Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 113, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1913 — MOILY MCDONALD A TALE OR THE FRONTIER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MOILY MCDONALD A TALE OR THE FRONTIER

By RANDALL PARRISH

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SYNOPSIS. Major McDonald, commanding an armypost near Fort Dodge, seeks a man to Intercept his daughter, Molly, who Is headed for the post. An Indian outbreak Is threatened. “Brick" Hamlin, sergeant 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 io rejoin his regiment. He returns to Fort Dodge after a summer of fighting Indians, and finds Molly there. Shots are heard in the night. Hamlin rushes 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 recognizes 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. Later he overhears Dupont and a soldier hatching up a money-making plot Molly seeks an interview with Hamlin. CHAPTER XlX.—Continued. "It is all right. Miss McDonald," he murmured hastily, arising. “There is nothing to fear." “You are here—alone?” “Yes,” smiling in memory. “There were occupants when I first arrived, but they were persuaded to depart I had a suspicion you might prefer it that way.” “Yes,” puzzled by his manner, yet softly pushing the door back so as to exclude the light “I can see better now. Are —are you sure no one can overhear? I have something to tell you—something important” “There is no one else here, jret some one might stumble into this room. It Is not private, you know. We shall be safer on the porch outside. Will you take my hand, and let me guide you?" She did so unhesitatingly, but her fingers were cold, and he could feel the twitching of her nerves. “You are frightened—not of me, surely?" -- -- "Oh, no!” a slight catch in her voice, “but I am running such a risk venturing here. I —l had to pretend a sick-headache to get away. You must not condemn me until you hear why ~I came.” ‘1 condemn? Hardly, Miss McDonald. I am merely a soldier receiving orders; *mine not to question why.’ Here is the window; now sit down on this bench. I’ll keep guard, and listen.” His voice sank lower, a little touch of tenderness in it impossible to disguise. “Are you in trouble? Is it something I can aid you to overcome?” She did not answer at once but rested her chin in one hand, and turned her eyes away. Her breath came swiftly, as though she had not yet recovered from fright, and her face in the dim light looked white and drawn. “Yes, you can,” she began slowly, *1 am sure you can. I—l came to you because there was no one else in whom I felt the same confidence. I know that sounds strange, but 1 cannot explain—only it seems natural to trust some people even when you do not know them very well. I do not suppose I know you very well; Just those few hours we were together, but —somehow I think you are true.” “I certainly hope so," he put in earnestly. ’T couldn’t very well help being—with you." “I believe that,” and she lifted her eyes to his face. “Yet I do not wish you to think me bold, or—or indiscreet You do not think so, do you?" "That idea has never once occurred to me, Miss McDonald. I am only too glad to be of service.” “It is good of you to say that; you see, there was no one else.” "Your father?” he suggested. “But that Is the very trouble,” she Insisted, rejoicing that he had thus unconsciously opened the way to her confession. “It is because my father is involved, is completely in her toils, that I am compelled to appeal to you. He will not listen to a word against her." "Her? You refer to Mrs. Dupont?"

“Of course; why, I hadn’t mentioned her name! How did you guess?” “Because I am not entirely ignorant of conditions,” he answered soberly. “Although I have only been at the post a short time, I have managed to see and hear a good deal. You know I chanced to become involved in the shooting of Lieutenant Gaskins, and then I saw ypu riding with Mrs. Dupont, and recognized hfer.” "Recognized?” in surprise. "Do you actually mean you knew her before?’’ “Not as Mrs. Dupont, but as Vera Carson, years ago. She knew me at once, and sent your driver over to the barracks with a note.? “Why, how strange. She asked me so many questions, I wondered at the interest shown. Do you mind telling me what the note was about?” “Not in the least She referred to the past, and asked me to meet her." “Were you—very intimate? Great friends?” "We were engaged to be married,” he acknowledged frankly, his eyes upon her face. “That was at the breaking out olj the war, and I was in my senior college year. We met at school, and I was supposed to be the heir to large property. She is a beautiful woman now, and she was a beautiful girl then. I thought her as good and true as she was charming. Since then I have learned her selfishness and deceit, that it was my money which attracted her, and that she really loved another man, a classmate.” She glanced up at him as he paused, but he resumed the story without being interrupted. “The war came, and I enlisted at once, and received a commission. Almost our entire class went, and the man she really loved was next below me in rank.”

“Eugene Le Fevre?" “Yes; how did you know? Oh, I told you of him out there in the sandhills. Well, I urged her to marry me before I went to the front, but she made excuses. Later, I understood the reason. She was uncertain as to my Inheriting the property of an uncle. We were ordered to the Army of Northern Virginia. Once I went home on furlough, severely wounded. We were to be married then, but I had not sufficiently recovered when I was suddenly ordered back to the front. I did suspect then, for the first time, that she was glad of the respite. I afterwards discovered that during all this time she was in correspondence with Le Fevre, who had been detailed on Early’s staff. It was his influence which brought about my sudden, unexpected recall to duty. A few months later I was promoted major, and, at Fisher’s Hill, found myself commanding the regiment. Early in the action Le Fevre brought me an order; it was delivered verbally, the only other party present a corporal named Shultz, a German knowing little English. Early’s exact words were: ’Advance at once across the creek, and engage the enemy fiercely; a supporting column will move immediately.’ Desperate as the duty Involved appeared, there was nothing in the order as given to arouse suspicion. In obedience I flung my command forward, leading them on foot. We charged into a trap, and were nearly annihilated, and Shultz was either killed, or made prisoner. Two days later I was arrested under charges, was tried by. court-mar-tial, and dismissed from the service in disgrace. Early produced a copy of his written order; it read ’cautiously feel the enemy’s position,’ and Le Fevre went on the stand, and swore the original had been delivered to me. I had no witnesses.”

She watched him with wide-open eyes, her lips parted. “And she—this Vera Carson?” The man laughed bitterly. “Wrote him a letter, which the ihan actually had the nerve to show me when I was helpless, proving her falsity. I would not believe, and went back seeking her. But she had departed—no one knew where —but had first convinced herself that my name had been erased from my uncle’s will. Two months later I heard that she married Le Fevre in Richmond.”

"And she —that woman—actually asked you to meet her again tonight?” "Yes.” ■> "Did you?" "I must plead guilty.” “Where?” “Here; just where we are now; we were together half an hour."

She half arose to her feet, her hand grasping the rail.

“But I cannot understand. Why should you? Do you—" “No; wait,’’ he interrupted, venturing to touch her arm. “I came, nbt because of any interest in her/Miss Molly—but for you.” CHAPTER XX. Molly Telia Her Story. Her breath came in a little sob, and. she sank back on the bench,. “For me? How do yqu mean?” “Surely I had every reason to distrust her, to question her character, and I could not believe you realized the sort of woman she is. I felt it my duty to discover her purpose here, and to warn you if possible.” “And you have succeeded? You learned her purpose in your interview?” “Not exactly,” with regret. “My suspicion was merely stimulated. To tell the truth, we rather drifted into a renewal of our old quarrel. However, between what she said, and parts of another conversation overheard, I know there is a blackmailing conspiracy on foot in which you are involved. May I speak very frankly?” “I certainly desire it," proudly. “I am not aware that I have anything to conceal.” “Apparently the scheme these people have on foot originated about Lieutenant Gaskins. He is wealthy, I understand.” “I have beentold so; yes, I know he is.” “This knowledge, coupled with the fact of your engagement—” “My what?” “Your engagement. I had heard it rumored before, and Mrs. Dupont assured me it was true.” “But it is not true, Sergeant Hamlin” —indignantly. “I cannot imagine how such a report ever started. Lieutenant Gaskins has been very friendly; has—” her voice breaking slightly, “even asked me to iharry him, but — but I told him that was impossible. He has been just as kind to me since, but there is nothing, absolutely nothing between us. I have never spoken about this before to any one.” I If Hamlin’s heart leaped wildly at this swift denial, there was no evidence of it 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 Lieutenant into her net. Believing him engaged to you, they have him now where he must either pay money for silence or be exposed. Just how it was worked, I do not know. The shooting 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 I ran by toward the scene of the shooting I passed you hiding at the angle of the barrack wall. Of course I have mentioned the fact to no one. That was why I made no attempt to defend myself when arrested.” She gasped for breath, scarcely able to articulate. “You believe that? You think that of me?” “I may have been deceived; I hope bo; there was but little light, and I got merely a glimpse," he explained hastily. "You were deceived," impetuously. “I was not out of the house that' evening. I was in the parlor with my father when those shots were fired. You are sure you saw a woman there —hiding?” "There is no doubt of that; her foot-prints were plainly to be seen in the morning. This discovery, together with the size of the weapon used, resulted in my immediate release. I saw her, and Imagined her to be you. I cannot account for the mistake, unless you were in my mind, and possibly what 1 had heard of your con-

nection with Gaskin*. Then it must have been Mrs. Dupont. That looks reasonable. But she stays at your home, does she not?" “She makes our house her headquarters, but is absent occasionally. Last night she was here at this hotel. Well, we are getting this straightened out a little —that is, if you believe me.” “Of course.” “Then I am going to question you. You spoke of overhearing a conversation?” “Yes; it was after Mrs. Dupont had left. Captain Barrett came, and took her away. I was sitting here thinking when two men came into the parlor.” “Who were they? Do you know?” , “One was the soldier who drives you about—Connors; the other a blackbearded, burly fellow called ‘Reb.’ " “Mr. Dupont.” “What? Is that Dupont? Lord! No wonder she’s gone bad. Why, I thought her husband was a ranchman down south somewhere! This fellow is a tin-horn.” “He did run cattle once, years ago. I think he was quite well oft, but drank and gambled it away. Papa told me all about it, but I found out he was the man by accident. He —is the one I am really afraid of.” . She stopped, her eyes deserting his face, and stared out into the darkness. He waited, feeling vaguely that he had not heard all she intended to say. "What more do you know?” he asked. “What was it you expected of me?” She turned again, aroused by the question. “Yes, I must tell you as quickly as I can before I 'am missed. I did not know about Mrs. Dupont and Lieutenant Gaskins. I realized there was something between them —a —a —slight flirtation, but scarcely gave that a thought. What brought me here was a much more serious matter, yet this new information helps me to comprehend the other —the motives, I mean. Mrs. Dupont’s maiden name was Vera Carson ?” “Certainly; I knew her family well.” "She came here, and was received into our family as a daughter of my father’s sister. If true, her maiden name would have been Sarah Counts. Papa had no reason to suspect the deceit. He does not now, and I doubt if even your word would convince him, for he seems thoroughly under her influence. There has been such a change in him since she came; not all at once, you know, but gradual, until now he scarcely seems like the same man. I—l do not dislike Lieutenant Gaskins; he has been pleasant and attentive, but I do not care for him in any other way. Yet papa insists that I marry the man. Lately he has been very unkind about it, and —and I am sure she is urging him on. What can I do? It is all so unpleasant.” Hamlin shook his head, but without reply. < “You will not tell me? Then I will tell you I shall say no! no! no! in spite of them; I shall refuse to be sold. But how does that woman control my father?” she leaned closer in her earnestness, lowering her voice. “She has not won him by charms; he is afraid of her.” “Afraid? Are you certain of that?” “Yes. I cannot tell you how I know; perhaps it is all womanly instinct, but I do know that he is terrorized; that he dare not oppose her wish. I have read the truth in his eyes, and I am sure he is harsh to me only because he is driven by some threat. What can it be?” “You have never spoken to him of your suspicions? Asked him?” "Yes and no. I tried once, and shall never forget the expression of his face. Then he turned on me in a perfect paroxysm of anger. I never even dared hint at the matter again.” The Sergeant stared out into the street, not knowing what to say, or how to advise. Almost unconscious of the action his hand stole along, the rail until it touched hers. (TO BE CONTINUED.)

"We Were Engaged to Be Married,” He Acknowledged Frankly.