lanced 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 h