Fort Frayne

fs íiJ' IVjtHOR OF ff - Si! " FOES IN AM6USH" I I ICopyright, 1806, by F. Tennyson Neely.] SYNOPSIS. CiiAPTlíit I.- ttoyle Farrar rlisgraces Inmself at Wcí'I l'oiiit, ilcsurts the school and leads a wanlering life, sinking lowcr and lower, manies his employer's óaughter and ilion commíts a forgerj . II.- Coloncl Farrar, fatliur nf Eovlc. is killed in -a ba'tle with the Tndiaiis. III- Eoyle Fannrs yonngor brother WiU gradnates at West Point and fallB in love with Kitty Ormeby, whose brother Jack is in love with will's sister Ellis. IV.- Wil] is made lieutenant. They all return to Fort Frayne, acconlpanied by a certain Mrs. Daunlon. V. - IE has botín reported that Koyle Farrar is deail. bnt he turns uj at the fort in the guise of a eoinmon soldier onder the name of Öraice. Kllie Farrar and Jack Ormsby qnarrel over Helen Dannton. VI- Helen Daunton lias an interview with Jack Ormsby, in whiili it trantpirer- .that slie is Koyle Farrar's much abused ■wife. whom Ormsby has before belriended. VII- Helen Farrar discovers her husband. A'III - Kllis Farrar witnessesanotlior interview bet ween Helen Daunton and Jack Ormsby. "JMrs. Farrar, " she cried in ntter desperation, turning tnadly away frora the hateful „sight, "I - I ïnust get into the open air awhile. You won't mind, dear. I must walk, walk, run, rush in the cold. No, don't come, and pray let Ellis keep with you. In 10, 20 minutes at most, Til return. " "Ah, Helen, wait until Willy, until Malcolm Leale, returns frora the sta bles. Sec, they're coming now. They 1 walk with you. ' ' #g "Oh.no, no.no! Do yon not oeit '2 must be alone. I cannot talk withaáy one. Let me go," she cried. Theu, before either the mothercould interpose or Ellis, who camo hurrying into the room, could urge one word, she had seized a heavy wrap and gone almost bounding down the stairs. At the threshold she recoiled, for ihere, his honest face full of eagerness as the door flew open, stood Jack "I cannot talk with any one. Let me go." by. "I - I was just about to ring, " he faltered, "aud inquire af ter you - and for - Miss Farrar. You jreally startled me." And up aloft they heard - EJlis heard - the eager, low toned, almost breathless answer. "Oh, Mr. Ormsby. It was you I sought. Come - riglit in here. " And drawing him into the parlor Bhe closed the door, reckless now of anything Ellis might suspect, thinking only of the peril that menaced one and all. Perhaps Jack Ormsby's longing eyes caught one fleeting glimpse of feminine drapery at the head of the little staircase. Perhaps his own wrongs andwoes had overinastered him. Perhaps he thought that already he had been too heavily involved, all on account of this iair suffejer and suppliant, but certain it is he followed, hesitant, and that it was with a far from reassuring face he confronted his captor. "Mr. Ormsby, " she burst forth, "how much money would you give, at once, this day, to rid this post of the greatest shame and misery thatcould be brought upon Ellis and her niother:" "I cau't imagine what you mean, " was the uncertain answer. "I nican that Koyle Fanar is here - in this garrison - a private soldier in Captain Leale's troop. " "Mrs. Daunton! Are you mad?" "Mad? My heaven, I well might be! He carne before me this noou, with her, with his mother, not 20 steps away and tauntcd me aud threateued them. Oh, God, he rueans itl He means to make himself known to them and claim their kinship in the way to shame them most. And the shock will kill hei, kill her! There is only one earthlyway. He will go for money. ' ' "He can't, if he's a soldier. It's desertiou. It's - why, they follow them, capture them and it means state prison or somet.hing for years. " ' 'I know nothing of that - I know I'm only a helpless, distractcd woman, but diink and money are the two things he worships. For them he will risk anything. I can see him this night. He is this moment on post, out hero on the bluff. You know him. It's the noan they cali Torn Graice. " Ormsby's hat feil from his hand. "My heaven! That man here again?" "Hei e, here, and I have known it only for a few hours. See what I am euffering. Do you not see what it meaus jf ftoyle Farrar makes himself known - and he is capable of anything. Shame to Will, shame to Ellis, heartbreak - death peihaps - to Mrs. Farrar. Do you not seo you must help me get him away from here? You must for all their sakes and keep his secret and mine. " "It is my secret, too, Mrs. Farrar," said poor Jack, rallying to the rescue now that dauger threatened. "I will do whatever you wish, whatever you say. You shall have whatever money I havo here and more can follow. You're a brave woman. Forgive me that I doubted you." "Oh, never think of that now. Only keep my secret yet a littJe and let me eee you beforo 10 toniglit. That's the hour that relief goes on again. I've watched them so often. And - and all thü money you think - even a hundred - two hundred dollara Oh, God bless you for the help you give me! Now I kriow you wish to see her, and I raust i get into the open air awhile. " Calling the maidservant, sho bade her take Mr. Omisby's card to Miss JTarrar, theu hastened from the house. But the answer brouglit to honest j Jack - poor fellow - was that Miss i rar begged to be escused. CHAPTER IX A snow cloud was hanging over Fort Frayne that lovely Christmas cve, and the mcou shouc down through a filmy vei] of lace and cast black shadows ou the düzzling surface. Every where about the post lights were twinkling in the quarters and sounds of soldier merrinient and revelry came from the barracks. Over at the assembly room Rorke and his party were still busily at work hanging festoons of green and completing the decorations for the morrow, while in the several households among the ofiScers dinner parties or similar entertainments called together under one roof or another almost all the families as well as the bachelors of the garrison. The chiidren were rcjoicing iu their great Christmas tree at thè chapcl. The colonel had bidden thein all to his big house for a Santa Claus party after the publio ceremony of tho post Sunday school, and Aunt Lucretia, a garrulous, flighty, feather brained fairy of 40 Bummers or more, was doing her best to get the little gifts in proper order against their coming, being aided in her perplexities and complications by the dreamy, but devoted, Wayne. Kitty was dining at the Farwells' - a temporary truce having been patched up pSö! v-een her and Will about sunset - and 'E313 too, very, very much against her WiaJjj was oné of this party. Ormsby was, of course, bidden, and had been placed next the lady of his love, but averted eyes and monosyllabic answers were the only returns of his devotion. Grieved and hart at flrst, the sterling fellow was finally stung to reprisals. He was guilty of uo wrong. He was worthy far kinder treatment at her hands, and, noting her apparent determination to talk only with the men across the table or with Captain Amory, who had taken her iu, the New Yorker presently succeeded iu interesting the lady on his right, and, when dinner was over and the women passed out into the parlor, was enabled to make way for Miss Farrar with a very courteous but entirely ceremonious bow. Ellis flushed, but, inclining her head, passed him by without a word. It was then early 8:30 o:clock, and the gleeful voices of the chiidren could be heard returning from the chapel, and, mindful of his promise to Helen Daunton, Ormsby was already figuring for an opportunity of temporary escape. It had been arranged that most of the officers and ladies were to gather at the hoproom after 10, "justtoseeif the floor was in good shape for tomorrow," and Jack well vmderstood that Ellis did not mean that he should be her escort, and, as matters now stood, ho did not desire her to suppose that such was his wish. Even as he was pondering over the cigarettes and coffee how he should manage the matter and giving but absentminded attention to the cheery chat about him Captain Amory suddenly lifted his hand and said, "Hush!" Out across the parade, quick, stirring and spirited, the cavalry trumpet was sounding "officers' cali," and every man sprang to his feet "What can it mean?" "What has happened?" were the questions that assailed them as they oanïe streainhig out through the parlor in search of their greatcoats. "Did you ever know such a regiment?" exclaimed the hostess impulsively. "I do beiieve we never get through Christmas without a tragedy of some kind." And then she bit her tongue as she caught sight of Ellis rar's startled face. "I thick if yon will excuse me, Mts. Farwell, I will go to mother a moment. She is at the chaplain's by this time and Mrs. Daunton is with her. Still, I feel anxious. All this may excite her very much. ' ' And so, while the offleers went hurrying away across to the adjutant's office, Ormsby found himself, after all, tendering his arm to Miss Farrar. He was the only man left. Kitty, excited and agitated, she knew not why, had made some comioal attempts to detain Will, but his long legs had by this time oarried him half way tothe scène of the sudden summons. "Thank you, no. Ido notneedit," said Ellis coldly. "Indeed, I do not need escort at all to go so short a distance. ' ' "It seems to be the post custom none the less," wa3 the grave answer. "Besides, I think I ara justilied in saying i you have treated me with aversión so raarked of late that I am entitled to know the cause. What can I have done to deserve it, Eilis? Let us understand each other. ' ' "There is only one way, then, Mr. Ormsby," ehe answered, with sudden impulse. "Who is Helen Daunton?" "Ellis, I cannot teil you now," was the sorrowful, gentle answer. "Be patiënt with me yet a little while." "Yet you know?" "Yes- I know." "And you say let us understand each other," she answered bitterly. ' 'Ellis, I said to you before when we spoke of this that there are secret orders a soldier must obey and not explain. In these last few hours secret orders have come to me." "And you accept secret orders - from her?" "I accept them from niy honor, Ellis, for I have given my word. No, ' ' he iinplored, as she hastened as though to ! ieavo him, "listen, for it may be my last opportunity tonight. I know it seems hard and strango to you that when I would lay my whole lif open before you, I must not yet teil you this. But, Ellis, I give you my honor I am hiding nothing shameful to that poor woman nor to me. It is only for a time I must be silent. When I can speak, you'U forgiveme, dear. You will thank me thaê I do keep silence now. J Trust me, Ellig. Can you noü look up i at me and say you trust dip?" Ah, how pleading was his tone, how full of love and fire and teuderness his manly face, as in that still winter riight j he looked down into her eyes] Over at j the barracks there was a sudden stop to ; all the nrasic, but men's voices could be heard in excited talk. Alang oiBcers' row inany a door was opened and women and children were peering out iu search of explanation of the unusual summons. Over at the adjutant's office a dark throng had gathered, the officers of the garri.son and other knota as oï soldiers or Indians could be seen, but Jack and Ellig saw, heard, nothing of this. Her voice had the ring of eteel to it as she answered: "If it were just a questionof myown happiness, I might trust you, but it is my mother's happiness - perhaps her life. I must know all there is to know about that woman whoni my mother trusts so blindly. I must know for niyself. Id the name of the love you offer me will you teil me the truth about her?" "Ellig, I cannot tonight. I have i given my word." "Theu keepit, " said shewith sudden passion. "Keep it and keep your love. " Then she turned and fled within the chaplain's gate, leaving him standing j on the snowy walk without, eorrowing, yet determined. For a moment he stood there follow ing her with his eyes. Never stopping to knock or ring, she turned the knob and let herself into the brightly lighted hall. He caught a glimpso of the gray haired cliaplain bending over a womanly form. He caught one fleeting view of Helen Daunton's anxious face. Evidently the cali had been heard there, too, and, coming as it did in the stillness of the holiday evening, it boded no good. Only on rare occasions or some sudden emergency was Fenton known to cali every duty officer to his presence, even by day, and he would be almost the last man to break in upon the festivities of the season with a stern cali to arms unless arms and men both were needed somewhere. The day had been one long trial to Mrs. Farrar, and since noon one long torture to her cherished friend. And so, as they were seated about the chaplain's fire and the trumpet notes were heard, and a servant hastening in said, "It's officers' cali, sir, "just as Ellis feared her mother was seized with sudden faintness. "My boy, Willy 1 They won't take him, " she faltered, and then sank back nerveless into her chair. Ormsby turned and sped away for the office. At least he could ascertain the cause of the summons and bring them tidings if it meant no move, but the first glauco through the window at his uncle's face, as he stood surrounded by his officers, told the New Yorker, already experienced in frontier garrison life, that something imminent was in the wind. Fentou was talking rapidly, as was his wout when roused, and the only faces in the group that did not seem to kindie in response to the light in his keen, sparkling eyes were those of two heavily blanketed Indians standing sullen and imperturbable beside him. Out in thesnow half a dozen noncommissioned officers were gathered in a group by the little knot of Indian ponies and cowboy bronchos. An Indian boy, lolling in his saddle, replied in monosyllables to their eager questions. A braee of cowboys, one of them obviously in liquor, sought to impress upon all within hearing their version of some row tnat naa eviaentiy taken place. Among the bystauders was Ormsby's old friend, the sergeant major, and to hiin he appealed. "What's up sergeant?" "Been a fight, sir - cowboys and Indians. Ohristmaa drank, I reckon. The cowboys were having sonie fun with their lariats, and they roped old Big Road olï his pony and shot at him when he showed fight. Then his two sons shot Lammie Pete, and it looks like a general scriminage. Big JEtoad's whole village is camped only ten miles down Btream, and they 're war dancing already. There's a lot of dranken cowboys over at town, aud they swear they '11 rouse the county and clean out the whole Iudian outfit. " Thanking the staff sergeant for his information, Ormsby pressed on to the crowded room and stood in the outskirt of the throng of offlcers. Fenton was speaking as he entered the hall, and his voice Had no uncertain ring. He had been questioning one of the cowboy j leaders, a scowling, semidefiant, but epleudidly built specimen of frontier chivalry, and it was evident that the ! verdict of the commander was against these turbulent gentry and in favor oí the Indians. "By your own admission, Thorpe, your fellows are on a tear, and whether they meant it as fun or not it was rough fun at beet and nothing less than a mad brained trick in my eyes and an ou trage fiom the Indian point of view. I Big Road would have been no chief at all if he hadn't resentod it furiously. It may be, as you say, that he was first to pull his gun, but you pulled him off his üorse. The men that did it deserve to be [TO BE COXTINUED.]