A DEEPENING MYSTERY
Startled and bewildered as Hamlin was by this sudden revealment, he at
once comprehended the embarrassment of his own position. He could not
confess all he knew, certainly not the fact that the girl had met him
secretly and had vanished while he was endeavoring to turn aside Mrs.
Dupont. He must protect her at all hazards. To gain time, and
self-control, he replied with a question:
"Did not Connors drive them down, sir?"
"Yes, the four of them."
"And Major McDonald knew then that he was ordered East?"
"No, the order came by telegram later. An orderly was sent down about
ten o'clock. But, see here, Sergeant, I am no Bureau of Information.
If you have anything to report, make it brief."
Hamlin glanced at the face of the other. He knew little about him,
except that he had the reputation of being a capable officer.
"I will, sir," he responded quickly; "you may never have heard of the
affair, but I was with Miss McDonald during a little Indian trouble out
on the trail a few months ago."
The officer nodded.
"I heard about that; Gaskins brought her in."
"Well, ever since she has seemed grateful and friendly. You know how
some women are; well, she is that kind. To-night she came to me,
because she did n't seem to know whom else to go to, and told me of
some trouble she was having. I realize, Captain Kane, that it may seem
a bit strange to you that a young lady like Miss McDonald, an officer's
daughter, would turn for help to an enlisted man, but I am telling you
only the truth, sir. You see, she got it into her head somehow that I
was square, and--and, well, that I cared enough to help her."
"Wait a minute, Sergeant," broke in Kane, kindly, realizing the other's
embarrassment, and resting one hand on his sleeve. "You do not need to
apologize for Miss McDonald. I know something of what is going on at
this post, although, damn me if I 've ever got on to the straight
facts. You mean that Dupont woman?"
"Yes, she 's concerned in the matter, but there are others also."
"Why could n't the girl tell her father?"
"That is where the main trouble lies, Captain. Major McDonald seems to
be completely under the control of Mrs. Dupont. He is apparently
afraid of her for some reason. That is what Miss Molly spoke to me
about. We were on the side porch at the hotel talking while the
dancers were at supper--it was the only opportunity the girl had to get
away--and Mrs. Dupont and her husband came into the parlor--"
"Her husband? Good Lord, I thought her husband was dead."
"He is n't. He 's a tin-horn gambler, known in the saloons as 'Reb,' a
big duffer, wearing a black beard."
"All right, go on; I don't know him."
"Well, I stepped into the room to keep the two apart, leaving the girl
alone outside. We had a bit of talk before I got the room cleared, and
when I went back to the porch, Miss Molly had gone."
"Dropped over the railing to the ground."
"That's what I thought at the time, sir, but what happened to her after
that? She did n't return to the hotel; she was not at the dance hall,
and has n't come back to the post."
"The hell you say! Are you sure?"
"I am; I searched for her high and low before I left, and she could not
get in here without passing the guard-house."
Kane stared into the Sergeant's race a moment, and then out across the
parade ground. A yellow light winked in the Colonel's office,
occasionally blotted out by the passing figure of a sentry. The
officer came to a prompt decision.
"The 'old man' is over there yet, grubbing at some papers. Come on
over, and tell him what you have told me. I believe the lass will turn
up all right, but it does look rather queer."
The Colonel and the Post Adjutant were in the little office, busy over
a pile of papers. Both officers glanced up, resenting the
interruption, as Kane entered, Hamlin following. The former explained
the situation briefly, while the commandant leaned back in his chair,
his keen eyes studying the younger man.
"Very well, Captain Kane," he said shortly, as the officer's story
ended. "We shall have to examine into this, of course, but will
probably discover the whole affair a false alarm. There is, at
present, no necessity for alarming any others. Sergeant, kindly
explain to me why Miss McDonald should have come to you in her
distress?"
Hamlin stepped forward, and told the story again in detail, answering
the Colonel's questions frankly.
"This, then, was the only time you have met since your arrival?"
"Yes, sir."
"And this Mrs. Dupont? You have had a previous acquaintance with her?"
"Some years ago."
"You consider her a dangerous woman?"
"I know her to be utterly unscrupulous, sir. I am prepared to state
that she is here under false pretences, claiming to be a niece of Major
McDonald's. I do not know her real purpose, but am convinced it is an
evil one."
The Colonel shook his head doubtfully, glancing at the silent adjutant.
"That remains to be proven, Sergeant. I have, of course, met the lady,
and found her pleasant and agreeable as a companion. Deuced pretty
too; hey, Benson? Why do you say she masquerades as McDonald's niece?"
"Because her maiden name was Carson and the Major's sister married a
man named Counts."
"There might have been another marriage. Surely McDonald must know."
"Miss Molly says not, Colonel. He has known nothing of his sister for
over twenty years, and accepted this woman on her word."
"Well, well! Interesting situation; hey, Benson? Like to get to the
bottom myself. Damme if it don't sound like a novel. However, the
thing before us right now is to discover what has become of Miss
McDonald." He straightened up in his chair, then leaned across the
table. "Captain Kane, make a thorough examination of McDonald's
quarters first. If the girl is not found there, detail two men to
accompany Sergeant Hamlin on a search of the town."
"Very well, sir; come on, Sergeant."
"Just a moment--if we find the trail leads beyond the town are we
authorized to continue?"
"Certainly, yes. Adjutant, write out the order. Anything more?"
"I should prefer two men of my own troop, sir, mounted."
"Very well; see to it, Captain."
The two men walked down past the dark row of officers' houses, the
Sergeant a step to the rear on the narrow cinder path. McDonald's
quarters were as black as the others, and there was no response from
within when Kane rapped at the door. They tried the rear entrance with
the same result--the place was plainly unoccupied.
"Pick out your men, Hamlin," the Captain said sternly, "and I 'll call
the stable guard."
Ten minutes later, fully equipped for field service, the three troopers
circled the guard-house and rode rapidly down the dark road toward the
yellow lights of the town. The Sergeant explained briefly the cause of
the expedition, and the two troopers, experienced soldiers, asked no
unnecessary questions. Side by side the three men rode silently into
the town, and Hamlin swung down from his saddle at the door of the
dance hall. With a word to the guard he crossed the floor to intercept
Mrs. Dupont. The latter regarded his approach with astonishment, her
hand on Captain Barrett's blue sleeve.
"Certainly not," she replied rather sharply to his first question. "I
am not in charge of Miss McDonald. She is no doubt amusing herself
somewhere; possibly lying down over at the hotel; she complained of a
headache earlier in the evening. Why do you come to me?"
"Yes," broke in the Captain, "that is what I wish to know, Hamlin. By
what authority are you here?"
"The orders of the Colonel commanding, sir," respectfully, yet not
permitting his glance to leave the woman's face. "You insist then,
madam, that you know nothing of the girl's disappearance?"
"No!" defiantly, her cheeks red.
"Nor of what has become of Connors, or your ranch manager?"
She shrugged her shoulders, endeavoring to smile.
"The parties mentioned are of very small interest to me."
"And Major McDonald," he insisted, utterly ignoring the increasing
anger of the officer beside her. "Possibly you were aware of his
departure?"
"Yes," more deliberately; "he told me of his orders, and bade me
good-bye later. So far as Connors is concerned, he was to have the
carriage here for us at two o'clock. Is that all, Mr. Sergeant
Hamlin?"'
"You better make it all," threatened the Captain belligerently, "before
I lose my temper at this infernal impertinence."
Hamlin surveyed the two calmly, confident that the woman knew more than
she would tell, and utterly indifferent as to the other.
"Very well," he said quietly, "I will learn what I desire elsewhere. I
shall find Miss McDonald, and discover what has actually occurred."
"My best wishes, I am sure," and the lady patted the Captain's arm
gently. "We are losing this waltz."
There was but one course for Hamlin to pursue. He had no trail to
follow, only a vague suspicion that these plotters were in some way
concerned in the mysterious disappearance. Thus far, however, they had
left behind no clue to their participation. Moreover he was seriously
handicapped by ignorance of any motive. Why should they desire to gain
possession of the girl? It could not be money, or the hope of ransom.
What then? Was it some accident which had involved her in the toils
prepared for another? If so, were those unexpected orders for Major
McDonald a part of the conspiracy, or had their receipt complicated the
affair? The Sergeant was a soldier, not a detective, and could only
follow a straight road in his investigation. He must circle widely
until he found some trail to follow as patiently as an Indian. There
would be tracks left somewhere, if he could only discover them. If
this was a hasty occurrence, in any way an accident, something was sure
to be left uncovered, some slip reveal the method. He would trace the
movements of the father first, and then search the saloons and gambling
dens for the two men. Though unsuccessful with Mrs. Dupont, he knew
how to deal with such as they.
The stage agent was routed out of bed and came to the door, revolver in
hand, startled and angry.
"Who?" he repeated. "Major McDonald? How the hell should I know?
Some officer went out--yes; heavy set man with a mustache. I did n't
pay any attention to him; had government transportation. There were
two other passengers, both men, ranchers, I reckon; none in the station
at all. What's that, Jane?"
A woman's voice spoke from out the darkness behind.
"Was the soldier asking if Major McDonald went East on the coach, Sam?"
"Sure; what do you know about it?"
"Why, I was outside when they started," she explained, "and the man in
uniform was n't the Major. I know him by sight, for he 's been down
here a dozen times when I was at the desk. This fellow was about his
size, but dark and stoop-shouldered."
"And the others?" asked Hamlin eagerly.
"I did n't know either of them, only I noticed one had a black beard."
"A very large, burly fellow?"
"No, I don't think so. I did n't pay special attention to any of them,
only to wonder who the officer was, 'cause I never remembered seein'
him here before at Dodge, but, as I recollect, the fellow with a beard
was rather undersized; had a shaggy buffalo-skin cap on."
Plainly enough the man was not Dupont, and McDonald had not departed on
the stage, while some other, pretending to be he, possibly wearing his
clothes to further the deceit, had taken the seat reserved in the
coach. Baffled, bewildered by this unexpected discovery, the Sergeant
swung back into his saddle, not knowing which way to turn.