Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-01-17

hour or s0, - was the light hearted reply, -
the trio set out, the two younger men arm
in-arm, with Harry at . discreet distance IN
the rear.
vice held high rsvel in Washington in
those days, when the city was crowded
with men with pockets fun OF back pay, and
gamblers and cut-throats, seeming the spoil,
had gathered there from every great nty IN
the Union, 50 that there was scarcely q
block in certain quarters which could not
boast its Is hell of a more or less disrepu-
table character; but worse even than these
vate houses, which abounded on all sides.
eNumber fourteen-f1fst fat upstairs"
Platt cried to Harry, as they approached
modest house in an apparently respectable
row of tenements.
Harry went upstairs and rang the bell.
A slovenly young woman appeared, who
would have been handsome, but for the signs
Of dissipation and recent weeping manifest
in her pale face To her dress chung sweet
little girl. perhaps two years old, hiding in
the folds of her mothers gown, and peeping
at Harry with big, frightened blue eyes
Sam I speaking to Mrs. Chatterton!"
Winthrop said, gently, for the woman's
tears and baby's innocence melted his saw
age mood.
door. There is no need to let ali the neigh
borhood learn the nature of your visit-''
Somewhat astonished at his reception,
Harry stepped inside the little chamber.
Yes, young Plat had told the truth. On
bed with a white sheet over it, 1t lay, and
Winthrop knew that he was in the presence
of death
The woman lifted back the sheet.
eyes, look at him % she cried. ''The best
the noblest~ man who ever lived, and see
what you, and such as you, have brought
him to- You have come like the rest OF
your gang bringing me offers of money, but
tell them as tell you, your dollars are
stained with blood, and will have none of
them, even if 1 have to go to the parish to
bury him. Looki Are you satisfied with
your work!"
Yes, it was the body of William Chat
terton, whose guilty soul, Harry thought,
with a shudder, might even now be COVER
ing before the accusing spirit of his muir
dered friend. Then, as he looked once
more into the white face and the thought
flashed across his mind: vengeance is
mine, saith the Lord, will repay" he
turned away with a sigh of commiseration.
"Nay, madam" he said, ''do not mis-
judge me. am not one of your husbands
boon companions. I knew him some time
ago, but have not seen him for many
months. Will you not let me play the part
of the Samaritan and relieve your present
necessitiess'
She looked searcbingly at him for mo-
ment.
"No," she said, 81 see you are not one of
u.s."
"Then may help your
"Not in charity. For, base as Williams
friends would tell you that am, could not
bear the thought that he was laid to rest by
other hands than mine"
o wonderful love of woman! Even this
rufian had found a heart to love him and
believe in him.
"Perhaps I could purchase some little
trinkets that belonged to him?'' Harry
said, blushing at the policy of his sugges-
ton.
''Would yous" the woman asked, eager
1y. "NOw, there's his watch and chain.
I meant to sell them, and the second-h hand
dealers give so little for such things"
AS she spoke, she took from a drawer a
massive gold watch to which was attached
the very chain Harry had so long been
seeking. I must write to the governor for
some more money, Harry thought, as he took
the precious bauble in his hand. =
"They are worth two hundred dollars"
the woman said, "but shall be thankful
if you will give me hundred and fifty for
them.'
"No," Harry said; {" it is not a time to
the amount in full''
The prize was his. He fastened back to
the two young men, and to Platt's intense
satisfaction dismissed him and left him free
to prosecute that glorious career in the far
West he SO gushingly assured them would
crown his efforts for reformation.
"I'm deuced glad the little cad is gone,"
said Gordon Grey, for there have been
scores of quite the incest girls passing, and
it was not the giddy height of pleasure to
think they believed we two were chums.''
"Oh, the conceit of the cobbler's dog!"
Harry laughed, but his thoughts were with
Barclays widow and children, wondering
low best he could befriend them.