COfYWCHT, l(4. V BSST HASTS. ' M M
But as to the real intruder spy or
thief that was another affair, and
quickly settled. He gave an order to
the officer of the. day peremptorily for
bidding the entrance of alien servants
or slaves within the precincts of the
headquarters. . Anyone thus trespass
ing was to be brought before him. The
officer looked surprised he even fan
cied disappointed. The graces of the
mulatto woman's figure had evidently
been not thrown away upon his sub
alterns. An hour or two later, when be wsb
mounting bis horse for a round of in
spection, he was surprised to see Miss
Kaulkner.-accoinpanied by the mulatto
woman, running hurriedly to the house,
lie had forgotten his late order until he
saw the latter halted by the sentries,
but the young girl enme flying on re
gardless of her companion. Her skirt
was cuught iu one hand, her straw hat
had fallen back in her flight, nnd was
caught only by a ribbon around her
swelling throat, her loosened huir lay
in a black rippled loop on one shoulder.
For an instant Brant thought that she
was seeking bim in indiguutiou at his
order, but a second look at her set face,
eager eyes and parted scarlet lips
showed him that she had not even no
ticed him in the concentration of her
purpose. She swept by him into the
hall; he heard the swish of her Bkirt
and rapid feet on the stairs; she was
gone. What had happened orwas this
another of her moods?
But he was called to himself by the
apparition of a corporal standing be
fore him with the mulatto woman the
first capture under his order. She was
tall, well formed, but unmistakably
showing the negro type, even in her
small features. Her black eyes were
excited, but unintelligent, her manner
dogged, but with the obstinacy of half
consciousstupidiry. Brant felt not only
disappointed, but had a singular im
pression that she was not the same
woman that he had first seen. Yet there
was the tall, graceful figure, the dark
profile and the turbaned head that he
had once followed down the passage by
his room.
Her story was stupidly simple. She
had known "missy" from a chile! She
had just trapsed over to see her that
afternoon; they were walking together
when the sojers stopped her. She had
never been stopped before, even by
"patter rollers." Her ole massa (Man
ly) had gib leaf to go see Miss Josey,
and hadn't said nuffln' about no "or
ders." More annoyed than he cared to con
fess, Brant briefly dismissed her with a
warning. As he cantered down the
slope the view of the distantpickets re
called the window in the wing and he
turned in his saddle to look at it. There
it was the largest and most dominant
window in that part of the building
and within it, a distinct and vivid ob
ject, almost filling the opening, was
the vase of flowers which Be naa a lew
hours ago removed, restored to its
original position. Hesmiled. The hur
ried entrance and consternation of Miss
Faulkner was now fully explained. He
had interrupted some impassioned mes
sage, perhaps even countermanded
some affectionate rendezvous beyond
the lines. And it settled the fact that
it was she who bad done the signaling.
But would not this also make her cog
nizant of the taking of the dispatch
box? He reflected, however, that the
room was apparently occupied by the
mulatto woman; he remembered the
calico dresses and turban on the bed; .
' and it was possible that Miss Faulkner
had only visited it for the purpose of
signaling to her lover. Butthecircum
atance did not tend to make his mind
easier. It was, however, presently di
verted by an unlooked-for incident
As he rode through the camp a group
of officers congregated before a large
mess tent appeared to be highly amused
by the conversation half monologue
and half harangue of a singular-looking
individual who stood in the center.
He wore a "slouch" hat. to tbe band of
which he had imparted a military air
by the addition of a gold cord, but the
brim was caught up at the side io a
peculiarly theatrical and highly artifi
cial fashion. A heavy cavalry saber de
pended from a broad buckled belt un
. der his black frock coat, with the addi
tion of two revolvers, minus their
holsters, stuck on either side of the
buckle, after the style of stage smug
glers. A pair of long enameled leather
riding boats, with Uie tops Want
BmcailM, HtudlMi sfkf
companion.
deeply over, as if they had once done
duty for the. representative of a cav
alier, completed his uxtraoruinnry
equipment. The group were so ab
sorbed in him that they did not perceive
the approach of their chief and his
orderly, aud Brant, with a sign to the
latter, halted only a few puces from the
central figure. His speech was aBingn-
Inr mingling of high-flown and exalted
epithets and iuexoct pronunciation,
with occasional lapses of western slang.
"Well, I ain't purtendin to any
stratutegical smartness, and I didn't
gradooate at West. Point as one of
these Apochryphal engineers; 1 don't
do much talking about 'flank' move
ments or 'recognizances in force' or
'Khelion skirmishing, but when it
comes down to square Injin llghtin',
I reckon I kin have my say. There are
men who don't know the army con
tractor." he added, darkly, "who mebbe
have heard of 'lied Jim.' I don't men
tion names, gentlemen, but only the
other day a man that you all know says
to me: 'If I only knew what you do
about scoutin' I wouldn't be wanting
for information as I do.' I ain't going
lo say who it was, or break any con
science between gentlemen by saying
l:ow many stars he had on his shoul
der strap, but he was a man who knew
hut he was saying. And I say ng'in.
. ntlcmen, that the curse of the north-
rn army is the wont of proper scoutin'.
ih.'tt was it caused Bull's run? Want
r scoutin'. What was It rolled up
.'ope? Want o' scoutin". What killed
'.iaker at Bail's Bluff? Wanto' scoutin'.
What caused the slaughter at the Wil
derness? Want o' scoutin'. Injin
ooutin'! Why, only the other day,
-cntlemen, I was approached to know
vhat I'd take to organize a scoutin'
nee. And what did I say? 'Jio, gen
nil, it ain't because I represent one
if the largest army beef contracts in
rue country,' says I; "it ain't because
( belong, so to speak, to the "Sinews
of War," but because I'd want about
10,000 trained Iujins from the reserva
tions! And the regular West Point
high-toned, scientific inkybus that
weighs so heavily on our army don't
see it and won't have it! Then Sher
man, he ses to me"
But here a roar of laughter interrupt
ed him, and in a cross-fire of sarcastic
interrogations that began. Brant saw
with relief a chance of escape. Far in
the voice, manner and, above all, the
characteristic temperament of the
(ranger, he had recognized his old
playmate and the husband of Susy
the redoubtable Jim Hooker! There
was no mistaking that gloomy andacity
tiiat mysterious significance that
magnificent lying. But even at that
moment Clarence Brant's heart had
.-one out with ell his old loyalty of
reeling toward his old companion. lie
:aew that a public recognition of him
llien and there would plunge Hooker
into confusion. He felt keenly the
ironical plaudits and laughter of h s
officers over the manifest weakness and
vanity of the ex-teamster, ex-rancher,
'.'X actor and husband of his girl sweet
heart, and would have spared him the
,-nowledge that he hod overheard it.
Turning hastily to the orderly he bade
him bring the stranger to his headquar
ters, and rode away unpcrceived.
He had heard enough, however, to ac
count for his presence there, and the
singular chance that had brought them
again together. He was evidently one
of those large civil contractors of sup
plies whom the government was
obliged to employ, who visited the
camp, half officially, and whom the
army alternately depended upon and
abused. Brant had dealt with his un
derling8 in the commissariat, and even
now remembered that he hud heard he
was coming, but had overlooked the
siirnififence of his name. But bow he
anie to leave his theatrical profession,
how fie had attained a position which
implied a command of considerable
capital for many of the contractors
trad already amassed large fortunes
and what hod become of Susy and her
ambitions in this radical change of
circumstances, were things to be
learned. In his own changed condi
tions he had seldom thought of her; it
was with a strange feeling of irrita
tion and half responsibility that he
now recalled his lost interview with
her and the emotion to which he, had
succumbed.
He bad not long to wait. He had
scarcely regained "the quarters at his
own private office before be heard the
step of the orderly upon the vernndti
and the trailing clank of Hooker's
saber. He did not know, however, that
Hooker, without recognizing bis name,
bad received the message as a personal
tribute, and had left his sarcastic com
panions triumphantly, with the air of
going to a confidential interview to
which his well-known military con
nection had entitled him. It was
with a bearing of gloomy Importance,
und bin characteristic sullen sidelong
glance that he entered the opartment,
and did not look up until Brant bad
signaled the orderly to withdraw and
closed the door behind him. And then
lie recognized his old boyish compan
ionthe professed favorite of fortune!
For a moment he gasped with oston
aliment. For a moment gloomy In-
ti-dulity, suspicion, delight, pride, ad
.miution, even affection, struggled for
niastory in bit sullen utaring eyes, and
fmen. twitching1 fawuth. Far brt
ever, more superior than ever to the
majesty of uniform and authority
which fitted him, the younger man,
through his four years' of active serv
ice with the careless ease and bearing
of the veteran! Here wot the hero
whose name was already so famous that
the mere coincidence of it with that
of the modest civilian he bad known
would have struck him as preposterous.
Yet here he was supreme and dazzling
surrounded by the pomp and circum
stance of war into whose reserved
presence he, Jim Hooker, had been
ushered with the formality of chal
lenge, saluting and presented bay
onets! -
Luckily Brant had taken advantage
of his first gratified ejaculation to
shake him warmly by the hand, anil
shen with both hands laid familiarly
on his shoulder force him down into u
chair. Luckily, for by that time Jim
Hooker had with characteristic gloom!
ness found time to taste the pangs ot j
envy an envy the more keen since, in
spite of his success as a peaceful con
tractor, he had always seerotly longed
for military display and distinction. !
ne looked at the man who had achieved
It, as he firmly believed, by sheer luck
and accident and his eyes darkened.
Then, withoharacteristicweaknessand
vanity, he began to resiBt his first im
pressions of Clarence's superiority, and
to air his own importance, ne leaned
heavily back in his choir in which he
had been thus genially forced, drew off
his gauntlet and attempted to thrust
it through his belt, as he had seen
llrant do, but failed on account of his
uistols already ocenpyingthnt position,
dropped It, got his sword between his
legs in attempting to pick It up, and
then leaned back again, with balf
jlosed eyes, serenely indifferent of his
old eompanion'ssmilingface,
"I reckon," he began, slowly, with a
slightly patronizing sir, "that we'd
huvc met, sooner or later, at Washing
ton, or at Qront's headquarters, fur
Hooker, Meachnm & Co. go everywhere,
and arc about as well known as major
ireneruls, to say nothin'," he went on.
with a sidelong glauceat Brant's shoul
der straps, "of brigadiers and It's
rather strange, ouly, of course, you re
kind of fresh in the service that you
ain't heard of me afore."
'But I'm very, very glad to hear of
ou now, Jim." saio. urnm, smiling,
and from your own lips which 1 om
Iso delighted to Una, he aUUea, mis
chievously, "art still as frankly coui-muiik-ntive
on that topic, as of old.
Hut I congratulate you, old fellow, on
your good fortune. When did you leave
the singe?" ,
Mr. Hooker frowned slightly. "I
never really was on the stage, you
;uow, he said, wovuig his band witn
assumed negligence "only went on U
lnuse my wife. 3!rs. Hooker woumn l
net with vuleor professionals, don' t you
1 was really manager -most of
ilie time, and lessee ot the theater.
Went east when the war broke out to
ffei" my sword and knowledge of in
jin ngbtin '10 uncie nnm; jruvnu
into a big pork contract at St. Louis
with Fremont. Been at it ever since.
Offered a commission In Uie regular
service lots o' times, ltefiised."
"Whv?" asked Ilrout, demurely.
"Too much West Point starch around
o suit me," returned Hooker, darkly.
"And too many spies!"
"Sniea?" echoed Braut, abstractedly,
with a momentary reminiscence of Miss
Faulkner.
Yes. spies," eontinued.Hooker, with
ilntrend mystery. "One-half of Wash
ington is watching totuer ban, ana,
from the president's wife down, most
of the women are seccsh
Braut suddenly fixed his keen eyes on
his guest. But the next moment he re
flected that this was only Jim Hooker's
usual speech and possessed no ulterior
significance. He smiled again and said
more gently: i
"And how is Mrs.Hookerr
Mr. Hooker fixed his eyes on the ceil
ing, rose, pretended to look out ot Uie
window; then, taking his seat again by
the table, as if fronting an imaginary
audience, and pulling slowly at his
gauntlets, after the usual theatrical in
dication of a perfectsang froid, said:
"There ain't any.
"tjood heavens!" said Brant, with
genuine emotion. "I beg your pardon-
really I"
"Mrs. Hooker and me are divorced,"
continued Hooker, slightly changing
his attitude and leaning heavily on his
saber, with his eyes still on his fanciful
audience. "Therewas.younnderstaud,"
lightly tossing bis gauntlet aside
"incompatibility of temper! and
we parted. Ha!" he uttered a low,
bitter, scornful laugh, which, however,
produced the distinct impression in
lirant's mind that up to that moment
he bad never had the slightest feeling
in the matter whotever.
"Yon seemed to lie on such good terms
with each other," murmured llrant,
vaguely. ,
"Seemed ! " said Hooker bitterly.glanc
ing sardonically at an ideal second row
in the pit before him "yes, seemed I
There were other differences fficinl
and political. You understand that
you have suffered too." 11c reached out
his hand and pressed Brant's in heavy
effusiveness. "But," be continued,
haughtily, lightly tossing bis glove
again, "we are all men of the world
we let that pass!" And it was possible
that he found the strain of his present
attitude too great, for be changed to ail
easier position.
"But," said Brant, curiously, "1 al
ways thought that Mrs. Hooker was in
tensely union and northern." .
"Put on!" said Hooker, in bis natural
voice.
"But you remember the incident of
the flag?" persisted Brant.
"Mrs. Hooker was always an actress,"
said Hooker significantly. "But," he add-
ed cheerfully, "Mrs.Hooker is now the
wife of Senator Boompointer. One of tin
wealthiest and most powerful republic
ans in Woshinjrt'jn carries the puti on
ago of the wis wrt In bi vest
pockirtl" .
Yet If she is not n republican why
did she" began Brant.
"For purpose," responded Hooker.
darkly. "But," he added ngnln tvith
greater cheerfulness, "she belongs to
the very elite of Washington xoeieiy.
docs to all tho foreign arobussiidoia'
balls, und Is a power at. the white house.
Her picture is in all the first-class
illustrated papers."
The singular but unmistakable pride
of the man In the Importance of the
wife from whom hs was divorced, and
for whom he did not care, would have
offended Brant's delicacy, or at lenst
hove excited his ridicule, but for the
reason that he was more deeply stung
by Hooker's allusion to his own wire
niid his degrading similitude of their
two conditions. But he dismissed the
former as part of Hooker's invincible
'and still boyish extravagance, and the
latter as part of his equally character
folic asumption. Perhaps be was con
scious, too, notwithstanding the lapse
of years and the condonation ot sepa
ration and forgotfulnass, that he de
served little delicacy from the hands of
Susy's husband.
Nevertheless he dreaded; to hear him
spcuk again of her. And the tear was
realized in question.
"Does she know you are here f '
"Who?" said Brant, ourtly.
"Your wife. That la I reckon she's
your wife still, eh r
"I do not know that she knows," re
turned Brunt quietly. Be bad regained
bis self-eomnosure.
Susy Mrs. Senator Boompamter,
Hist is" he seemed to feel a certain
dignity In his late wife's new title,
allowed that she'd gone abroad on a
secret mission from the southern con
federacy to them crowned heads over
there. She was good at ropin men in,
you know. Anyhow, Susy afore she
was Mrs. Boompointer was dead set on
flndln out where she was but never
could. She seemed to drop outof sight
a year ago. Some said one thing and
some said another. But you can bet
your bottom dollar that Mrs. Senator
Boompointer.who knows how to pull all
the wires In Washington, will know It
anyone does."
"But is Mrs. Boompointer really dis
affected and a southern sympathiser.''
said Brant, "or is it only caprice or
fashion?" While speaking he had risen
with a half abstracted face and had
gone to the window, when he stood In
a loitering attitude. Presently he
opened the window and stepped out- i
ide. Hooker wonderingly followed
him. One or two officers had already
stepped out of their rooms, and were
standing upon the veranda, another
had halted in the path. Then one quick
ly reentered the house, reappeared with
his cup and sword in bis hand and ran
lightly toward the guard house. A
slight crackling noise seemed to come
from beyond the garden wall.
"What's up?" said Hooker, with star
ing eyes.
"Picket firing."
The crucklingsuddenlybecame along
rattle. Brant reentered the room, and
irked up his hat.
"You'll excuse me for a few mo
ments?" A hollow sound shook tbe house.
"What's that?" gasped Hooker. '
"Cannon."
(To be continued.)
Tbe Expbebk would like some hay
on subscription.
SEASIDE EXCURSION TICKETS
Bummer excursion tickets, good to
return until October 10th, to Yaquina
Bay, are dow on stile by the Oregnu
Central & Eastern It. R. at Albauy
and Corvallis at the usual reduod
rates, viz:
Albany to Yaquina and return 3 60
Corvallis " " " 8
In this connection arrangements
have been made whereby Hie tug
'Kesolute" has been placed In regular
service between Yaquina and Newport
for the accommodation nf excursionists.
The "Resolute" Is one of the largest
and most commodious tugs on the
PaclUo coast and will take fishing par-
tlestoseaand return whenever desired
tbe weather permitting.
SUNDAY EXCURSIONS.
Beginning with Sunday, June 21st,
and on each succeeding iunlu.y, a
special .excursion truiu will leate
Albany at 7 A. M., Corvallis 7:80 a. M.,
arriving at Yaquina at 11:16 A. M
Returning, boat leaves New purl at 6:B(
P.M. Traill leaves Yaquina at 7 l. M.
arriving at Corvallis at It) P. x. and
Albany atioaop, v.
Fare, good on this train onlv, from
Corvallis, Albany and Philomath to
Newport and return, $150.
C)KVAi,Lig,.June 17, 1890.
H. L. Waldek, H. B. Lowman,
Agent, Albany. Agent, Corvallis.
Elwm rVroNB,
Manager, Corvallis, . .
Ladies, I invite your attention to
my new and extensive line of floweret
fancy straws and beautiful ribbons.,
Opening duy about tbe first of April.
Mian A. DtiM'iND
J. W. CUSICK&CO., Bankers,
ALBANY, OREGON.
Transact general Banking business
Collections made at all points on
favorable terms.
Drafts drawn on New York, Ban
Francisco, Portland, Baleni, Eugene,
and Corvallis, and all points In Eu
rope. Business sent by mail will roealvt
YOU ?
ill.
NOTHING!
BUT THE
GENUINE.
CKWEU'Sl
Victors Are Best.
Victor Nun Punctumble
running wheel on e r h. I he es i ih 1 j
end. Largest stock of swout'-han . wheels on
Everything up represented.
Headquarter. for sundries
Street and 311 Ald.-r Street, Portland, Oregon.
OVERMAN
Local Ageut,
Albany Furniture Co.
(INCORPORATED)
BALTIMORE BLOCK, Albany, Oregon.
Furniture, Carpets, Linoleums, matting, etc.
Pictures and Picture molding.
Undertaking a Specialty.
BARBER SHOP
Best Shaven, Jliiir Cut i Hn n .' i
B. P. KIRK'S
Shaving Parlor.
NEXT DOOBTO ST. CHAKLliH
HOTEL.
Elegant Baths.
Children Kindly Treated
rr lnf.Miftrtrw, Bni fru, llftmUkjoK wrIM to
JKusN CO.. HI BSOADWATi NSW You.
Olden bortaa for wearing patent In America
Kverr patent Isken out by i Is brought before
tbe vnbUo b s notto. given ttm ol ousts, la lot
IrrxH .wiIjiMoo of any Mlratlflu paper In th
om. spitmuuiir iiitmrawu. no mie unjoin
TV (WRIT, Jf.l.W?A
VteWif'i
Ladies Hair Dressing a Specialty.
S8oltntlflo Anwrlotn
' JjSP'l NAHM,
i Btmj0?r OtllON MTMTS,
" COPVHIOHTa. ats.
Ton will fln4 one coupon
tnsloe ftftcb two ounce bsi
and two coupons Inside soon
four ounce liaorBlMkwu's
Durham. Buy a bat of Uili
eolsbraud tobsoeo and nsd
the eoupon whloh fives a
list of valuable presents and
howtogettbeia.
lire. No. H'8
Ciiilrl.
Write for list.
and uthletic g !-,
Lxth
WHEEL COMPANY.
W, R. Kkknan, Manager
H. Y. Kirkpatrick,
Lcbaiioiii Orjson.
0
rcgon Central
& Eastern,
II. K; CO.
Yaquina Bay Route. . -r.
("onneetini! t Yaijniini llnv with Hie Hon
rsnciieo and V milium Hay Btesnislnp
i;uiiiiany.
Steamship "Farallon"
Sails from Yaquina Buy every eiitht days
fur San Vraiirihco, I '"' May, X'ort Orforil,
Triniilail anil Uuintiolill Hay.
Passenger Accommoda
tions Unsurpassed,
Shortest Kmitc Detween the Willamette
Valley anil Ualil'ornia.
Fore Ironi Alliany anil Points Went to Ban
- , Francisco I
Cabin I 8 00
Steerage 4 00
To Coon Bay and Port Orfurd :
Cabin M00
To Humboldt Hay: '
Cabin , ...I 8 00
Konnd Trip (iood for 60 Days Snooial.
RIVER DIVISION.
Steamers "ALBANY" and "WM. M
MOAU." newlv furnished, leave Albany
daily, i-xceiit Hntunlnys, at 8 a. m arriving
at Purtlutni the same day at 6 r. M.
HeturiiiiiK, lioats leave Portlund same
days as above at 6 A. arriving at Albany
All'VJT.U. J.U.BIAYO,
Edwin Htors, ' Hnp't'ltlver Division
Manatatr. M. B. Sacsv.
H. h, WaIiBbs, Ac't. Opo Revere House
Agent, uepoi Ainany,
To The Mothers.
You have nice children, you know
and nothing p! oscs them better thai
a nice nobby suit of clothes that keo;
them warm and healthy. Baker hut
Itiemaua lor but lit tie money. Us,,
you stand tyhOO for t suit of clothes, 4
wist pin ah ini low pn out J
J