age he was to be called
at once. Mr. Hurley promised that on their return from Salt Lake they
would come back by way of Warrener and spend two days with Hayne, since
only an hour or two had they enjoyed of his company on their way West;
and the very day that the officers went off to the court came the
telegram saying the Hurleys would arrive that evening. Hayne had already
talked over their prospective visit with Major Waldron, and the latter
had told his wife; but all intercourse of a friendly character was at an
end between them and the Rayners and Buxtons; there were no more gossipy
chats among the ladies. Indeed, it so happened that only to one or two
people had Mrs. Waldron had time to mention that Mr. Hayne's sister was
coming, and neither the Rayners nor Buxtons had heard of it; neither had
Nellie Travers, for it was after the evening of her last visit that Mrs.
Waldron was told.

Hayne ran with his telegram to the major, and the latter had introduced
himself and Major Stannard to Mrs. Hurley when, after a weary wait of
some hours, the train arrived. Blake, too, was there, on the lookout for
some friends, and he was presented to Mrs. Hurley while her husband was
attending to some matters about the baggage. The train went on eastward,
carrying the field-officers with it. Blake had to go with his friends
back to the post, and Mr. and Mrs. Hurley, after the former had attended
to some business and seen some railway associates of his at the hotel,
took the carriage they had had before and drove out to the garrison,
where Private Schweinkopf saw the lady rapturously welcomed by
Lieutenant Hayne and escorted into the house, while Mr. Hurley remained
settling with the driver out in the darkness. It was not long before the
commanding officer _pro tem_, was called from the hop-room, where the
dance was going on delightfully, and notified that the mysterious
visitor had again appeared, with evident intention of spending the
night, as the carriage had returned to town. "Why, certainly," reasoned
Buxton. "It's the very night he would choose, since everybody will be at
the hop: no one will be apt to interfere, and everybody will be
unusually drowsy and less inclined to take notice in the morning." Here
was ample opportunity for a brilliant stroke of work. He would first
satisfy himself she was there, then surround the house with sentries so
that she could not escape, while he, with the officer of the day and the
corporal of t