ou, by God, as he used _her_, and, like the Indian she
is, she'd turn and stab you now, if you stood in her way or his. Why,
Field, that brute's her lover, and she's his--"

"It's a lie! You shall not say it, sir!" cried Field, beside himself
with wrath and amaze, as he stood quivering from head to foot, still
weak from wounds, fever and distress of mind. But Ray sprang to his
side. "Hush, Blake! Hush, Field! Don't speak. What is it, Hogan?" And
sharply he turned him to the door, never dreaming what had caused the
interruption.

"The general, sir, to see the captain!"

And there, in the hallway, throwing off his heavy overcoat and
"arctics," there, with that ever faithful aide in close attendance, was
the chief they loved; dropped in, all unsuspecting, just to say
good-bye. "I knocked twice," began Hogan, but Ray brushed him aside,
for, catching sight of the captain's face, the general was already at
the door. Another moment and he had discovered Field, and with both
hands extended, all kindliness and sympathy, he stepped at once across
the room to greet him.

"I was so very sorry to hear the news," said he. "I knew your father
well in the old days. How's your wound? What brought you back so soon?"

And then there was one instant of awkward silence and then--Ray spoke.

"That was my doing, general. I believed it best that he should be here
to meet you and--every allegation at his expense. Mr. Field, I feel
sure, does not begin to know them yet, especially as to the money."

"It was all recovered," said the general. "It was found almost
intact--so was much of that that they took from Hay. Even if it hadn't
been, Hay assumed all responsibility for the loss."

With new bewilderment in his face, the young officer, still white and
trembling, was gazing, half stupefied, from one to the other.

"What money?" he demanded. "I never heard--"

"Wait," said the general, with significant glance at Ray, who was about
to speak. "I am to see them--Mrs. Hay and her niece--at nine o'clock. It
is near that now. Webb cannot be with us, but I shall want you, Blake.
Say nothing until then. Sit down, Mr. Field, and tell me about that leg.
Can you walk from here to Hay's, I wonder?"

Then the ladies, Mrs. Ray and her charming next door neighbor, appeared,
and the general adjourned the conference forthwith, and went with them
to the parlor.

"Say nothing more," Ray found time to whisper. "You'll understand it all
in twenty minutes