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Show MOIEY MDONAID j a eule or hie moNHER Jays. 'KAitlkKRiBn KpfesrBaderr Malady of llgM Doubt: Myladyoflfe I. vtHH WfV V LBantcA u S3aFCvfi4'5 HB CidP snd heard nothing to warn mo of danger. dan-ger. It was In my mind that my father had boon lured on to tho opon prairie bohlnd tho hotel. Suddenly I was seized roughly, and a cloth whipped over my faco boforo I could evon scream. I heard a volco say: 'Damned If It ain't tho glrll What will wo do with herT' and then Du-pont's Du-pont's volco answered gruffly: 'Hell, thero ain't anything to do, but tako tho Jlttlo husBy along. Sho'd quoer tho whole gamo, an' wo'vo got an extra horse.' They Jerked mo forward so roughly, and I was so frightened that that I must havo fainted. At any rate I remombored nothing more distinctly dis-tinctly until wo nnd crossed tho river, And I was on horseback wrappod In a blanket, and tied to tho soddlo. Somo one was holding mo erect; I could not move my arms, but could soo and hear. It was dark, and wo were moving mov-ing slowly; thero wero two Indians ahead, and a white man riding each side of me. They thought me uncon-clous uncon-clous still, and spoke occasionally; llttlq by llttlo I recognized their voices nd: understood their words." lier voice broke Into a sob, but tho Bergcaufs eyes wero still gazing vigilantly vigi-lantly out over tho snow-clad hills. "It Is hard to tell tho rest," she said finally, "but I learned that It was lot robbery, but the betrayal of trust. My father was guilty, and yot at tho lame time a victim. I only got the truth In snatches, which I had to piece together, although later I learned oth-r oth-r details. Mrs. Dupont had bled my ,'ather through some knowledge she aad gained of his slstor'a family. I jannot even Imagine what this could havo bjen, but It was sufficient for hor purpose. Ho gavo her all ho had, and then then she heard of this government money being sent to Ripley. Rip-ley. She had known about that for several days through the Lieutenant, and had ample time to arrango tho plot. My father must have been crazy to have entered Into tho schemo, but ho did, he did. Tho woman compelled him to It." "I understand, Molly," broke In Hamlin, anxious to sparo her tho do-talls. do-talls. "They wero to pretend robbery, but with tho Major's connlyance. An ' officer Impersonating him was despatched des-patched to Illpley by stage. This would prevent any Immediate pursuit. Later tho Major was to be released, to return to Dodgo with his story. The projection of yourself Into tho cnair disarranged tho entlro plot, and then a quarrel occurred, and your father was killed." "Yes; It was over what should bo dono with mo; although I believe now they Intended to kill him, bo aB to ro-tain ro-tain all tho money. Tho older Indian fired tho Bhot treacherously." i "And Connors?" "Dupont killed him; thoy woroboth drunk, and tho soldlor flred first, but missed." "And after that?" She covered her faco with her hands. "It was all a dream of continuous horror, yet through It all, I do not recall consciousness of physical tor-' ture. I seemed to be mentally numbed, my brain a blank. It was a realization of my father's guilt more than my own ; danger which affected mo that and his death. They wero not unkind nor brutal. Indeed I do not clearly recall re-call that I was ever spoken to, except when somo necessary order wob given. Ono night I heard thorn discuss what should bo dono with mo; that I was to bo hidden away In Dlack Kottlo's camp. Generally Dupont spoko to tho Indians In their own tonguo, but that night he thought roe asloop. I I had no hope left not even faith that you could over rescuo me." ' Hamlin's hand clasped hers firmly, but nls eyes wero riveted on something some-thing In tho distance. "Walt," ho said, chocking his horso, ''what Is that? Soo; down In tho vnl- cy of tho creek! Is It not a moving sody of men?" CHAPTER XXXIV. The Advance of Custer. Tho Sergeant swung down from tho Bnddlo and forced both ponies back below tho crest of tho hill, his swift glanco sweeping back ovor the trail. Then ho gazed again searchlngly into the valley below. "What Is It?" sho questioned. "A moving column of horsemen, sol dlers from their formation, for Indians nover march In column of fours. Thoy are too far away for mo to bo certain yot. What troops can bo away out horo?" "Wasn't thero to bo a winter campaign cam-paign against Black Kettlo?" she ques-tloned. ques-tloned. "It was tho rumor at Dodgo. Perhaps " "Why, yes, that must bo It," ho in-terruptod in-terruptod oagerly. "Custer and tho Sovonth. What luck! And I'll be In It with tho boy's nltor all." "Shall wo not rldo to meet them?" "Soon, yes j only wo need to bo con tain first." "Aro you not?" nnd she roso In her ilrrupj. "I am suro they sya cavalry- vJOMT llf BY A.CrfCltlPO & CO. men. Now you can see clearly as thoy climb tho hill." "Thoro Is no doubt." ho admitted, a single troop ahead of tho main body; tho others will bu beyond tho bond In tho stream." Ho stepped back, whoro ho could look directly Into hor faco. "They nro soldiers all right, but that was not what I wanted to ho ho certain about. When wo rldo down thoro, Molly girl, wo shall bo swah lowed up Into tho old llfo onco moro. tho old army life." "Yes." "Perhaps you do not realize how different dif-ferent It will all bo from out horo alono together." "Why should It bo dlfforont?" "I shall bo again a soldier In the ranks, undor orders, and you Major McDonald's daughter." "But but " her eyes full of np-pcaL np-pcaL "No, little girl," ho oxplalnod quickly, quick-ly, reaching up and touching hor gently; "wo aro nover going to say anything about that to those down thero his comrades In armB. It Is going go-ing to bo our secroL I am glad you told mo; It has brought us togother ns, porhaps, nothing else could, but thoro Is no roaBoa why tho world should over know. Let them think he died defending his trust. Porhaps ho did; what you overheard might have boon said for a purpose, but, oven If It wero truo, ho had boon driven to It by a merciless woman. It la ours t defend, not blacken his memory." Sho bent Blowly down until hor cheek touched his. "I I thought you would say that," sho roturned slowly, "but what elso you said Is not so thero will nover again bo a barrier of rank between us." She straightened In tho saddle, looking down Into his eyes. "Whoever "Who-ever tho officer may be In command of that detachmont, I want you to tell him nil." "All?" "Yes, that wo aro engaged; I am proud to havo them know." Tho truth was shining In hor oyos, glowing on hor cheeks. Sho loaned forward. ' "KIbs mo, and bellovo!" "Molly, Molly," ho whlspored. "Nov-or "Nov-or will I doubt again." Thoy could porcolvo tho bluo of tho overcoats as they rode1 ovor tho rldgo, and at their sudden nppearanco tho muo column of horsemen camo to a halt. Hamlin flung up ono hand In slg- nal, and tho two urged their ponies down tho sldo of tho hill. Threo mon Bpurred forth to meet them, spreading out slightly as though still suspicious of somo trick, but, as thoy drew near, tho leader suddenly waved his hand, and thoy dashed forward. "Hamlin! Olad to soo you again," tho first rider grectod tho Sorgeant cordially. "Can this bo Major McDonald's McDon-ald's daughter." "Yes, Major Elliott; I can repeat tho Btory as wo rldo along, sir. You nro tho advanco of Custer's expedition, expedi-tion, I presumo?" "Wo aro; tho othors aro somo miles bohlnd, moving slowly so that tho wagons can koep within touch. Won-dorful Won-dorful tho way thoso wngonB have pushed ahead over tho rough country. Have only missed camp twice slnco wo loft Fort Dodgo." "When was thnt, sir?" "Doforo tho blizzard all except your troop woro at Camp Supply; thoy had Jolnod slnco. nnd It was then wo hoard about your trip down hero. What be-camo be-camo of your men, Sorgoant?" "Wasson nnd ono prlvato wero killed, sir; tho othor prlvato was frozen bo badly I had to Icavo hlra In shelter on tho Cimarron." "By gad, It sounds Interesting; nnd so you tackled tho villains alono, and had somo fight at that boforo .rosculng Miss McDonald. Well, tho story will koop until wo mako enmp again. Howovor," and he bent low evor tho lady's hand, "ImustcWigratulato Miss McDonald on hor escaping without any sorlous Injury." "Thnt is not all I should be congratulated con-gratulated upon, Major Elliott," she said qulotly. "No eh porhaps I do not undor- stand." "I doslro thnt you shall; I refer to my engngomont to Sorgoant Hamlin." Tho officer glanced In somo bowll-i dcrment from her faco to that of tho sllont trooper. "You you mean matrimonial?" ho stammered, plainly embarrassed, unable un-able so suddenly to grasp tho peculiar situation. "Hamlin, what what does this mean?" "Miss Molly and I havo known each othor for somo time," explained tho nergennt bluntly. "Out horo nlono wo dlBcovorod wo woro moro than friends. That la nil, sir." For an lnstaut Elliott hesitated, hold by tho strnngo etlquotto of rank, then tho gontloman conquered tho soldier, sol-dier, and ho drew off his glovo, nnd held out his hand. "I can congratulato you, Miss McDonald," Mc-Donald," ho exclalmod frankly. "I havo known Sergeant Hamlin for two voars; ho is a boldler and a nontlo- iau." , xno red blood Bwopt Into hor) !iiBH cheeks, hor eyes brightening. aLH "He Is my soldier," sho ropllcd aott-i faiH ly, "nnd tho man I lovo." (lLiH Thoy rode togother down tho steep rasH hillside coVorod with Its mantlo of iisH snow to Join tho little body of troop-' PisH ers halted In tho valley. Only once 'iibH did Elliott speak. UbH "You know Black Kottlo's camp,: lasH Sorgeant?" ifaH "Wo wero almost within sight of It,' fisH air. I saw his pony hord distinctly." iisH "Whoro was that?" ''I "On tho Canadian, closo to the t'ssfl mouth of Buffalo Creek." vl "Did you learn anything as to the laLfl number of Indians with him?" I liH "Nothing dnflnltn hut It la . I.. . IsllsB encampment, not nil Choyenncs." AaLH "So wo heard, but wero unablo to llLafl discover tho exact situation. Wo havo YiaH boon feeling our way forward cau- 'fsiH tloualy. I fnnr It Is going to bo my 'jiH unpleasant duty to scparato you and ifaH Miss McDonnld. Wo shall noed your liaH sorvlces as guide, nnd tho lady will 'iafl bo far bettor oft with tho main col- '''aH umn. Indeed somo of tho empty wag- Ifjasfl ons nro to bo sent back to Camp Sup- iiH ply tonight, nnd probably Custor will flaH deem It best that sho return with lisH thorn. This winter campaigning Is .H going to bo rough work, outsldo or laH tho fighting. You know Custer, nnd liH his stylo; besides Sheridan Is him- jLH Belt at Camp Supply In command." NaH "You henr, Molly?" QH "Yes; of course, I will do whatovor lil Qenoral Custer dooms best. Aro thore ItsH any woman at Camp Supply, Major?" iaH "Yes, a few; camp women mostly, 'ssl although thero may bo also an officer's ' wife or Uc 19th Kansas volunteers." $1.1 "Then It will bo best for mo to go iH thoro. If 1 can,'" she smllod. "I am IH desporntely In noed of clothes." M "I Buspectod as much. I will ar- H range to glvo you a guard at onco. jH And you, Sergeant? A. you aro stilt Psfl under special ordors, I prosumo I havo iHibbH no authority to detain you In my com H mand." Ps.sfl "I prefer to romaln, sir," grimly. !H "Dupont, Miss McDonald's captor, U lM alive and In Black Kottlo's camp. We j jH still havo n feud to settle." M "Good; then that Is arranged; ah, jH Miss McDonald, allow mo to present H Lieutenant Chambers. Lloutonant, do- ftaH tall threo mon to guard the lady back t H to tho main column. Havo her taken to General Custer at onco." fisH "Very woll, sir; and tho command t ' H Elliott looked at tho Sorgoant In- H qulrlngly. H "That Is for Sergeant Hamlin to do- I H tormlne; ho haB just been ' scouting il through that country, and' will act a . H guldo." V H Tho Sergeant stood for a moment Isbsb! motionless beBtdo his horso studying H tho vista of snow-draped lilllsldo. The i H region boyond tho crest of tho rldgo Uasss! unrolled boforo his momory. HtH "Then wo will keep dlroctly on up leii this valley, sir," ho said at last "It's J H Wolf Crook, Is It not? Wo shall be -aaH eafor to keep out of sight today, and H this depression must lead toward the I sH Canadian. May I oxchango mount. lasl with ono of thoso mon going back, KH Major? I fear tay pony is about fjiH "Certainly." Thero wno no opportunity for any- IJM thing Bavo a slmplo grasp of tho hand, HaaH ero Molly rodo away with her escort. a Then tho llttlo column of troopers FlasH "Never Will I Doubt Again." ' ' 1 H moved' on, and Hamlin, glancing back-1 f M ward ns ho rodo past, took his placo f M In advanco bcsldo Major Elliott, f M CHAPTER XXXV, j j fl The Indian Trail. H The weather bocamo coldor an tho 111 day advanced. Scattered pollets of M snow In the air lashed the faces of 'j tho troopers, who rodo steadily for-, ( H ward, tho capes of their ovorcoats "JLH thrown ovor their heads for protoc- Hll tlon. Tho snow of tho lato storm lay ' M In drifts along tho banks of tho nar- 1 row stream, and tho horaos picked! ,M their passago higher up whoro tho' J M wind had swept tho brown oarth clear, j M it the same time keeping woll bolowl H tho crest. As they thus tollod Blow-' )mri ly forward, Hamlin rotated his story lift to tho Major In detail, carefully con- lly sealing all Busplclou of McDonald's ! :onnoctlon with tho crlmo. It was ' growing dusk when tho company ; M emerged Into tho Valley of tho Caca- I M dlan. All about thorn was desolation !H and sllonco, and as they wero still $H mllos away from tho position assigned f H for Black Kettle's encampment, tho iM mon were pormltted to build fires and jH prepare a warm moal under shelter of fl tho bluffs. Two hours later tho main jH column arrived and also went Into , H camp. It was Intensely cold but the HM mon were choerful as tey nta tiamt yH (To bo continued) I . '' . J ''Ji ;y'J |