There had been a scene of somewhat dramatic nature at the colonel’s office but a short time before, and one that had fewer witnesses.  Agitated, nervous, and eventually astonished as Captain Rayner had been when the colonel had revealed to him the nature of Clancy’s confession, he was far more excited and tremulous when he returned a second time.  The commanding officer had been sitting deep in thought.  It was but natural that a man should show great emotion on learning that the evidence he had given, which had condemned a brother officer to years of solitary punishment, was now disproved.  It was to be expected that Rayner should be tremulous and excited.  He had been looking worse and worse for a long time past; and now that it was established that he must have been mistaken in what he thought he saw and heard at Battle Butte, it was to be expected that he should show the utmost consternation and an immediate desire to make amends.  He had shown great emotion; he was white and rigid as the colonel told him Clancy had made a full confession; but the expression on his face when informed that the man had admitted that he and Sergeant Gower were the only ones guilty of the crime—­that Clancy and Gower divided the guilt as they had the money—­was a puzzle to the colonel.  Captain Rayner seemed daft:  it was a look of wild relief, half unbelief, half delight, that shot across his haggard features.  It was evident that he had not heard at all what he expected.  This was what puzzled the colonel.  He had been pondering over it ever since the captain’s hurried departure “to tell his wife.”

“We—­we had expected—­made all preparations to take this afternoon’s train for the East,” he stammered.  “We are all torn up, all ready to start, and the ladies ought to go; but I cannot feel like going in the face of this.”

“There is no reason why you should not go, captain.  I am told Mrs. Rayner should leave at once.  If need be, you can return from Chicago.  Everything will be attended to properly.  Of course you will know what to do towards Mr. Hayne.  Indeed, I think it might be best for you to go.”

But Rayner seemed hardly listening; and the colonel was not a man to throw his words away.

“You might see Mrs. Rayner at once, and return by and by,” he said; and Rayner gladly escaped, and went home with the wonderful news he had to tell his wife.

And now a second time he was back, and was urging upon the commanding officer the necessity of telegraphing and capturing Mrs. Clancy.  In plain words he told the colonel he believed that she had escaped with the greater part of the money.  The colonel smiled: 

“That was attended to early this morning, captain.  Hayne and the major asked that she be secured, and the moment we found her fled it confirmed their suspicions, and Billings sent despatches in every direction.  She can’t get away!  She was his temptress, and I mean to make her share all the punishment.”