ion. Just understand one thing, Nellie: that doctor
does not come into my house."

"What doctor?--not that I want one," asked Miss Travers, wearily.

"Dr. Pease, the post surgeon, I mean. Of course you have heard how he is
mixing himself in my husband's affairs and making trouble with various
people."

"I have heard nothing, Kate."

"I don't wonder your friends are ashamed to tell you. Things have come
to a pretty pass, when officers are going around holding private
meetings with enlisted men!"

"I hardly know the doctor at all, Kate, and cannot imagine what affairs
of your husband's he can interfere with."

"It was he that put up Clancy to making the disturbance at Mr. Hayne's
last night and getting into the guard-house, and tried to prove that he
had a right to go there and that the captain had no right to arrest
him."

"Was Clancy trying to see Mr. Hayne?" asked Miss Travers, quickly.

"How should I know?" said her sister, pettishly. "He was drunk, and
probably didn't know what he was doing."

"And Captain Rayner arrested him for--for trying to see Mr. Hayne?"

"Captain Rayner arrested him for being drunk and creating a disturbance,
as it was his duty to arrest any soldier under such circumstances,"
replied her sister, with majestic wrath, "and I will not tolerate it
that you should criticise his conduct."

"I have made no criticism, Kate. I have simply made inquiry; but I have
learned what no one else could have made me believe."

"Nellie Travers, be careful what you say, or what you insinuate. What do
you mean?"

"I mean, Kate, that it is my belief that there is something at the
bottom of those stories of Clancy's strange talk when in the hospital. I
believe he thinks he knows something which would turn all suspicion from
Mr. Hayne to a totally different man. I believe that, for reasons which
I cannot fathom, you are determined Mr. Hayne shall not see him or hear
of it. It was you that sent Captain Rayner over there last night. Mrs.
Clancy came here at tattoo, and, from the time she left, you were at the
front door or window. You were the first to hear her cries, and came
running in to tell the captain to go at once. Kate, _why_ did you stand
there listening from the time she left the kitchen, unless you expected
to hear just what happened over there behind the company barracks?"

Mrs. Rayner would give no answer. Anger, rage, retaliation, all in turn
were pictured on her furious face, but died awa