jectin' none to his chasin'
after Miss Molly; thet's why he 's let her stay in this God-forsaken
place so long. Well, 'Brick,' I reckon I 've told all the news, and
hed better move 'long."

"Hold on a minute, Sam," and Hamlin, suddenly recalled to earth,
reached for the haversack hanging on the iron bedpost. "Moylan, the
fellow who was killed in the coach with us, had this bag. According to
Miss McDonald, he bought it here just before starting on the trip. See
this inscription; those are the initials of an old acquaintance of mine
I 'd like to trace. Any idea where Moylan found it?"

Wasson held the bag to the light studying the letters.

"Fourth Texas--hey? That your regiment?"

The Sergeant nodded, his lips tightly pressed together.

"Must hev come from Dutch Charlie's outfit," the scout went on slowly.
"He picks up all that sorter truck."

"Where is that?"

"In town thar, under the bluff. We 'll look it up to-morrow."

CHAPTER XIV

UNDER ARREST

One by one the barrack lights went out as the tired troopers sought
their beds. Hamlin extinguished his also, and only one remained
burning, left for emergency near the door, which flung a faint glow
over the big room. But the Sergeant's reflections kept him awake, as
he sat on the foot of his bed, and stared out of the open window into
the darkness. There was little upon which to focus his eyes, a few
yellow gleams along officers' row, where callers still lingered, and
the glow of a fire in front of the distant guard-house, revealing
occasionally the black silhouette of a passing sentinel. Few noises
broke the silence, except the strains of some distant musical
instrument, and a voice far away saying good-night. Once he awoke from
revery to listen to the call of the guards, as it echoed from post to
post, ceasing with "All well, Number Nine," far out beyond the stables.

The familiar sound served to recall him to the reality of his position.
What was the use? What business had he to dream? For months now he
had kept that girl's face before him, in memory of a few hours of
happiness when he had looked into her dark eyes and heard her pleasant
speech. Yet from the first he had known the foolishness of it all. He
was nothing to her, and could never become anything. Even if he
cleared his past record and stepped out of the ranks into his old
social position, the chances were she would never overlook what he had
been. Her gratitude meant litt