Sincerely, ELAINE DODGE.
Thus it was that a few hours afterward, in the officers' quarters at the Fort, an orderly entered with the mail and handed a letter to Lieutenant Woodward. He opened it and read the invitation with pleasure. He had scarcely finished reading and was hastening to write a reply when the orderly entered again and saluted.
"A Professor Arnold to see you, Lieutenant," he announced.
"Professor Arnold?" repeated Woodward. "I don't know any Professor
Arnold. Well, show him in, anyhow."
The orderly ushered in a well-dressed man with a dark, heavy beard and large horn spectacles. Woodward eyed him curiously and a bit suspiciously, as the stranger seated himself and made a few remarks.
The moment the orderly left the room, however, the professor lowered his voice to a whisper. Woodward listened in amazement, looked at him more closely, then laughed and shook hands cordially.
The professor leaned over again. Whatever it was that he said, it made a great impression on the Lieutenant.
"You know this fellow Del Mar?" asked Professor Arnold finally.
"No," replied Woodward.
"Well, he's hanging around Miss Dodge all the time," went on Arnold.
"There's something queer about his presence here at this time."