Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-09-28


dearH' TO Marian. But the driver
narrative was not quite finished.
"Yes. ma am" he resumed; Il was
In Gibraltar at the time"
"In Gibraltar exclaimed Mrs. Val
lens. with more Of interest and surprise
In her tone than she had yet shown.
Yes, ma'am. l suppose you have
heard 81 the Rock Of Gibraltar? You
have. Perhaps you've seen it, ma ann"
continued the driver
Ies. have. But my young friend
is innhste TO get home. and must ask
YOU not TO delay" said Mrs. Nallens.
Her latter words were spoken rather
sharply as il she were vexed with her
self for having been led 10 admit any
thing To such a man. The driver took
the hint; and touching his soaked hat
again. led the way to the fly and opened
the door. Marian following and entering
the vehicle.
As they drove off. Mrs. Vallcns said
10 Margaret, who was an old familiar
servant: " almost dreaded To- let Miss
barnett go with that man; his manner
was so strange
"Lor' bless you, ma'am"' exclaimed
the attendant; che is all right. a'am:
it's only his way. l know he belongs
TO the circus, rs he says, for have seen
him about the doors every time have
gone into Sandsmouth, for months
past"
This was TO certain extent rcassur-
ing; but the features of the man and the
sound of his voice haunted the lady i'm
most unaccOuntablc manner.
Had Mrs. Nallens, or any one else,
indeed, been DESTROYS Of testing the cor
rcctncss of Miss Darnctt's story, no
great trouble need have been taken to
prove its perfect truth; for, rs it hap
pens tO most men who fall i'm love when
past the heyday Of life. Mr. Pike dis
played more carnestness in pressing his
suit with the girl Of whom he had so
suddenly become fascinated than would
have been shown by many mere lad.
who had the hot blood and the inexpe-
rience of youth TO excuse him. He NAV
have intended to be guarded at first;
but the opposition il met with irritated
the torrent it was intended TO check;
and. while half Sandsmouth was aware
of his suit. the whole of his establish
mcnt made common discourse of his
infatuatiOn.
Possibly Mr.. barnett had been too
communicative among his friends: per-
haps IL was merely official watchful-
ness which gave an inkling of the secret:
but certain twas that several ofthe staff
in Mr.. Pixies offices were very well in
formed of the position of afiairs-as
Philip Hartleby found He had received
some plain hints, and some well-meant
advice, while the distress Of Marian. and
the ominous silence of her father. showed
that those who took the gloomiest view
OF MIR. Fixes tactics were likely to be
right but he had never received such
detailed and definite information as
was given 10 him on one particular
afternoon, just as he was leaving the
Office. He happened TO be the last who
left on this occasion, and rs he closed
the office door after him he found.
standing outside. a clerk whom he had
seen go out fully five minutes before.
With friendly nod and word Of greet
ing. Phil was passing on, when the
clerk stepped close To him, and said in
a low tone: II was waiting to see YOU,
Mr.. Hartleby. / will walk little way
with you, if YOU have no objection"
Phil was rather surprised nj this mys-
toriOus commencement. but expressed
his willingness To have the young fell
lows company.
The latter continued: 81 hope YOU
will not think me intrusive, or as
meddling with what does not concern
me, Mr.. Hartleby, il | tell YOU that |
have learned something about Mr.. Oar
nett and his family"
Phil started visibly upon hearing this,
but did not speak.
IL have no doubt You know" contin-
ued the clerk, that what the governor
wants, and will have by fair means or
foul. is TO get Mr.. Darnett's daughter
to marry him?
Hartleby could not suppress a slight
groan in reply.
The young man looked nj him for an
instant with an air If ccmmiseration, a.
though he thoroughly sympathized with
him, and then hurriedly proceeded:
"He will have her. too, sir. If il is To be
done. know that some Of the men
who have bought from old barnett can
not meet their bills. which were given
ON the express understanding that they
should be renewed; but-and here comes
in the worst-Pike's solicitor has got
them from the man who discounted
thcm-of course, YOU can Judge who set
him To- wOrk-and he will not renew.
The consequence is. there will be a
smash, and poor old barnett will 90
first. ! am afraid you can't do much,
Mr.. Harleby; but although il was
hardly business-like for me To mention
what had heard, could not help Civ
ing you a chance TO see if anything
could be done"
Hartleby wrung the young fellow :
hand and thanked him briefly: but as
the other disappeared. his heart sank
TO think how truly his informant had
spoken when he said he feared Philip
could not do much. What could he do?
IL he held Marian 10 her engagement,
he believed she would bc true to him,
although she died in the struggle. She
must suffer; while her father would be
ruined, and his gray hairs indeed be
brought with sorrow % the grave.
That he himself would suffer also was
certain; but he was manly and resOlute
enough 10 care comparatively little
about this, even although he had reason
to think his dismissal with disgrace was
included in the programme
In this depressed mood. he felt no in
clinatiOn TO 90 home, but walked aim
lessly about the town until-when he
had quite forgotten where he was-he
turned the corner, and came suddenly
upon the great circus, now Just bursting
out into n blaze of gas, preparatory to
the opening of its doors for the evening.
As Philip crossed, to pass down the by
street along which the side of the circus
ran, he heard his name pronounced
aloud; and looking round, saw. some
what TO his vexation, the man who had
been engaged in the quarrel with Mr..
Pike. At the moment, he would have
preferred seeing almost any one to this
man; so, with a brief answer. he was
hurrying on, when the other called TO
him again.
What do you want?" returned Phil,
with n touch of irritation in his voice.
why, l want you," was the answer.
" I've been irving TO Oet round 10 vour