e
officers?"

"No, she 's no army dame. Husband's a cattleman. Got a range on the
Cowskin, south o' here, but I reckon the missus don't like that sorter
thing much. Lives in St. Louis mostly, but has been stoppin' with the
McDonalds fer a month er two now. Heerd she wus a niece o' the
Major's, an' reckon she must be, er thar 'd been a flare up long ago.
She 's a high flyer, she is, an' she 's got the Leftenant goin' all
right."

"Gaskins?"

"Sure; he's a lady-killer, but thet 's 'bout all the kind o' killer he
is, fer as I ever noticed--one o' yer he-flirts. Thar ain't hardly an
officer in this garrison thet ain't just achin' fer ter kick that
squirt, but ther women--oh, Lord; they think he's a little tin god on
wheels. Beats hell, don't it, what money will do fer a damn fool."

Hamlin stood a moment silent, half inclined to ask another question,
but crushing back the inclination. Then he walked down the hall to the
quarters assigned "M" Troop, and across to his own bed in the far
corner. There were only a few of the men present, most of whom were
busily engaged at a game of cards, and he sat down where he could gaze
out the window and think. Here was a new complication, a fresh puzzle
to be unravelled. He had never expected this woman to come into his
life again; she had become a blurred, unpleasant memory, a bit of his
past which he had supposed was blotted out forever. Mrs. Dupont--then
she had not married Le Fevre after all. He dully wondered why, yet was
not altogether surprised. Even as he turned this fact over and over in
his mind, speculating upon it, he became aware of a man leaving the
rear door of McDonald's quarters, and advancing back of officers' row
toward the barracks. As the fellow drew near, Hamlin recognized the
soldier who had been driving the carriage. A moment later the man
entered the room, spoke to the group of card players, and then came
straight across toward him.

"Sergeant Hamlin?"

"Yes."

"I was asked to hand you this note; there is no answer."

Hamlin held it unopened until the fellow disappeared, hesitating
between hope and dread. Which of the two women had ventured to write
him? What could be the unexpected message? At last his eyes scanned
the three short lines:

"You recognized me, and we must understand each other. At ten to-night
ask the Clerk of the Occidental--V."

CHAPTER XVI

THE MEETING

Hamlin's first impulse was to ignore the note, tru