bunglingly, as bachelors will, and
bachelors two of them were, they began to talk of the revelation that
met their eyes and what it portended. No one, as yet, had told "the Old
Man" of Willett's night at the store, and now no man would do it.
Bygones were bygones. Willett would be up in a week or so, the better,
perhaps, for enforced rest and abstinence, and now, of course, there
could and would be no more of--of that sort of thing, and all his
better traits would shine by contrast with his probably temporary lapse
into frivolity. Even then, however, they wondered what Harris would
think, and speculated as to what he would say. Bucketts had not guessed
amiss when he said there was no love lost between the classmates.
Bucketts, and all, had seen how much both the young men had been
attracted by Lilian's grace and beauty, and the sweet, girlish
freshness that proved such a charm. Bucketts, and all, had been in, as
usual, to see Harris, and found him, as he said, a trifle set back by
the excitement, and therefore rather more grave and quiet even than
usual, but they said no word of Lilian and--possibilities. He knew.
Strong had seen him when he came, and looked, and stood inert one
moment there, unable to be of use, and had turned slowly back to his
room under Bentley's roof. Everybody knew it could not be more than a
day or two before the affair would be announced as an engagement, and
while every man felt that Willett had won a prize far beyond his
deserts, there was not one that felt like tendering congratulation.

But, as we said, there were other and important matters to claim the
attention of the garrison, and just an hour before sunset that evening
came the first. Case's week was up, and, sharp on time at noon on
Saturday, Case came forth from his room, tubbed, trimmed and shaved,
went silently to his desk and then turned to Mr. Craney to ask what had
become of the mail.

"Nary mail," said Craney. "Not a cuss got in or out for over a week."

"Didn't Sanchez bring--anything from Prescott?"

"Nothing but his ghost has even been heard of. You told of that."

"I? Do you mean he hasn't been here--hasn't told you what's happened?"
And Case's eyes were looking wild again.

"What _has_ happened, Case? By gad, if you know, out with it, for
no mother's son of us here has heard a thing for a week, and Sanchez
has never set foot on the post."

"Then send for Mr. Strong, quick," said Case, sinking into a chair, the
swea