Pittston Gazette

              » KfttablUlied 1850. ( rotD. xlvhixo. 39 \ Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Valley. P1TTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY, PA., FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1898. A Weekly Local and Family Journal. jli oo a Ycmr in Adnat* requisite permission was given anrt the eook departed in peace. When the carryall came a few initiates later, bhe wan •eudy at the gate, a big ratchet in her ing smoke with Mrs. Barry in his arms, and thou diving in again the instant be had laid lier down, to be lost to view an entire minute; then to reappear, followed by a broad sheet of tlanie, scorch ed, blistered, blinded and half suffocated, to come stumbling into the narrow yard in front, and to fall headlong over the blanket swathed burden he bore clasped to his breast. so, and so had two prominent instrumentalists—the bass drummer and piccolo of the band, who had escorted these domestics to a show in town, and this quartet backed Fritz in bis statements. There wasn't u sign of fire, nor were any of his passengers smoking as they passed along back of the row. or saratogas—ana or tnese was leu nine beyoud charred and water soaked fragments.- AN AX/*y "HoeIE Oil \ Cu.£ Warner seized each an arm and neia her. When Jimmy drove back to towu at 10:40, informed he was no longer needed, he was surprised on overhauling the big red stage to see seated therein the lady be drove to the post at 8. She had a deputy sheriff on either side of ber and massive bracelets on her wrists. home." "Nathalie, that woiuau has told another lie!" exclaimed Mrs. Barry, aud the major, coming iu from the smoking compartment at the moment, marveled at the sudden Are in the soft eyes of his beloved wife aud at the flush of color iu her usually pallid face. Only deep conviction and wrath as deep could prompt her to the use of language so forcible. abont the heavy, stuporlike sleep ot tier mistress. When Mary came that evea* Ing for the glass of fresh spring water which Mrs. Barry always had at her bedside, as well as to renew the water in which her medicines were dissolved, Bridget, as she well remembered, bad the pitcher ready. It was easy for the latter to have slipped in one of th» glasses a tablet or two of oolorleas morphia. Its faintly bitter taste was neutralized by that of the medicine itself, but that could not destroy the effect. Indeed, among the unconsumed effects at the bottom of one of Bridget's Saratogas was found a little vial containing some half a dozen oubelike tablet* which Dr. Pease promptly declared to be morphia. hand And yet so valuable did Mr. Cook consider these relics thut one of the first things he did whs to usk that a sentry be posted there with orders to permit no one to disturb anything about what was left of the premises, and it was done forthwith. That night when "taps" was sounded few people heard it at all because of the gale. Nathalie hud stolen dowu stairs, white and wan, and was kneeling by Mrs. Barry's couch, while Mrs. Stanuard read aloud. Not a whisper hud been permitted to reach the girl of Maynard's arrest. She knew of the visit of Warner and the man from Denver and was told that they had come for an accurate description of the uiiesing property, and so they had, despite the fact that Mr. Cook already knew almost all that could be told. He bad not, however, called on Mrs. Gregg or Mrs. Freeman. He was greatly interested in Mrs. Barry's case, in closely studying the window through which the professionals had entered the house und in her description of the symptoms by which she bad been assailed—the nurauny stupor and drowsiness that oppressed her so long. Mrs. Barry answered all questions fully, yet wondered at their tenor. He had even asked if b% might look Ibout the kitchen and servants' rooms, ;.nd Mrs. Barry assured him that their rooms had been searched by Captain Walters' order and nothing been found; that bo far from resenting it Bridget was the first to urge that it might be dune so that she and Mary could be bleared of all suspicion of complicity. They were both such faithful and devoted creatures. Mary bud been with ber for year', and Bridget came with the best of recommendations from her former employers. But Warner kept up his investigations ufter his commander had gone and the day bad come, and despite the fact that many soldiers' feet had trampled the ground there, in the dust of the old roadway beyond the rear fence, he found overlying the well known trail of Fritz's team and wagon the unmistakable prints of a horse's hoofs and a buggy's wheels. Even before arousing his weary captain with this important information be had dispatched a mounted messenger to town with a note to Cook. Meanwhile Mrs. Barry, kind soul, though very weary and distressed, had been informed by Mrs. Hay that Bridget was in the kitchen und begging to be allowed to see her mistress. And it wasn't to weep over her own losses that Bridget came, but to deplore the dreadful danger and shock It which "Mrs. Barry, mam, and Miss Baird, too, mum," had been subjected. All three ladies were greatly impressed with Miss O'Meara's expressions of sorrow and sympathy. "She never seemed to think Of her own losses,'' said Mrs. Kay later. CHAPTER XVI. CHAPTER XV Five days later all the —th were home again, and great was the rejoicing at Russell. Atherton bad direoted Stannard to move in and take possession of the best guestroom under his roof. Barry had applied for a long leave of absence. Walters, with his little company, was relieved from duty at the post and on his way back to Fort Steele,* and the last thing Warner did before going was to help carry Maynard over to the other guest chamber under Atherton's roof, where the colonel declared the gallant young fellow should stay until perfectly restored. The arrest never appeared on paper, never became a matter of record, for Walters had suppressed all further mention of it within 24 hoars of his ill judged order. Miss C'Meara, languishing in the county jail, bad been subjected to the process known as "the sweatbox," an interrogatory They were iu Chicago an entire week, joined at once by Mrs. Atherton and piloted by that experienced aud accomplished shopper, and then came a deluge of letters from Russell, aud news, such news! Two men had been run down and arrested in Kansas City, bad been brought back to Cheyenne and promptly recognized as the "toughs" engaged in the cutting affray at the Empire wherein Boston was placed on the invalid list; were also recognized as the two who were seen at the Railroad House early on the morning following the robbery. Miss O'Meara's cousin, Michael Dungan, who kept a saloon frequented ordinarily by laborers and machine shop men employed in the railway yardB, had likewise been gathered in by the police, but only a little of the stolen property had been recovered. Cook and Maynard were dividing tbe honors of the capture. "Cook of course," said the major at once, "but why Maynard?" And not until he came to Mrs. Stauuard's letter was all explained. Cook had had certain twdnfinpri annniirinna. hnt oould do nothing, prove nothing, until the brief interview with Maynard. T*rea," The wild excitement and dread of that blustering night lived long in the memory of every family at the post. But for the most unusual though fortunate change in the direction of the blast! all officers' row on the northeast front' must have been swept away, as on another well remembered night the quarters of the infantry—all of officers' row on the northwest side—had melted away in a flood of flame some years before. With the garrison gone there was no fire department, and even had there been one of metropolitan proportions it could have accomplished nest to nothing. The big tinder box jointly occupied by Majors Barry and Stannard was swept away as though in the twinklinR of an eye. In less than ten minutes of the alarm a broad sheet of fire swept across the roadway and far out upon the parade, licking np the fence like a row of matches and blistering the hopeful young cotton woods, just budding along the bordering acequia, while in less than 20 only a mass of plowing embers lay glaring in the fiercely fanning gale, and every vestige of the goods and chattels had gone to feed the flames. The marvel was that the inmates got out at all. £D~ x rmmfsa* sfrrfyt with a gentleman from Denver for just five minutes. This Mrs. Barry proved not only willing but glad to do, but poor Mrs. Turner had to return to wonder with Miss Maynard full five minutes more what it all could possibly mean before she again bethought herself of lost opportunities, and so finally hastened away to spread the stirring tidings. It was force of habit that led her straight to Mrs. Gregg's and launched her, impetuous and unannounced, into thut astonished and indignant presence. The tine feminine scorn iu tiie visage of her old time friend and crony recnlled Mrs. Turner to herself. CHAPTER XIV. Mrs. Turner forgot even that Mrs. Gregg and she were not on speaking terms that afternoon. She was calling at the Barrys' ostensibly to bless the inmates with her sympathy, but actually in the hope of seeing Nathalie and being able to tell how she looked and what she said. In this, however, she was disappointed, for Nathalie kept her room, and when Mrs. Turner would Lave gone aloft to visit ber there Mrs. Barry, far from assenting, declared she believed it best for Nathalie not to see any one until she had slept. But, while th»i luxury of a personal interview with the suspected girl was denied her and the hoped for sensation was lost, Mrs. Turner was treated to oue even greater and most unexpected. Mrs. Stannard had still more to telL Captain Qregg had gone to Kanaaa City to see some presumably stolen property that had been captured there by the po- "Majors Stannard and Barry's quarters destroyed by fire about 1:80 a. m.," be wrote. "Inmates safe—everything slse consumed. Bridget O'M. went to town at 7 p. m. and is still absent, but » single buggy stopped at Barry's rear gate and there turned and drove back. It must have been between 12 and 1-30. Better come out qnick as possible." "She was sure she had bunked the fire and taken every precaution before starting for town," added Nathalie. HnH I "She oould go down on her knees to Mr. Maynard," smiled Mrs. Barry, "for the brave, big, splendid young man tbat he is, and wasn't it God's mercy be was there? And was he so awfully burned as tbey said in town?" And within the hoar Cook was on bis way. Meanwhile the gale had worn itself out, as had the fire, and comparative saliii settled down on the post. The little doctor looked well nigh used up when be overhauled his few patients at the hospital at sick call, but be had still much to do and could not give up Telegrams had been sent to Laramie notifying the two majors of the destruction of their quarters and the safety of the occupants, and in a marvelously short time their answer was received. The two battalion commanders were coming by the first stage, while Atherton and the regiment returned by the usual easy marches. The majors should reach Russell with the morrow's sun. To Larry the loss was far heavier in books and bric-a-brac and furniture than to his brother campaigner. Stannard and bis devoted wife had long made it their practice to live in the simplest way, and years in Arizona bad taught tbem how comfortable tbey could be with very little in the line of household goods. What tbey had lost—Mrs. Staunard's gowns and laces being the only very valuable items—was fully covered by insurance, and Barry bad taken similar precautions. But be was a lover of bocks and pictures and little objects of art gathered in their foreign travel, and no money could repay bim the loss of such treasures. All this was fruit for the breakfast table chat about the post, and of greater consequence apparently tbsui the shock to Mrs. Barry, the almost desperately heroic rescue of Miss Baird and the now painful plight of her rescuer. Nursed by bis sister and an attendant from the hospital, Maynard lay under Walters' roof, bandaged, blinded and suffering torment from the burns on his bauds and bead, yet thinking le*s of this than of the fact that bis enforced confinement came at a time when every faculty be possessed should have been brought to bear, for Maynard believed he had found the clew to the burglary and a means of sweeping away the cloud that hung over the name of Nathalie Baird, and be begged tbe doctor and Warner to let bim have a few words with Mr. Cook as Boon as possible.At this recital Nathalie smiled not at all. She listened with trembling hands and averted face. Then tbe news bad got to town, said Mrs. Ray after tbe faithful cook bad been led away for a mouthful of breakfast in tbe kitchen. Why, surely, yes I Mrs. Ray forgot the telegraph oillce at tbe post and tbe fact that tbe glare of tbe tire could have been seen from Cheyenne and that tbe hose and truck companies from tbe great quartermaster's depot at Camp Carlin, half way to the town, bad started with their heavy apparatus, only to see the flames die away before they bad made tbe first half mile over tbe gale swept prairie. torture tbat is supposed to compel the suspected malefactor to unwittingly betray the secrets of the gang to which he may be attached, and Bridget had broken down under the pressure. "Ob, I forgot," she exclaimed, "but uow that I ant here I might just as well ask you if you've heard the news." And even in her haste and perturbation Mrs. Tnrner showed the soul of the diplomatist. Had she simply burst out with the announcement Mrs. Gregg could then have crushiugly asked, as she had on a former occasion, "And did you consider that an acceptable excuse for this intrusion?" Now wifely anxiety and womanly curiosity overmastered pride and resentment. She had to gasp, "No; what?" for her husband and the regiment were her first thoughts, and so having spoken the veil was lifted, the ice was .broken. She heard the announcement of Maynard's arrest and the presence of "such strange looking men, sheriff's officers probably," without muoh emotion. She had meant to cut Mrs. Turner dead and never speak to ' ber again, but now she was trapped. At i least it opened the door for her to pitch into her neighbor and give ber the I piece of her mind for which her soul bad been longing for days, but Mrs. Turuer sniffed tin* coming battle and was up and away triumphant. As a result of her revelation Cook bad rashed for Kansas and was beard of oo more for several days, and meantime there wasn't a woman at Russell wbo did not rejoice in the fact that she at least bad never for an instant believed that Miss Baird had anything to do with the persons guilty of the burglary. Some of the ladies repeatedly said as much, notably Mrs. Turner and Mrs Raymond. Walters had also bad to call, poor fellow, and tell Mrs. Barry and Miss Baird bow unhappy be was over having ever believed that story of the latter'8 knowledge of the burglary, but in justice to himself he must say that not only did the sheriff admonish bim that such was bis duty, but there were even two ladies at the post wbo similarly advised him. Neither Mrs. Barry nor Miss Baird would ask the question, but Major Barry did, and demanded an answer, and then Walters named Mrs. Turner and Miss Maynard, both of whom, as it subsequently transpired, bad been actuated only by tbe purest and best of motives and with no thought of malice. All they said was that they feared she was being terrorized by some scoundrel who bad a bold on ber, and all they hoped was to relieve her from such a horror. Of course if she had dreamed the captain would ever quote ber or take such steps as he had done, nothing, said Mrs. Turner, jould ever have induced her to open her lips. Mrs. Stannard bad hastily entered without either knocking or ringing, as bad become her custom of late, and at sight of Mrs. Turner had as suddenly retired, closing the door behind her and hastening back along tbe piazza. Only a half second's glance bad Mrs. Tnrner of her face, but she could swear that Mrs. Stannard bad been crying. This was Maynard's part of it. He ■at up late that Mastering night writing long letters to his father, explaining his conduct in refusing to betray Nathalie Baird, telling him of his deep love for her, his faith in her innocence, and all that had come of it He hoped for his father's approval of his conduct, despite the stigma of arrest, and he begged him not to be prejudiced against the girl whom be so devotedly loved by anything Grace might say. All that oould be explained. He wrote to Atherton and to his captain, and by that time it was 1 o'clock, and'lie felt weary and hungry. He had eaten tiardly a mouthful since bis arrest and was suffering the consequenoe. He had of late availed himself of Mrs. Stanuard's repeateo invitation .to help himself and had gone down to get a glass of milk or a crust of bread, and so, taking his candle, he softly descended the stairs, hiB slipper ed feet making no noise, let himself oat into the drafty kitchen and attacked the refrigerator, setting his candle meantime well back npon the kitchen table. Mr. Cook protested that his purpose was not to search for anything but, traces of tbe burglars, yet be glanced more than once at Mary and looked about as though in search of Bridget, who bad just stepped over to a neigh- C bor's a moment, so Mary told her mis-1 tress. Then he went back and again closely examined tbe rear window of tbe dining room, the one which the burglars bad so thoughtlessly left open on their departure. Tbe iron snap catch which held the lower sash down had been forced off and was found the uiornyig of the discovery of the robbery lying on the floor under tbe window. Mr. Cook bad raided tbe sash, studying it within and without, all the time whistNng softly and saying nothing, and his proceedings had affected Mary to the extent of having to declare to Mrs. Stannard at teatime she was that nervous she didn't know bow to stand. First to discover tbe fire was Mrs. Barry, aroused by dense and suffocating smoke, and a sound of snapping aud crackling in tbe kitchen. She called Mary, who sprang from ber couch, rushed to the kitchen door, and, with an awful shriek, recoiled before the instant rush of tbe flames into the dining room. Maynard, still writing in his room, heard, flew down tbe stairs, stumbled over her on tbe front piazza; then, bending low, broke through tbe dense smoke now pouring tbrongh the little ball, found Mrs. Barry feebly striving to reacb tbe doorway and bore her, half suffocated, into the open air; then, facing flame now as well as deadening smoke, bad dashed up tbe stairs aud burst into Nathalie's blazing room. Tbe girl bud managed to reacb tbe wardrobe and to throw about ber tbe very wrap she wore the morning she answered Maloney's impudent summons, and then had fallen helpless and half stifled, unable to open the door. Reckless of bimself, Maynard dragged the blanket from tbe bed, wrapped it about the slender and beloved form, lifted her like a child in his strong arms, aud, followed by the seething tongues of flame, singeing bis hair, eyebrows and mustache, and scorching the skin of his face and hands and neck and ears, had gone bounding down the row of blazing balusters and out into tbe open air before be fell, blinded, burned and almost suffocated, but triumphant. Tbe guard was there in two minutes, tbe bandsmen aud "doughboys" soon came rushing from their quarters. Women and children poured, shrieking, from the houses nearest, while others less alarmed hurried from those farther down the row. Warner was at the spot as quick as tbe guard, and under bis cool headed direction tbe rescued ladies were carried or led to Mrs. Kay's, and then they sent to tbe hospital for a stretcher for poor Maynard, writhing in terrible pain, while his sister, swaying to and fro from side to side, knelt with clapped bands, moaning and sobbing and imploring people to do something for bim, deaf to bis stern admonition of silence, and only ceasing when he sought to stagger to bis feet and leave ber. Then Mrs. Turner was suddenly reminded that she had not seen Grace Maynard for at least two hours, aud she lost no time in hastening in Mrs. Stannard 's footsteps. Miss Maynard herself opened tbe Stannards' door and let ber in, and Grace's face was tbe picture of woe and consternation. And then by 10 o'clock the ladies of the post began Hocking to tbe Rays' to inquire after Mrs. Barry, and of oourse Miss Baird could not be omitted then, and after the ilrst few clangs on the bell had made ber patient start through nervousness Mrs. Ray had posted a bulletin on the door: "Please do not ring. Mrs. Barry and Miss Baird are doing very well and trying to sleep. But there was a part of the long, long letter Mrs. Barry did read. lice and was believed to be put of tbe Fort Russell plunder, and from there be telegraphed that the first thing shown him was Mrs. Freeman's watch, injured. Mrs. Gregg's was fonnd at another pawnshop, but the rings, pins and other costly gimcraoks were still misaing. Dungan's place in town had been ransacked, but to no purpose. The silver had probably been broken up before this. Mr. Cook had come to talk with her major about the business. Cook believed those two close mouthed parties whom he had arrested were members of some gang of professionals who bad been compelled to leave their favorite fields of operation in the distant east and were merely keeping their hand in here on the far frontier. Their only hold on Bridget was through her putative cousin, Mike, a bad character at best, though not a "cracksman." Her letters from good families in St. Louis, which she had so confidently exhibited to Mrs. Barry in response to the advertisement for a cook, proved to be forgeries, but also pointed to the probability of her being familiar with names, localities, etc., in that city. So that waa where the police were now working. Meanwhile Bridget, Mike and the silent pair brought back from the borderland of Missouri were languishing behind the bars. Further proof waa needed. "Something dreadful has happened, 1 feel sure of it," said Mrs. Turner the moment sbe caught sight of her friend. "Ob, what is it?" it was no time to think of recent differences. "My brother has been arrested," said Miss Maynard in solemn tones, and knowing no distinction between that method of expression aud tbe conventional form in use in tbe army. Tbe little doctor was striving to get Maynard into a doze, but with no result Anodynes seemed to have no effect. He insisted upon seeing Cook immediately, or Warner at least, and at last they were sent for, came, Miss Maynard retired below stairs with jealous pangs gnawing at her heart, and there was a five minute conference, from which Warner issued all of a sudden, with visible excitement in bis face. Cook following, imperturbable as usual, and both went directly back to tbe ruins, and there, re-enforced by two oily tongued associates from kitchens down the row, was Bridget vainly pleading with the sentry for permission to drag out what was left of one of ber trunks, and she seemed desperately in earnest; so much so that not until Cook and Warner were actually at tbe spot did she discover their coming. Then she suddenly ceased and would have dropped away, but Cook most politely bads her remain. "I can't stop. I've got an engagement it Mrs. Bay's, but I was so excited by , what bad happened that I just had to drop in the first house 1 came to." Then away she went, and Mrs. Gregg had not so much as a chance for a crushing word. Verily Mrs. Turuer was a tactician.It was not long, of course, before the garrison had the news. The band came ' out to play; so did the children, while tbeir mothers gathered on tbe front piazzas and engaged in earnest talk, i even while keeping an eye out for Warner and the stranger from Denver. They had remained at tbe Barrys' nearly 20 minutes and had gone again next door, presumably up stairs to Maynard's room. Then, leaving Mr. Cook there at Stannard's, Warner bad gone briskly 1 over to the office. When be was finally seen returning, many fair faces, some of tbem sad and sweet aud full of painful interest, others eager with curiosity, were turned toward him, and had be oeen many another fellow Warner might have bad bis bead turned by such display of interest. He understood and correctly estimated it all, however. It wasn't the first time, poor fellow, he bad bad to visit an offloer of the —th, and a regimental favorite, too, when in irrest, and now, though many of the number were women whom be could trust and to whom he would be glad to tell bow blameless be considered Mayaard, be feared that it would be difficult to discriminate where so many were evidently on tbe alert. Be darted Into Stannard's, therefore, and when he reappeared and walked gravely down tbe long line his civilian friend slowly pacing at his side and listening with evident enjoyment to tbe music of the band, the young adjutant raised his cap as he passed group after group, but made no stop whatever. At tbe old east pate a buggy was waiting, and into this 1 be assisted Mr. Cook, saw him started back to Cheyenne and then, to the scandal of many an expectant and impatient fair one, inarcbec' back across the open parade, entirely out of range, Rpoke a word to tbe baud leader to cover his otherwise uaccouutable deviation from the path of rectitude and officers' row, then dove into bis office aud disappeared. "Who—why—I can't understand. Yon don't mean he's suspected of tbe robbery? Who arrested him? Where is he—gone?" And with Bridget now gone and the pale growing and no one to talk to after 10 o'clock Mary bad become more and more nervous. Mrs. Stannard found her sitting in the kitchen a little later, looking white and miserable, and asked ber why she didn't go to bed, whereat the poor girl began to weep. Sbe could uot explain it, sbe said, but she felt all creepy and queer. She was afraid to stay alone. Sbe was sure something was going to happen, and Mrs. Barry, always kind and sympathetic, bade the girl make a bed for herself on tbe couch. She would be glad to bave her near ber this night anyway in oase she desired to communicate with Nathalie. His appetite soon satisfied, he was about to retire, when tbrcugh the thin board partition separating Mrs. Stannard's kitchen from Mrs. Barry's he beard the sound of a key rasping in a rusty lock, and suddenly there came a rush of wind through every crack and knothole. His candle was instantly extinguished, and some one seemed almost blown into that neighboring room. He heard Bridget's voioe, low and cautious, but objurgatory. He was groping for his candle, intending to retrace his steps, when a moment later that door was closed, the rush of the wind ceased and Bridget struck a light, tiptoed to her bedroom and almost instantly hastened back, reopened the door, called "Mike!" in cautious tone, admitted some masculine stranger and sai4; "What luck! She's sleeping wid the missus. We can load the things right in now, and I'll go back wid ye. Shure, they'll never dream I was here." "He hasn't gone. He's here in bis room," said Miss Maynard with breaking voioe. "It's Captain Walters who did it" "Ob," said Mrs. Turner, disappointed in spite of ber better nature. "Been placed under arrest, you mean. Ob, that's so different, but what for—why?" And the eagerness in tbe fair lady's face and tone was unmistakable. As for Miss Maynard, she was in a itate bordering on nervous prostration, yet she would allow no one else to take ber place at Ronald's side. She, and §he alone, should nurse and care for bim, and there were indeed several days in which his sufferings were such he was allowed to see no visitor. Then he began to mend, and Barry had oome and bent over him with a world of gratitude and affection in his speaking ayes, and Barry said that he expected to get away within the week, but that his wife declared that she would not go until she and Nathalie could see and thank bim in person, and Grace Maynard had to listen to it all. "He will not tell," answered Miss Maynard, "and that is why I'm certain it is—on that girl's account. She has led bim from one trouble into another. Do come in awhile. I'm so—so miserable I don't know what to do, and Ronald acts like a crazy man. He doesn't want even me in bis room." It must bave beeu after 11 o'clock when Mrs. Barry succeeded in sending Nathalie to her room. By that time she was comfortably stowed away for tbe night in her own white bed. She bad Mary close at band and needed no further attention. Mrs. Stannard had been stationed at Russell long before and was well accustomed to tbe violence of the Wyoming gales and to the rocking and creaking of tbe old wooden quarters, but it seemed to her as though tbe spite aud fury of the wind had quickened at tbe sound of tbe 10 o'clock bugle, and before leaving ber friend for the night sbe took a look into tbe kitchen to see that all was safe and snug. "It's all right that this lady should be allowed to touch ber own property, Mr. Warner," said be. "What 1 asked of the sentry was that no one elsu should disturb her things. Pray don't attempt to pull tbat box out yourself, Mrs.—1 mean Miss O'Meara. You'll ruin your hue gloves. Let some of thn men, or let me. I'm used to rough work —even to dirty work sometimes." But Mrs. Turner's ministrations were all too brief and unoomforting. They consisted in a sharp and rapid fire of cross questions which evoked noue of the looked for information as to cause, or even a- to tbe allegations, and Mrs. Turner lost ber accustomed equipoise in flndiug sbe was losing time. Nothing more sensational bad occurred at Russell for nearly two years, and tbe bliss of being the first to break tbe news to balf a dozen households might be lost to ber entirely if sbe did not act at once. She longed for Mrs. Stannard's reappearance, but her room door remained obstinately closed. It wan barely 8 when tbat official drove into the garrison and joined Mr. Warner. It was not half an bonr later when another buggy arrived and deposited Miss O'Meara and ber big bag at the back rC*te opening on Mrs. Gregg's quartern, into the kitchen of which she instantly disappeared. The buggy almost us quickly began to turn about, but stentorian shunts from up the row assailed the driver's ears, and be reined in his horse and Waited. The sbonters were Warner and Mr. Cook, who issued from tbe rear gate opening on the still smoking ruins and came running down to the much surprised occupant of tbe "rig." Cook's face took on a shade of disappointment at sight of him. But nothing yet bad been seen or beard of Boston. If they could find him, Mr. Cook said, they stood a big cbanoe of learning who the others were. They were doubtless wanted in mora places than one, and a goodly reward might possibly be paid. Mrs. Barry did not show this part of the letter to Nathalie, nor did she read it The girl shrank at any mention of the fellow, and yet bad assured ber friend that she had no idea whatever whither he had fled or where he was now in hiding, and that was enough for Mrs. Barry. But two days later the Barrya drove to tbe stationr all tbe officers and more than half tbe women accompanying them to the train and seeing them off with every manifestation of affection. The doctors had said tbat it was necessary for Mrs. Barry's health tbat she should be taken away from Russell as soon as possible. It was interesting to watch tbe different women in their qoodby to Miss Baird, without whom Mrs. Barry went nowhere now. Mrs. Freeman clung to ber, kissed her on txrth cheeks, almost cried over ber. 80 iid Mrs. Ray. Mrs. Truscott, too, was demonstrative. Mrs. Stannard was tbe last to leave ber, and the eyes of both were brimming as at last she bad to hurry from the car. All tbe other women, young and old, were gentle and sympathetic in manner to ber. Miss Maynard, of oourse, was still at ber brother's bedside. Mrs. Turner, who rarely missed an occasion of tbe kind, bad a splitting headache this day of days, and therefore was unable to come at all. It was tbe Barrys' plan to go to tbe south for complete obange and rest, botb for Mrs. Barry and Nathalie, and then to spend July aud August at tbe seashore. The insurance adjusters had come and gone, tbe fire losses were being settled. Fort Russell bad found out to its entire satisfaction tbat the burglaries were fixed on a gang of which Miss Baird could have bad no knowledge whatever despite the aocepted fact tbat she had some suspicious acquaintance. One reason, indeed, tbat tbe Barrys hurried was her oontinued ill health. When Dr. Pease beard all that Mrs. Barry had to tell him on bis return and bad felt Nathalie's pulse and looked into ber sad eyes, he bummed aud bawed and blinked and made some inquiries of Mrs.' Stannard, and finally told botb Major and Mrs. Barry that they could not too soon get tbe girl away from Russell. She was simply dying by inches there and needed immediate change Most affeotionate and grateful was the letter Mrs. Barry penned to tbe young officer, still lying half blind ujd more than half bandaged up at the colonel's. And then it all flashed over him—the disappearance of Bridget the day of bis visit to the Barrys', the swinging portiere, the apparent determination of the domestic in question to avoid his sight, the probable attempt on her part to lurk in biding in Barry's den and listen to his plan or suspicions, if any plan be bad, and now ber coming in after 1 at night with a strange man and talking of loading the things right in and going back with him and no one dreaming of her being there. His heart hammered violently. Three hours before he had cudgeled his brains in vain for a clew to the robbery, and here it came all at once, unlooked for, unbidden. He laid firm bold of tbe strap handle nearest him, but carefully inspected tbe remains of tbe trunk to assure himself tbat tbe bottom and tbe iron bands were sound. Bat when be pulled, though ever so gently, the sides seemed ready to come away. The Are bud been carefully banked over with ashes iu tbe big cooking stove. Tbe bracket lamp was extinguished, bat tbe door leading into the girls' room swung uneasily on its binges and banged against its frame, driven by tbe draft that wonld leak in through invisible chink or cranny. Setting ber own band lamp on tbe table, she firmly closed the door to prevent its further slamming, and then, leaving tbe kitchen in total darkness, except for a dull red glimmer through a crack in the stove, she returned to the front of tbe house, bade ber friend au affectionate good nigbt and, buffeted by tbe storm, scurried along tbe front piazza and let herself in at ber own door. A light was burning on tbe landing above, and Miss Maynard bad evidently gone aloft, for tbe parlor lamps were turned low. Yes, her voice was audible. She was in her brother's room. Carefully, as she had done next door, Mrs. Stan nard inspected ber own kitchen and, finding everything safe there, called aloft to know if Mr. or Miss Maynard needed anything and then bade tbum a cheery goodnight. Over bim presently bent Walters, shocked and sore distressed. To bim soon came tbo little doctor, aud through a lane of weeping women and children they bore him to tbe captain's quarters down tbe row—Walters would admit of nothing less—and there with soft cotton and sweet oil and soothing lotions, with tender hands and words of boundless praise and sympathy, they did tbC ir utmost to comfort and to sootba When tbe fire, swept by the gale away from tbe rest of the row, bad burned itself out and Walters could hasten to the bedside of the brave young fe.llow, he almost sobbed alond when be strove to answer Maynard's half apologetic "Broke my arrest, sir, but couldn't help it." "It's no use, MissO'Meara," be said. "What you should bave done was to take all your valuables when you drove out last night. You had plenty of room in tbe buggy for tbe trays of botb trunks In your lapa, and you only took tbe one. It's too bad." But there was a part of the long, long letter Mrs. Barry did read, and her gentle eyes more than once glanced up from the page and sought the flushing face beside ber: When it became apparent that Misa Maynard really knew nothing about tbe matter and that it was useless to question further, the energetic and new thoroughly aroused lady decided that ■he must go, and go at once. So, despite ber cherished friend's remonstrances, she bade her adieu, declaring she bad faithfully promised to be at Mrs. Ray'a SO minutes ago, and so hastened to tbe door, only to be there confronted by a aight that gave her pause. Mr. Warner, the acting adjutant, accompanied by a stout party in gray business suit, bad just entered the gate and met her face to face. "Ob, it's yon, is it, Jimmy?" be said in almost aggrieved tone, for be recognized in the man an employee at tbe very stable at which be hired his own "outfit." "What brings you here so early?" At first be thought stolen property was meant when she spoke of loading up the things, but then he remembered how thorough a search was made in that room, and it seemed improbable. He peered through a knothole and got a glimpse of the stranger's faoe, but it was one be had never seen before. She lugged the tray of a trunk to the kitchen table and loaded it with finery. She gave ber friend a comforting dram from the bottle in the closet and did not disdain a sip on ber own account. "Mr. MavnaTd improves rapidly now and picks up every day. The doctors say his eyesight will be restored all right and that he will soon be quits well again, but he was badly and painfully burned for all that and has suffered as keenly as be has uncomplainingly. Miss Maynard is still on guard over him, and some people are inconsiderate enough to say that they think that the way she watches every word and motion of bis callers and strives to forestall bis replies is getting decidedly tiresome. Tbey wish they didn't have to see Mr. Maynard through his sister. Colonel Atberton has been called to department headquarters for consultation and will doubtless go tbence to Chicago to join Mrs. Atberton, so you will probably see him before you go south. Major Stannard is in command meanwhile, and as we are now under the same roof we see more of the Maynards than anybody else, and Luoe (ber major) says be believes Maynard would be all right in a few days if 'that old maid sister of his would only clear out and go home,' but Luce always has something hateful to say of old maids. The woman stood staring at him with dilated eyes. Her face turned siokly gray. The two with her gazed first at ber, then in stupefaction at tbe detective."Orders," said Jimmy briefly, he being a discharged soldier. "Boss told me to bitch up Billy aud drive tbat lady out to tbe fort, She said tbere'd been a fire and sbe was afraid ber property was destroyed." "Wbatdoes tbe man mane?" asked one of them, suddenly finding voioe. "Sure you towld us you'd never oome back last night, Bridget" It was Mrs. Gregg's Kate who spoke, tbe widow of an old trooper who bad served and died in tbe regiment and left her as a legacy to bis oaptain's family. "Sure, Mr. Warner, tbe gentleman's joking?" Meantime, though suffering shock and partial suffocation, Mrs. Barry and Miss Baird were pronounced uninjured and were being devotedly attended at Mrs. Ray's. Mary, the housemaid, was still in a semihysterical state and required more waiting on than all the "Well, how'd she know? The paper lDas no mention of it." Warner politely raised bis cap snd smilingly asked if they could see Mrs. Stannard a moment. Mrs. Turner didn't know, but would inquire. So she re- "Well, I never knew," said Mrs. Turner, "that Mr. Warner could be bo mean." "1 dunuo. First I heard of it was what she told." She rejoiced that tbey could go back together and finish the frolic of the night, a's she said, jost as Cook later oonfounded her by quoting: "If I'd known this, it's the two horse rig we'd have fetobed wid us, Mike. It's them that drew the best load that was ever rolled away from tbis post." Sbe was for loading up another tray. She excitedly argued witb Mike on the subject. The young lieutenant suspioioned somebody, she said. She'd heard him say so, and it wasn't Boston, bad scran to him, much as she wished they could make it so appear. She wished to get her valu- It bad been blowing fitfully during the early afternoon, but by 5 o'clock the wind was strong from the northwest, and instead of the customary lull at rundown there came a steady gale. Women gathered their children to roost at an earlier hour than usual, and there was no frolicsome band chasing and shouting about tbe parade in the long spring twilight. There was less visiting to and fro, and only near neighbors dropped in to chat about the latest phase in the garrison sensation and to wish it wouldn't blow so bard at Russell. Many would have liked to spend au hour at Mrs. Barry's, but were deterred from attempting it because it was'early given out that she was much fatigued aud depressed by tbe events of the last few days. Mrs. Stannard was with ber, aud Marion Ray aud Mrs. Freeman for a time had been admitted. Uthers called with polite inquiries for both the ladies, and Mary, the housemaid, bad ber answer pat. Mrs. Barry was not very well and begged to be excused, aud Miss Baird was lying dowu. It was Bridget's evening out, for even in the far frontier did our domestic tyrants bold their employers to the weekly allowance of social freedom. It had lieen that cheery and good natured goddess' practice to drive to town in a carryall, owned by the old retired soldier bitberto mentioned, who ran a sort of bus line for tbe benefit avowedly of tbe men on pass aud the domestics on pleasure bent, btft quite as much for that of bis own plethoric old pocketbook. He was forbidden the road within tbe post because of certain contraband traffic in bis past. But all that was necessary to secure his services was, as beaunounced, for tbe ladies aud gentlemen of tbe post to leave their order at tbe band quarters, and sharp at 7 be would begin the rounds of tbe back gates and with a crowded vehicle go spinning away to town. "Well, why didn't you drive on up to wbere the fire was then?" "She told me where to stop; said she wanted to see some friends first thing. She settled with the boss for tbe rig, so 1 had nothing to say. Boss said to get back quick as 1 could. What was tbe fire?" "Ask Miss O'Meara," said Mr. Cook blandly. "Joking?" she stammered. "It's lying —foul mouthed lying! Sure I never came uear the post till this blessed day." "Tbe gale blew away your memory with some of your hair, MissO'Meara," said Cook blandly as ever, producing "Don't mind tbe wind. It is swinging round now and blowing from the northeast—a most unusual thing—and I can't help thinking it will stop before morning." "Ob, a couple of bouses—upper end of the row! But you just bold ou where yoa are or drive down and bitch at the stoie. I'll be responsible to the proprietor. 1 may wuut your buggy—and, Jimmy, no talk." In so saving Mr. Cook was impressive. Then he turned to Warner, w bo bad stood a silent listener. "Where'd sbe go to?" But she fancied from Miss Maynard's somewhat choky tone that she bad been crying, and, thinking over this and other matters, it was quite awhile before Mrs. Stannard got fairly asleep. "She is always down stairs when the orderly comes with the letters. She always reads over the address of those for ber brother, and only through her do his letters reach him. Luce snorts angrily and 'says things' more than I like to tell you. He thinks she wouldLevea assume control of her  spondence, and that she doesn't at all like it now that he is permitted to read his own letters. This morning Mr. Maynard said to me, 'The doctor tells Dne that tomorrow I may use my hand a little, and the first thing I do will be to write Mrs. Barry to thank her and Miss Baird for the lovely letters they wrote me,' whereupon Miss Maynard instantly spoke up, 'Why, Ronald, I'd be only too glad to write for you any time,' but be as promptly said these were matters that he preferred not to delegate, and I could easily see that she was much nettled. So you will be getting letters in a day or two." Midnight had long gone by. Old Fritz and his ghostly team and carryall bad returned aud been safely boused, and still one light, and only one, seemed to burn brightly along officers' row. It sboue through the shade of the dormer window of the front room iu the Stannard*' half of the big double house as- "Into Mrs. Gregg's, I fancy. This is Gregg's bouse in here. She'll want to see Mra Barry. 1 suppose, first thing." But to this remark Mr. Cook merely replied by tbe double question, "Who's her friend in here and what time does tbat big stage go in?" He referred to un old red stagecoach tbat bad somehow become tbe property of the United States "for which tho quartermaster at Fort Russell was accountable," aud which, behiud a spanking four horse team, was driven in those days to town every morning with tbe mail and market baskets and orders of the various households of tbe garrison. In addition it carried such enlisted men or domestics as might have permission to go to town in the morning. Most grateful and timid and sliy was tbe little note penned by Nathalie to the same recumbent warrior. She would always pray for bis happiness and never forget the heroism to which she owed ber life, but it took her hours to get that letter into semisatisfactory shape, and who knows how last and hard the tears fell as she wrote? They were intrusted—both the notes—to Mrs. Stanuard's oare, that she herself, said Mrs. Barry, might read them to him, and not Miss Maynard, for against that Spartan sister Mrs. Barry's heart was set. The proposed visit to Ronald's bedside had to be abandoned. Mrs. Barry could not well be carried up the stairs for a formal call, and Nathalie could not well go without her. "But remember," Mrs. Barry had written, "we shall be at Sea Girt for July uud August, shall have our own cottage there, and you are to have two months' leave, and you're to spend every possible week of it with us." Da*)icd up the ntdlrs and burnt Into Nath- findyet vainly pleading with the ten try. horn a coat pocket a coil of auburn tress that oddly resembled those which tossed about her brow. "Let me refresh it by aalling to mind a portion of your conversation with Michael after you found Mary wasn't in your room and yon shrewdly guessed that she was sleeping on the couch in Mrs. Barry's. Therefore there was no reason why he shouldn't come and carry these things out for you. Ob, it was excellently planned, Bridget) If you had found Mary there, you could tiiill have lifted the tray out and put it in the kitchen. She was bo sound a sleeper she would be sure to doze right i ff again as soon as she saw you were safely home. Then Michael could have come and carried it out and you could have orept into your bed, but as she wasn't there there was nothing to prevent your going bark to Mike's and have a tine time with your friends the rest of the night. That's why y;iu went out and had him come into the kitchen and gave him that refreshing swig from tbe bottle in the pantry. Even that didn't involve you, Bridget. But you shouldn't have trusted to the gale to drown everything you said. The greatest mistake you made, Bridget, was in saying to Mike: 'If I'd known this, it's the two horse rig we'd 'a' fetched with us, Mike. It's them that drove the best load that ever rolled away from this Mis* Maynard ticr»clf opened the Stan- nurd*' door to let her in. turned and asked Miss Maynard, and Miss Maynard went into the dining room and tapped at Mrs. Stannard's door. No answer. She peeped in. No one was there. An appeal to the servant resulted in the information that Mrs. Stannard had stepped oat through the kitchen and gone around to Mrs. Barry's, thereby, as was at once apparent, dodging Mrs. Turner and her inevitable questionings, and a flush that extended beyond the customary limits was on that injured lady's faoe as she communicated to Mr. Warner the information that they would probably find Mrs. Stannard at Mrs. Barry's, next door. Should she go and call her? Warner said no, thanks, they bad also to see Mr. Maynard, and they would go right np to his room. And go they did, leaving her and Miss Maynard gazing after them up the narrow stairway and listening f°r the colloquy that would follow tlio knock at the young officer's door. They heard him say almost heartily: "Ob, come right in, Warner! I'm so glad you're here," and then, with certain coldness and hesitation: "Why, certainly, if yon say so! - Come in, Mr. Cook." Then the door closed, and the sound of voices became an inaudible murmur. alle'tt blazing room. other fire sufferers combined. Mrs. Staunard and Miss Maynard, aroused by her shrieks and Maynard's dash down stairs, had instantly donned their wrappers aud slippers and made their way to the open air, where, forgetful of everything else, they bad devoted themselves to their next door neighbors. Mrs. Stannard's servants, sleeping in the annex beyond the point where the flames started iu the Barrys' quarters, bad escaped without trouble, saving most of their belongings. Mary, but for her utter collapse, might have done as well, for the smoke and flame blew through the house aud away from the rear of the annex, but, as it was, every stitch she owned other than what she had on went up in smoke, and, what was presumably of much greater consequence, Bridget's finery was reduced to ashes, and, as a sympathizing sister cook remarked, "She was not even there to see." "Don't know who her friend is—the cook probably. As for the stage, that gets away about 10 or half past 10," said Warner. "Why?" 'Sathalle, that woman ha* told another lie," exclaimed Mm. Barry. .bles under Mike's roof before anything vas discovered, in case she bad to Bkip. 3nt Mike said they bad all they could itossibly carry in tbat gale; to come tlong now and he'd take the next load vvben be brought her back in the mornng. And bo Mike lighted his cigar and nurled away the match, and the precious pair went forth into the night, leaving Maynard to plan what should be their reception on their return. The entire visit occupied not more than 10 or 15 minutes. By a quarter past 1 Mayuard was back in his room, trembling a bit with excitement and joy, and, reseating himself at his desk, he was making a memorandum of Bridget's words and the stranger's appearanc when startled by Mary's awful cry on the lower floor of the bouse adjoining. And they did. Mrs. Barry's wa« a short, painfully written three pag* missive, but it delighted her greatly. "Well, 1 want to know if Miss O'Meara attempts to go with it." And Mr. Cook spoke as though the name of the lady was sweet to his tongue. "Now, let's go back to tbe shed." Continued on nkfe two. The shed referred to was the rear portion of the annex, which, thanks partially to the offorts of the soldiers in one direction, but mainly to those of the wind in another, still stood, charred, blackened, but only partially consumed. The Are seemed to have broken out in tbe kitchen, possibly about the stova Tbe interior of this tindet; %ix was a mass of tlame when Mary opened tbe dining room door, and a way for the flames to flush in and lay hold of everything inflammable there. Already they seemed to have eaten their way through the roof to the eaves of the main building and had attacked tbe projecting "dormer" of Nathalie's room. Then, driven by the fury of the gale, they had poured through the house, destroying all before them, but leaving tbis melancholy wreck behind. Only the inner end of it, that which adjoined the kitchen, had been burned, but against that partition hung the wardrobes of the two domestics. Under the gowns and garments stood their boxes—Mary's ft modest, old fashioned little trunk. Bridget's a brace NAT'o£f^gl Hr of the Globe lor f rheumatism! A ITETTSAIAIA and similar Complaints, I and prepared under the (trlngent GERMAN MEDICAL LAWS.^I prescribed by eminr tpby aiciaaai^W Co) DR. RICHTER'S Cgi ANCHOR  fPAIN EXPELLERl ■ World renowned I Remarkably successful I ■ ■Only genuine with Trade Mark" Anchor, "■ |F. Ad. BlektorAvft., 215 Pearl St., Hew Iork ■ I 31 HIGNEST AWARDS. 1 13 Btaaoh Eonses. Own Glaaswork*. ■ A attain i&odoried A recommended by G.C. GUck, 60N. Ma'n 8*.; J H- Houok, 4 N. Main St.: c«rrer Luz. |^*ANOHOR^^TOaiArHAr^^^f^J Xathalle uas kncrtlnu by Mr*. Harry'* couch Mrs. Barry bad imagined that Bridget would forego her visit on account of the gale, bnt Mrs. Barry was mistaken. In gala attire her valued cook appeared to ask, as she always did, could she do anything for Mrs. Barry in town, and that lady thauked her, said no, but expressed home anxiety as to Bridget's go ing. signed to the two majors, the room now occupied by Mr. Maynard. The sentry on No. 1 noted it as he called off at half past 12. The corporal of the guard noted it as he made bis lonely round, for since the robbery old Walters had his guard patrol the post. Not until well on their way to Chicago—the first objective point, because both ladies had to renew their wardrobes—was Mrs. Barry informed that there might be difficulty as to that part of the plan. She was holding Nathalie's hand and saving how lovely it would be to have tbeir bruve, big boy there to be nursed and petted until all trace of his burns was swept away, and Nathalie falteringly said: And then when the fire was all over and had fairly burned itself out aud the pale dawu came creeping into the eastern sky Walters, Warner and the doctor were still poking about the ruins, wondering how on earth the thing could have started. There was not a suggestion of a clew. All was safe aud snug when Mrs. Stannard visited the kitchen; all was dark and quiet, but for the wind, when the corporal made his rounds; all was dark and quiet, said old Fritz, when he drove by the back gate toward midnight. No, Miss O'Meara—which was garrison for Bridget—had not returned with him. "Mrs. Atherton's ladies," however, had done But that light and those at the guardhouse were all the corporal could see until just about half past 1, when a woman's awful scream was borne upon the gale and a sudden glare hurst from the rear of the Barrys' quarters. A sheet of flame leaped from the annex and tore under the eaves aud lapped aud lashed about the dormer window at the north, the snapping aud crackling of glass and shingles instantly responding. Bang went the sentry's piece as he yelled the alarm of fire. Hush went the corporal across the parade, reaching the roadway in time to meet Lieutenant Mavaard at*uaurUin out thraurli blind Maynard's discoveries had been sup piemen ted by those of Cook. The bur glars had been admitted into the bouse doubtless by Bridget and by way of tbD kitchen. The window was left open and the latch had been snapped off to give the other impression, but Cook's keen eyes had detected the fraud. No chisel, no implement, had been inserted from without, for the cotton stuffing showed no signs of it whatever, as it infallibly would have done bad the window been forced. "Ob, we'lLget there all right, mum!" laid she briskly. "The wind's with us avery inch of the way. But would Mrs. Barry mind very much if I staid with frieuds in town and came out tomorrow if it blows harder? It's the coming back that'll try the old man's horses." "But there is somebody else who is awaiting his ooming and expecting to do all this." Whereat Mrs. Barry turned with prompt, even indignant, denial in ber eyes and said: But Mrs. Turner forgot that engagement with Mrs. Bay for full ten minutes more, and then the visitors came clattering down, and Warner bowed most courteously to the lady as he passed the parlor door and asked Mrs. Turner if aba would bo ao very kind aa to post.' " "Well, how can you get ont in the morning?" was the question. "The stage doesn't come until nearly noon." But there was no need to say more. Bridget O'Meara, with horror in her eyes, was staring into his face, gasping, clutching at her throat, and then blindly reaching for support. So stupefied were ber friends that she might have fallen to* lack of aid, bat Cook and "He never told you so." "No, but his sister did. It—it is quite an old affair." " What did his sister tell you? Who "Ob, I'll get my— I have friends who can bring me oat, ma'am," was Bridget's confident answer. So the is it?" "That he was in love with—engaged to a Miss Gertrude Bonner at Bridge* had unquestionably brought