respond.

"I cannot say that I feel any bitterness over the past," he answered
lightly. "I am willing enough to blot that out. What I am interested
in is the present. I should like to understand your purpose here at
Dodge."

"Surely that is sufficiently clear. I am merely an exile from home, on
account of Indian depredations. What more natural than that I should
take refuge in my uncle's house."

"You mean Major McDonald?"

"Certainly--he was my mother's only brother."

"I think I have heard somewhere that the Major's only sister married a
man named Counts."

She drew in her breath sharply.

"Yes, of course--her first husband."

"You were a daughter then of her first marriage?"

"Of course."

"But assumed the name of Carson when she married again?"

"That was when you met me."

"The change was natural enough," he went on.

"But why did you also become Vera in place of Sarah?"

"Oh, is that it? Well, never attempt to account for the vagaries of a
girl," she returned lightly, as though dismissing the subject. "I
presume I took a fancy to the prettier name. But how did you know?"

"Garrison rumor picks up nearly everything, and it is not very kind to
you, Mrs. Dupont. I hope I am doing you a favor in saying this. Your
rather open flirtation with Lieutenant Gaskins is common talk, even
among enlisted men, and I have heard that your relations with Major
McDonald are peculiar."

"Indeed!" with a rising inflection of the voice. "How kind of you, and
so delicately expressed." She laughed. "And poor Major McDonald!
Really, that is ridiculous. Could you imagine my flirting with him?"

"I have no recollection of using that term in this connection. But you
have strange influence over him. For some reason the man is apparently
afraid of you."

"Afraid of me? Oh, no! Some one has been fooling you, Dave. I am
merely Major McDonald's guest. I wonder who told you that? Shall I
guess?"

Before he could realize her purpose the woman took a hasty step
forward, and swept aside the curtain, thrusting her head past to where
she could gain a view outside. Hamlin pressed her back with one hand,
planting himself squarely before the window. She met his eyes
spitefully.

"I was mistaken this time," she acknowledged, drawing away, "but I 'd
like to know why you were so anxious to prevent my looking out. Do you
know whom I thought you had there?"

"As you please," rejoicing that the girl had escap