Fort Frayne

s - auThob of fr ! !■ F0L5 IN AMBU6H" i f g fFROM THE RANKS " EjLj [Copyright, 1896, by F. Tennyson Neely.] SYNOPSIS. ('UAPTER I.- Roy le Farrar disgraces himself at West Point, deserta the school and leadsawandering Ufe, pink ing lowor and lower. marries hie cmployer's nanghter and thcn commitfl a forgery. II.- Cblonel Farrar, father of Borle, i killed ín a batlc with the Xndiaiis, III. - Roy Ie Farrar'B younger brother Will graduatee at Weet Point and falle in loye witn Kitty Ormsby, whose brother Jack is in love with Will's sister Kllis. IV. - Willis made liea tenant, They all return to Fort Fruyiio. acconipanied by a certaín Mrs. Daan ton. v. - lt has been reported tnat Boyle Farrar is dead, bnt he turna up at the fort in the guise of a common soldier ander the name of Graico. Kllis. Farrar and Jack Ormsby quarrel over Holen Dannton. VI- Helen Daunton has an interview with Jack Ormsby , in which II transpires iliat she is Boyle Farrar1 s much abused wife, whom Ormsby has before befriended. "They know nothing. They have raade me welcome and ruade life sweet to me again after it was wreoked and ruined by their own flesh and blood. I raeant - God f orgive me - vheu flrst I came to them, lonely, destitute, that some time they should know, but from the flrst I grew to loveher; from the day of my reception uuder her roof my heart went out to her as it has done to no other woman sinoe rny own blessed mother died, long years ago, and then, then I learned of her preoarious health and I temporized aud now love her as I lovo 110 other being on earth, and, knowing that she never heard of her son's marriage - for she has talked of him occasionally to me - I dctermined never to teil her of that or of the litfcle one ranrdered by his brutaJity. I have hïd it all - all. I hid f rom yon, for yon alone knew me under the narne she bears aud loves aiid honors. Oh, Mr. Ormsby, you were kinduess, helpfuluess itself to me ia those bitter days. Can you not soe how iropossible it is for ine to teil her now? Cau you not help moto keep hateful truth? Seo, she has been gaining here day after day. Don't let her know - don't make me teil lier - perhaps kill her with the telling - that I im Royle Farrar's wife. " "Hush!" he whispered, for inherexciteruent her voice was rising, and hè, listeniug nervously for a footfall thafc he knew and love.ri and thrilled at the eound of, heard Eliia pass rapidly along the narrow hall above, as thoughin answer to her mother's cali. "Hush!" he repeated. "I must thiuk of this. Teil me, has Miss Farrar at any time, in anyway, seen that you have known me kefore?" "She has, Mr. Ormsby, and I, with all the deep, deep gratitude I feel toward you, I have been unable to teil her the truth and explain what I cannot but kuow has made her suspicious of me, has hurt yon in her estimation. Oh, ■what shall I do, what shall I do?" she cried, wringing her white hands in grief unutterable. "Keep niy secret, I implore you, just 24 hours, until this sacred anniversary so fatal to, so dreaded by her, has passed away. Let no shock come to her at Christmas. Then, if need be"- "Hush!" he again warned, for Ellis was almost at the doorway. "I must eee you tomorrow. Until then" - And then, though the sweat was standing on bis forehead, he turned, with such composure as he could assnme, with yeaming and tenderness beaming in bis frank, handsome face, to meet the proud girl whom he loved and in whose a verted eyes he seemed to read his sentence. Never entering the room, bnt, halting short at the doorway, she gave ouequick glance at the woman who, turning her back upon them, first seemingly busied herself at the curtains and then moved on into the dining room, which opened, army fashion, from tho little parlor, and then was lost to sight. "Mother desired tno tohand you this, Mr. Ormsby," was all that Ellis gaid, and then coldly turned away. "Ellis!" he cried in a low, eagcr, sorrowing tone, as he sprang after her. "Ellis, Ellis!" But instantly, with nplifted hand, ehe turned, first ag though to confront and wam hirn back, theu as though commanding silence. "Hush, listen!" she said. "What is that?" Something like an inarticulate, stifled, nioaning cry carne from the direction of the dining room, and, rushiug thither, swiftly, noiselossly as he could, Ormsby vas just in time to seo Helen Daunton rceling back from the window and staggering toward tho sofa. CHAPT1ÏR VIL 'Twas the day beforo Christmas, and Frayne was merry with the music of Christmas preparation. Ever since reveillo the men had beeu buaily at work, and while most of them were engaged in the docoration of their barracks, inessrooms and the littlo chapel, Terry Rorke, with a good sized squad, was atill putting the finishing touches on the assembly hall. An odd thing had happened that morning. No one had ever kuown that feilow Graice to ofEer to do a strokeof workof anykind, espe; cially where Rorke had anything to do i with the ruatter, yethere he carne, right af ter reveille, to teil that veryrnau that if it was all the sanie to him he'd take the place of Higgins, who had been put on gnard, and would help at the asseinbly room. ' 'There's no whisky to be had thcre, Graice, if that's what you want, and yo look more'n )iko it. Answer me this, now. Whero'd ye been whin ye camo runnin in at 1 o'clock this mornin?" "On a still lmnt, corporal," answered Graice, with a leer. "It's to keep away from whisky this day I'm ready to work with yon. I'm supernuinerary of the guard. " "You were drinkin last night, and you've had yer eyo opener and bruin j cloudier this mornin, bad scran to ye. ; There's an infernal revenue tax on the breath of ye that would make an exciseman jealous. But, God bo good to us, av it's to kape niisehief away from the garrison this day I'll go ye. G'wan now, but whist, ye've no liquor about ye, Graice?" "Devil a drop outside of iny skin, corporal." "Then kapo out of reach of it and out of the way of the ladies, lest the sight of yer ugly mug would throw them into üts. G'wan," and Graice went. " Was it ye, ye black throated devil, that gave that sweot lady her f right last night?" he continued reflectiveiy. "There's no pi-ovin it beyond the boot tracks, and they'd fit worse lookin feet than yours. It's the wan mark of the gentleman that's lef t to ye. Yes, j sergeant, I'll kape. me eye on him," he continued, in response to a suggestion from the senior noncommissioned officer of the troop, who came forth froru the j office at the moment. "The captain 's hot about that business of last night, and Hko as nöt there's the blackguard. Now, what ou earth does he want to be playin Peepin Torn about the officers' quarters?" "Nogood, of cours'e, but we can prove nothing, as you say, except that he was : out of quarters and wasn't at Bunko Jim's af ter ] 1 o'clock. He washere and in bed when I inspected. " Very little was known about this j episode. Mrs. Daunton had quickly vived under the ministration of Ellis ' and Mr. Ormsby, and, half laugbing, half crying, had declared that jast as she reached the window the blind swung slowly back and the moonlight féll full on the hcad and shoulders of a man with a fur cap, black beard and soldior's overcoat. fche could describe no other features. He saw her at the samo instant. Kach recoiled, but in her excited, nervous state it was toomuch of a shock. Ellis, who at first had been prone to attribute Helen's prostration to the interview with Ormsby, recalledthe prowler she herself had seen and could not but corrobórate Mrs. Daunton 's story. Jack had rushed out, only tofind boot tracks in the snew and an uufastened blind, but no other sign of a : man. Mrs. Farrar was kept in total ; norance of the affair, and only Leale and Will at first were taken into the i cret, though the captain at once went to consult his trusty noncommissioned offleevs. All the same, though Helen laugbed ai her weaknesa when morning came, she and Ellis, parting for the night with but f. w words and eauh feeling conscious of the gulf between them, passed a restless and disquieling night. I Just whatmischief that fellow Graice was meditating puzzled not a littlo the honest pate of Terry Rorke. For a time the man worked busily, sileutly, lugging bundies of greens into the hall and bare, stripped branches out. Once or twice, in answer to chaffing remarks of the other men, he had retaliated. Onco again, colliding with Crow Kuif e at the door, he had muttered an angry curse and bade the redskin keep out of his way unless ho coveted trouble. The Indian's eyes ñasiied vengefnlly, but líe spoke no word. It was just af ter guard monntingthat Graice had offered his services, when, as supernumerary, he really did not i have to work at all and was not ly detaiiable for any such fatigue duty. By 10 o'clock, however, it wasapparent to more than oue present that he was driuking more liquor and had it concealed probably somewhere about the premises or in his overcoat. Rorke warned him and got a pullen reply. Not a minute af ter, al though strict orders had been given against smoking, because of the flimsy nature of the structuro and the large quantity of inflammable material scattered about, he precipitated an excitement. Right in the entrance of the hall a big square box had just been placed by twoof the men, ; and Crow Kuif e was carefnlly removing the lid, when Graice, lurching in from the dressing room with a bundie of greens, jstumbled against the edge of i the case, and, dropping his burden with a savage curse, he drew back his heavily booted foot as though to let drive a ! furious kick. Instantly tho Indian interposed. "Don't kick!" ho said. "Hold your hoof there!" shoutcd Rorke, and others of the men joined in their cry of winning. Wonderingly ho looked abont him on the quickly gathered group, swaying a bit unsteadily even now. "Why not?" he scowlingly, sullenly, ' thickly asked. "What banu's there kicking a ratfclebox that's ahnostbroken j my shin? VVhat's the matter with you fellows, anyhow?" "It isn't the box, yo goneril, it's ' , what's inside of itl That's Coloneí Farrar's picture! God's praise to him for ; tho fïnest soldier that iver rode at tho head of the Tweif th. " ] "That Colonel Farrar's picture?" muttered the man in a strange, half awed, half deflant manner. "Well, I , swear, that's - that'squeer. " And then, in some odd, nervous abstraction, he , whipped out a cigar, and the next thing they kuew, had lighted it at the stove and tossed the flamins paper arnong the : sweepings on the floor. Instantly there ■ was a rush, a tramplingof feet and just as Rorke wrathfully had collared tho stupefied man Lieutcnant Parrar burst I in npou the scène, stamping out the few I remaining sparks, and then turning angrily upon the gronp. "Who dropped that firo? Who, I say?" he repeated, for, in soldier sii lence, the men had stood at attention, but, true to soldier ethics, would teil no talos. "JDon't let that happen again, corporal," he went on sternly. "You know well enough what a fire would í mean horeabouts, with the cannon powder storedin the toweryonder. Remember the orders - the guardhouse for the first man fooling with fire. Go on with your work. " And then, as the men turned silently away and Terry stood there, lookiug abashed and troubled at the implied rebnke, Will sought to soften the effect. "Why, you're doing great work here, corporal. The old place is wearing Christmas dresa and no mistake." "It is, Masther Will, " said Rorko deliglitedly. "Masther Will!" repeated Farrar indignantly. "Onmy soul, Rorke, you" - "I bcg the lieutenant's pardon," said Terry, uil contrition and soldierly respect. "But I've known him such a few weeks as lieutenant and so rnany and many a long year as Masther Will"- "That'll do, corporal. Have the picture in its place as soon as you can. JVIother will be over here to look at it. " "Yes, Mas - yes, sorr. " And again, as Will turned angrily to rebuke the poor fellow, there was a gathering of the men at the window looking out upon the parade, and somethiag was said a bout a lady slipping on the ico, which carried Will away Jike a shot. Two strides took him to the door, and one glance sent him rushing to the rescue. It was Miss Ormsby. And then, while some of the men went on with tlieir work, others seemed to hang about Graice, who was oddly fascinated by the box and cast furtive glances at it, while Crow Knife, under Rorke's direction, was quietly unpacking it. Again had Graice wandered unsteadly over by the stove and stood there, sullenly kicking at it uutil one of the men bade him quit or he'd start a fire in spite of them. "You'll have us all in blazes before our time," werethe solrïiers words. "Not I. Fire's my friend, " answered Graico in a suiiy toue. "And likely to give ye a long and warm welcome if ye carry to purgatory the spirit ye so sweetly manifest here. How y er friend?" retorted Rorke. "I mean it saved in y life a year ago in Mexico. I saw a giii once too often for her lover'a good - hot headed cur ! He would have it andgotit - in the heart - and I got in quod, and our consul oould not help me. I am not the kind of citizen the United States hinders a foreign government from sending to kingdom come, and I was mighty nigh getting there." "And ye didn!t, " said Terry, highly interested. "The dishpensations of hiven are past findin out. " "Fire 's stood my friend, I say. I had my pipe - greasers ain't the d d martineta you have here - and a spark went into the straw. It blazed in an instant. There was h - 1 to pay, with the guard and greasers and prisoners running every which way. The prisou had a little tower, like that, yonder, " said he, pointiug to the wooden structure above the old guardhouse. "I saw my chance ia the confusión and ran for it. It was stone and nevertook fire, and I gotsafely away at night and vamoosed the oouutry and read afterward how the flames had devoured the ruffianly murderer Roy" - and here he caught himself, with sudden gulp, seeing Rorke's suspicious eyes on him. " "Eh, Graice? Roy, ye were sayin. " "Murderer, roisterer andrascal, Torn Graice," he went on. "So I've nothing to f ear from fire. ' ' Rorke eyed him long and distrustfully, grunting audible comment on the story, to which some of the menhadlistened in absorbed interest, while others were busily removing the picture and setting it in place upon thewall. Then, as it was f airly hung, Crow Knife stepped back across the room, his eyes reverently fised upon the fine, soldierly face. Graice, meantime, after ahurried glance about him, had drawn a flask from his vest pocket and had lifted itto his lips, when Rorke grabbed it. - "I thought so, ye mad brained gabWer! Ye'll be diunk before the day's half over. Get up and look at the picture, man. It's lookin at ye straight anrt stern. " "Who - who's looking at me? What d d rot are you talking?" shuddered Graice. "The colonel is, and as if he didn't relish the sight. Small blametohim." "It's a saying of my people, "said Crow in his slow, solemn tone, "Whoni the eyes of the dead cali must rise and follow." "You croaking" - hissed Graice, leapiug to his feet and rushing at the Indian, but Rorke threw himself between them. "PJay wid fire when ye inay, man, but niver wid a tame tiger. Hush, now. Go out this door and cool that crazy head of yers. Here come the ladies. " Instantly the excited group scattered, tho men resuming their work as though at no time thought of crime or quarrel had entered there, but Rorko's heart was thnmping hard as he went to his station. First to enter were Captain Leale and Mrs. Daunton, though the blitho voices and cheery laughter of the others could be heard without. Evideutly thero was f uu at Kitty's expense, and Leale had seized the opportunity to draw Helen to ono side. They were talking Barnestly as they entered. "It seems providential that Will's Brst station should bring his mother back to the old home. Here and now at least she should be safe from all shock, especially with your care to guard her, Mrs. Daunton. She said to me only yestenlay: 'Helen came to me only a littJe over a year ago, but I think I have tieeded her for years. She is dear to me, almost as my own daughter. ' " "God bless her for those words," said Helen, dgeply moved. "I carne to her as a depcndent, but she has taught ine a new definition of motherhood. " ' 'Motherhood has its sorrowf ui meaning for Mrs. Farrar, " said Leale grave]y, his handsomo dark eyes fixed upon her face. "Has shc never spoken to you about Roy Ie, her eldest son?" " She has sometimes mentioned him, " said Helen, withgreatconstraint. "But she can hardly bear to speak of him, and I know the bittor sorrow he brought to every one who loved him, but," she added quickly, as though eager to change the subject, "how cozy and warm and Christmasy it looks and smells ! I shall have another new definij tion - what Christmasmeans. Welearn i many definitions, dowenot, aslifegoes on, and sonietimes f ate is good to us and Iets us learn the happiest last. ' ' ' 'And you havo learned a ead one of Christmas?" "Ir A very sad one. Myown baby died in my arma on Christmas eva. ' ' Leale bent earnestly toward the sad, sweet face, a deep emotion in his own, but at the moment Ellisentered, followed closely by Ormsby. She bowed in evident constraint at sight of thecouple already there and looked as though she would gladly have turned about again. After her carne Will and Kitty and other young people of the post, all eager. and intent on inspecting the preparations being made, all full of eompliments to Rorke for the success attending his labors, all full of admiration of the portrait, which they grouped about and arlmired, while Ellis hung her father's saber underneath. And then once again the whole party, chatting merrily, went drifting out into the crisp air and glorious sunshine, leaving, glowering after thein from the doorway of the little room that opened off the main hall, the il] favored, ill liked soldier Graice. Two minutes later, and no one conld explain how it started or what was its exciting cause, with hardly a spoken word or premonitory syinptom, two men were clinched in furious struggle - one, heavy, burly, powerfnl and gifted with almost demoniac strength, had hurled the other down. That other, lithe, sinewy, pantherlike in every inotion, writhed from nnderneath his huge antagonist and had sprung to his feet, while the first, more slowJy, heaved hi niself upward, and then, like a maddened buil, dashed at his foe. Springing lightly to one side, Crow Knife, for it was he, whipped from its sheath a glittering blade and poised it high in air, and Graice, even in his blind fury, saw and hesitated. There was a rush of the workmen to the spot, but Captain Leale was first of all. Clear and cold and stern his voice was heard. "Drop that knife! Drop that knife, I say!" and slowly, reluctantly, though his eyes were blazing with hate and rage, the Indian turned toward the man he had learned to trust, to honor and to obey, and the knife feil clattering to the floor. Graice made a lunge as though to grab it, and Rorke's ready foot tripped and felled him. Then, with both hands, the Irishman grabbed him by the collar and dragged him, dazed and scowling, to his feet. "There are ladies coming, sir," was the warning of one of the men. "Take that man out and cool him off, " said Leal, still calmly, to the corporal. "I'll hear the story later. Quiet now, one and all," he adcfrcd, as the gronp dispersed. "It is Mrs. Parrar." [TO BE CONTINÜED.]