The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-01-14

/ interested party like CarriSton, but he
could scarcely expect others to relish
the prospect OF waiting. it might be fol
! hours, under that comfortless hedge.
! We were all wet to the skin, and al
though | was extremely anxious to see
! the end of the expedition, and find
! pOetical justice melted out to my late
| host, Carriston's Fabian tactics lacked
the excitement | longed for. Brand, in
spite of his disapproval of the whole
! course of action, was better of than
was As a doctor, he must have felt
sure that, provided he could survive the
| exposure, be would secure two fresh
patients. However, we made no pro-
test, but waited for events to develop
| themselves.
".
More than half an hour went by.
was growing numbed and tired, and
beginning TO think that we were max
| ing asses OF ourselves, when | heard the
rattle Of chain. and felt Carriston give
my arm warning touch. No doub;
my late host had made sure that his
new dOOr-faStenings were equal to a
stronger test than that 10 which | had
subjected the former ones; so we were
wise in not attempting to carry his
castle by force.
The door opened, and closed again.
| saw The feeble gl!mmer of Il lantern
moving toward the clubhouse in which
my horse had been stabbed. heard a
slight rustling in the hedge, and. stretch
ing out my arm. found that Carriston
had left my side. La the absence OF
any command from him, did not fol-
low, but resumed the old occupation
waiting.
In a few minutes the light of the
lantern reappeared; the bearer stood
on the threshold of the house, while
wondered what Carriston was doing.
Just as the door was opened for the
Doors re-admittance. a dark figure
sprang upon him! | heard fierce oath
and cry of surprise; then the lantern
flew out of the man hand, and he and
his assailant tumbled struggling
through the narrow doorway!
''HuTrah. the door is won, anyway"
| shouted, as, followed closely by the
doctor, jumped over the hedge and
rushed to the scene of the fray.
Although Carriston's well-cOnceived
attack was so vigorous and unexpected
that the man went down under it; al
though our leader utilized the advantage
he had gained in a proper and laudable
manner, by humping that thick bullet
head as violently as he could against
the flags on which ii lay; doubt ii,
after all, he could have done his work
alone. The countryman was a muscu-
lar brute and GARRISON but a STRIPPING.
However, our arrival speedily settled
the question.
Bind him!' painted Carr;ston;
There is cord in my pocket. " lie ap-
peared TO have come quite prepared for
contingencies. While Carriston still
embraced his PROSTATE foe, and Brand,
to facilitate matters, knelt on his Shout
ders, sat on his head. or did something
else useful, drew out from the first
pocket tried a nice length of half-inch
line, and had the immense satisfaction
of trusting up my scowling friend in a
most workmanlike manner. He must
have felt those turns on his wrists for
days afterward. Yet when we were at
last at liberty to rise and leave him ly-
ing helpless on the Kitchen floor. con-
slider exercised great self-denial in not
bestOwing a few kicks upon him. as he
swore ut us in his broadcast vernacular
in q way which, under the circUm-
stances, was no doubt a great comfort
to him.
For some moments. while recovering
mis- breath. Carriston stood and posi-
lively glared at his PROSTATE foe. At
last he found words.
. Where is she? Where is the KEY,
YOU hound?" he Numbered out, stoop-
ing over the fellow, and shaking him
with i violence which did my heart
good. AS he received no answer save
the unrecOrdable expressions above
mentioned, we unbUtioned the wretch'S
pockets, and searched those greasy re-
ceptacles. Among the usual litter we
did certainly find a KEY. GARRISON
snatched at it, and shouting Made
line. Madeline! | comet" rushed out
of the room ike maniac, leaving
Brand and me 10 keep guard over our
prisoners.
filled a pipe, lit it, and then came
back TO my fallen foe.
. say, old chap" l said, stirring
him gently with the toe of my boot,
- this will be lesson toy you. Remem-
Der, | told you that civility costs moth
ing. If you had given me Christian
bed accommodation instead of making
me wear out my poor bones on that in
fernal chair, YOU conid have logged
along in your rascality quite comfort
ably, so far as L am concerned"
He was very ungrateful-so much so
that my desire to kick him was intea-
sifed. l should not like to swear did
not to slight degree yield to the
temptation.
Push a handkerchief in his
cried Brand, suddenly. "A
lady is coming"
With right good will did as the
doctor suggested.
just then Carriston returned. l don't |
want to raise home tempests, yet
must say he was accompanied by the
most beautiful creature ny eyes had |
ever lighted upon. True. she was pale |
as lily-looked thin and delicate, and |
her face bore traces OF anxiety and suf-
fering, but for all that she was beauti- |
beautiful for this world, l |
thought as looked at her. She was !
clinging in hslf-frightened, half-con-
siding way to Carriston. aud he-happy |
fellow!-regardless OF our presence.
was showering down kisses on her |
sweet pale face. Confound it! grow
quite rom sntic as l recall the sight of
those lovers.
4 most curious young man, that Car |
riston! He came to us, the lovely girl |
on his arm. without showing trace of |
his recent excitement
Let US go now" he said, as calmly |
as If he had haar, taking q nuiat avan-