arrowly missed
his heart, unless it was intended for him.

"Let me see," he mused. "Why, of course," he said, with a smile. "I
didn't think of it before. It must have been that Indian, Running Bear,
who was trying to get square for the punching I gave him."

"Ted, you're as blind as a rat," said Stella.

"Did you see the fellow who shot at me?"

"I did. Got a good, square, sure-enough look."

"Who was it?"

For a moment Stella did not reply.

"You'll hardly believe it," she answered, at last.

"I'll believe you. I don't know that you ever told me anything that was
not the truth."

"But it seems so incredible, that I would hardly believe it if I had not
seen it with my own eyes."

"Well, out with it."

"It was Lieutenant Barrows."

"Stella! You can't mean it."

Ted stopped his pony, and stood staring at the girl.

"It was he who fired the shot. I am positive of it. I saw him do it, and
was just about to cry out a warning when the bullet struck your pony and
passed through your coat sleeve, and he dodged out of sight."

"The hideous cur!" exclaimed Ted, who was the apostle of fair play, and
who always felt bitterly when he saw another practice false, and
especially an officer, who was supposed to uphold all the best standards
for a gentleman. In fact, "an officer and a gentleman" were synonymous
to him.

"It seems incredible," he said, at last. "I didn't think he was much of
a chap, he has not had much experience, and I thought he would grow out
of his bad habits."

"He's horrible," exclaimed Stella impatiently. "But that is not the
worst of it. Hallie is engaged to marry him some day. Think of it!"

"Too bad. Of course she must know nothing of this. She must believe that
it was an accident."

"Of course. Unless she mentions it we will say nothing about it, and
I'll tell her that you do not care to have anything said about it."

"That's the thing. Pretty bad outlook for her."

"Yes, and the worst of it is, she's crazy about him, and the colonel,
her father, is very much in favor of the marriage, and is doing
everything he can to bring it about. You see, Barrows is very rich."

"Is he the son of Barrows, the railroad multi-millionaire, do you know?"

"Yes, Hallie told me all about it. She says his father is going to have
him promoted through his influence in Washington to be military attache
to one of our embassies in Europe. He has completely dazzled her with
his wealth, and the prospects ahe