gers were cold, and he could feel
the twitching of her nerves.

"You are frightened--not of me, surely?"

"Oh, no!" a slight catch in her voice, "but I am running such a risk
venturing here. I--I had to pretend a sick-headache to get away. You
must not condemn me until you hear why I came."

"I condemn? Hardly, Miss McDonald. I am merely a soldier receiving
orders; 'mine not to question why.' Here is the window; now sit down on
this bench. I 'll keep guard, and listen." His voice sank lower, a
little touch of tenderness in it impossible to disguise. "Are you in
trouble? Is it something I can aid you to overcome?"

She did not answer at once but rested her chin in one hand, and turned
her eyes away. Her breath came swiftly, as though she had not yet
recovered from fright, and her face in the dim light looked white and
drawn.

"Yes, you can," she began slowly, "I am sure you can. I--I came to you
because there was no one else in whom I felt the same confidence. I know
that sounds strange, but I cannot explain--only it seems natural to trust
some people even when you do not know them very well. I do not suppose I
know you very well; just those few hours we were together, but--somehow I
think you are true."

"I certainly hope so," he put in earnestly. "I couldn't very well help
being--with you."

"I believe that," and she lifted her eyes to his face.

"Yet I do not wish you to think me bold, or--or indiscreet. You do not
think so, do you?"

"That idea has never once occurred to me, Miss McDonald. I am only too
glad to be of service."

"It is good of you to say that; you see, there was no one else."

"Your father?" he suggested.

"But that is the very trouble," she insisted, rejoicing that he had thus
unconsciously opened the way to her confession. "It is because my father
is involved, is completely in her toils, that I am compelled to appeal to
you. He will not listen to a word against her."

"Her? You refer to Mrs. Dupont?"

"Of course; why, I hadn't mentioned her name! How did you guess?"

"Because I am not entirely ignorant of conditions," he answered soberly.
"Although I have only been at the post a short time, I have managed to
see and hear a good deal. You know I chanced to become involved in the
shooting of Lieutenant Gaskins, and then I saw you riding with Mrs.
Dupont, and recognized her."

"Recognized?" in surprise. "Do you actually mean you knew her before?"

"Not as Mrs