A Trooper Galahad

ning wanderer was driven to his own doorway and left for half an hour with Ada and Jimmy-the one sobbing with joy, the other laughing with delight-on the father's knees. Then Mrs. Blythe stol

, of course, said the seniors present, must not be allowed official knowledge of what had taken place, though in those benighted days of magnificent distances from the centre of civilization and the exploring grounds of reporters of the press, many a stirring row was settled without its ever being heard of beyond the limits of the garrison in which it occurred. Captain Barclay, contenting himself with the one blow, despite an unchristian impulse to follow it up with a kick at the sprawling figure, had

ion Brayton felt for him. Barclay had made no pretence of being a cavalryman on the strength of his assignment to that arm. He started with the assertion that he had everything to learn, and then surprised his subaltern by an extensive knowledge of what we then called "the tactics." He was certainly not as much at home in saddle as on foot, and did not pretend to be, but he was by no means a poor or ungraceful rider. He had a light, gentle hand, at least,-a thing much harder for most men to acquire than a good seat. He was very cool, just, and level-headed wi

ve sarved in the dragoons or cavalry the best fifteen years of me life, and this is the f

for some days, sergeant," was the calm respo

uld niver have treated an

ence the colonel appears to have been robbed right and left,-your own name

se early, he said. He was up with the sun or earlier, and hoof- or wheel-tracks about the stables before the herd was led forth to water never escaped his attention, yet apparently never excited remark. Within the third week, however, another non-commissioned officer was suddenly nabbed, and so was a wagon-load of forage, going off to a neighboring ranch at four o'clock in the morning. Meantime the men noted that their coffee and rations were better and more bountiful, and soldiers are quick to receive impressions that come by way of t

ton knew it would soon be known even to the officer in command. So long, however, as it was not reported to him officially, Frazier would probably let the affair take its course. Bralligan deserved the knock-down, and doubtless would be glad enough to let the matter end there. But, thought Brayton, if he should

nterest the boy found it impossible to think of anything else. Twelve o'clock came. He was beginning to undress and prepare for bed, still uneasily watching the light shining through the crack of the door, when his straining ears caught the sound of a fo

ront," he muttered low.

zza in half a minute. He found

is-this damnable business almost as quick as it happened. That girl of ours hears everything and tells anything. There's no doubt abo

ayton, briefly. "I

in the cavalry. It isn't Barclay's fight; it's mine. The more I think of it the more I know that, contemptible a blackguard as Bralligan is, he is still an officer of the regiment. He has been knocked down,

s," said Brayton, sturdily. "He told him pl

Bralligan now, two or three of them, and I want you to go there with me at once as my witness. I mean to cowhide him to-night. Then if he wan

til he'd fought him-or been refused a fight. You go to bed, Winn," and Brayton spoke even lower. "Your wife must have heard you just now, and first t

was a tinge of bitterness i

out of my bed three days or so, and Captain Barclay must understand that a man burdened as I have been is in no mood for social

no business mixing up in the matter. You've got your wife to think of, and you've got that commissary business to straighten out. Barclay and I have no encumbrances of either kind." At the moment, I

ry money, every cent will be here to square the shortage, whether I am or not. I'll tell you what others-- No! I can't

through if-- Hush! There's Mullane and som

ot to be done before they get away." And he would have gon

Don't go near him. Quiet, man! Can't you

light gleaming on the buttons of their uniform frock-coats, but the sight and faint sound of scuffling on Winn's porch seemed to attract their attention. They stopp

courteous bow, as the two young men, unclasping, turned and faced him. "I infer that you purpose going to Mr. Bralligan's quarters-now. Let me urge that you do

as he said, Mullane and his friend were coming rapidly up the walk. They passed the Winns' gate, entered that of Brayton, and then it ap

am the beerer of a missige from me frind Mr. Bralligan. Have I the honor of addhressin' Captain Barclay?" Fondly did Mullane imagine that

envoys. Winn could not but note that the captain's movement accomplished at once two objects. It left him and Brayton in the shade; it kept Mullane and Hodge in the moon

e was apt to be thick and husky and unimpressive, and to-night he was over-weighte

"in accordince with the practice of gintlemen in th

eants by the intricacy and extent of his knowledge of thei

ccording to the customs of the old army,'" and here he smiled quietly, "that should come from Mr. Bralligan now, and it must come in

at account," said Mullane, majestically, "and if me w

but the manner of your message is. Let your friend put it

ickly followed by an explosion of wrath, Captai

t Barclay rarely made a mistake. Winn, too, tall and strong, stepped in front of the angry Irishman as he broke out into expletives. "No more of that here, captain," he cried, forgetful of any consideration of rank. "Th

voices had reached the adjoining quarters, and out from the doorway, sashed and belted, came the massive form of Captain Blythe, his sabre clanking on the door-sill. Out, too, from Winn's hallway shot a broad beam of light, and hastening along the porch came a tall, graceful form in som

stantly," he ordered, stern and low.

the, striding in at the gate. "Delay one

sweep. "In the prisince of leedies," said he, "I'm dis

ncipal, beside bewildering headaches, had graver ma