when the guard paraded at reveille--an officer's gauntlet
of the style worn in the cavalry a year before this time. The corporal
explained that it had been picked up by No. 3 just before his relief was
taken off post at 5:15, that it had been handed him, the corporal, just
before sentry's shout of "Turn out the guard!" at the approach of the
officer of the day, and he had stowed it there for want of a better
place and before he had had time to examine it.

But No. 3, it seems, had _had_ time to examine, and had told some of his
mates of his discovery. They had gone to Corporal Clancy to see for
themselves, and had been told to go about their business, which led to
more talk that finally reached the lieutenant's ears. Clancy had had a
clatter with the sergeant and had been refused permission to go to his
quarters anywhere, for a strange story was flitting about the post
concerning two or three men of "B" Troop who had been out late the
previous night, had got liquor over at a vile resort far across the
Minneconjou, and a little southwest of town, and had had a sanguinary
fight of some kind, for Sullivan was badly cut and Connelly had a nasty
eye, and there was something black and ugly back of it they were trying
to hide, unless veteran sergeants were in error; and finally the
sergeant of the guard told the lieutenant of the story and said he
believed Corporal Clancy was secreting evidence that might be of value,
whereupon Clancy was ordered into the presence and told to produce that
gauntlet.

But neither lieutenant nor sergeant dreamed of what was before them when
Clancy at last reluctantly complied, dragging from beneath his blouse
what had been a dainty bit of military finery, a soft white gauntlet,
that bore within the cuff the inscription, "Sanford Ray," and that
without was soaked and stained with blood.

CHAPTER XII

WHAT THE WOMEN TOLD THE MAJOR

It was another lovely summer morning, sweet, moist and still. The
squadron had been out as usual, but the drill had been anything but
snappy or spirited. Every officer knew, and most men decided, that
something was weighing heavily on the major's mind, for, though he
labored conscientiously through his duties, comments and corrections
were few, and, to the surprise of all, he even dismissed the troops some
few minutes before the sounding of the recall. Captain Washburn looked
back over his shoulder at the tall, spare, sinewy figure riding slowly,
even deje