINUED.)

The Hand Resting on the Major's Shoulder.

“This Porch Is Going to Be Vacated Inside of One Minute.”