ad of her."

"Too bad."

"And she is such a sweet and sensible girl, but she has no mother, and
the other ladies at the post, especially Mrs. Calhoun, the major's wife,
have put a lot of nonsense into her head."

"Well, if she comes with us, we'll try to get some of it out."

"It looks as if Ben was trying to do that now," said Stella, pointing to
where Ben was talking to the girl, who was laughing happily.

"Yes, or putting a lot of another brand into it."

"Don't they make a handsome couple. Ben is such a fine-looking chap in
the saddle. I wish he would do something to cut out Barrows."

"Look out. Don't you go to meddling in this affair," laughed Ted. "Well,
here we are at the colonel's. I reckon he didn't count on this addition
to his table."

As they rode up to the others, Hallie Croffut was insisting that the
other boys remain for dinner, and the colonel, hearing the contention
from his chair on the veranda, came down to add his invitation to that
of his daughter.

So it was that they all stayed, and just before dinner was announced
Lieutenant Barrows rode up and joined the group.

He was hot and dusty, and in a bad temper. He acknowledged the
introductions to the boys superciliously, and barely nodded to Ted.

Hallie looked at him with a puzzled frown, but said nothing, and entered
the house with Stella.

During dinner Ben sat at the left hand of Hallie, with Barrows opposite.

Ben was in his usual good spirits, and was so easy and gentlemanly in
his deportment, in spite of his rough clothes, that Stella was quite
proud of him.

While he kept Hallie in a constant gale of laughter by his witty
remarks, Barrows did nothing but scowl at him, when he was not casting
sinister glances at Ted, who, however, never looked at him.

After dinner the girls rushed away to get ready for the trip, and the
boys went out on the veranda to wait for them, while the colonel and
Barrows went into the library, ostensibly to talk over business of the
post, as Barrows was officer of the day.

But presently Ted heard the voices of the two men rising above the
normal pitch.

"I seriously object to Hallie going with such people."

The voice was Barrows', and it was angry.

"But they are all right," said the colonel. "I know Strong well by
reputation, and the Grahams are old friends of mine. Knew them for years
when I was in New Mexico. Hallie and Stella went to school together.
There can be no objection on that scor