out.

"What does the doctor say about Hampton?"

"A very bad wound, sir, but not necessarily fatal; he has regained
consciousness."

"Has Miss Gillis arrived?"

"I don't know, sir; there's a young woman cryin' in the parlor."

The lieutenant leaped up the steps and entered the house. But it was
Miss Spencer, not Naida, who sprang to her feet.

"Oh, Lieutenant Brant; can this be truly you! How perfectly awful you
look! Do you know if Mr. Hampton is really going to die? I came here
just to find out about him, and tell Naida. She is almost frantic,
poor thing."

Though Brant doubted Miss Spencer's honesty of statement, his reply was
direct and unhesitating. "I am informed that he has a good chance to
live, and I have already despatched word to Miss Gillis regarding his
condition. I expect her at any moment."

"How very nice that was of you! Oh, I trembled so when you first went
to face those angry men! I don't see how you ever dared to do it. I
did wish that either Mr. Moffat or Mr. McNeil could have been here to
go with you. Mr. Moffat especially is so daring; he is always risking
his life for some one else--and no one seems able to tell me anything
about either of them." The lady paused, blushing violently, as she
realized what she had been saying. "Really you must not suppose me
unmaidenly, Lieutenant," she explained, her eyes shyly lifting, "but
you know those gentlemen were my very earliest acquaintances here, and
they have been so kind. I was so shocked when Naida kissed you,
Lieutenant; but the poor girl was so grateful to you for going to the
help of Bob Hampton that she completely forgot herself. It is simply
wonderful how infatuated the poor child is with that man. He seems
almost to exercise some power of magic over her, don't you think?"

"Why frankly, Miss Spencer, I scarcely feel like discussing that topic
just now. There are so many duties pressing me--" and Brant took a
hasty step toward the open door, his attentive ear catching the sound
of a light footstep in the hallway. He met Naida just without, pale
and tearless. Both her hands were extended to him unreservedly.

"Tell me, will he live?"

"The doctor thinks yes."

"Thank God! Oh, thank God!" She pressed one hand against her heart to
control its throbbing. "You cannot know what this means to me." Her
eyes seemed now for the first time to mark his own deplorable
condition. "And you? You have not been hurt, Lieute