Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-06-13

7I; $ g ~; + 1 !!
"PERMrr ME TO REMARK TO You, sm.''
done any damage to me and do not COM
plain. II it binders the travel in the public
street. if there should result any disturb
ance OF the quiet and good order of the
neighborhood, it is your business to take
the necessary measure to put stop to such
state of affairs For my part, should be
glad not to have to mix in these crowds
every time I go out or when come in"
After these words he threw himself back
in his chair like q man who had finished
speaking and had said all he had to say.
"Permit me to remark to you, SIR" said
the chief Of police, very politely, " that the
present. situation can not be prolonged.
The gatherings OF which you are the cause
are not of dangerous character; it is a
restrained and local movement; but if
prompt measures are not taken It will
spread to the nelghboring localities, and on
the day when it is generally known that
there is agitation around your house you
will have the whole city under your win
dows.'
ST should be sorry, Iassure you, Mr. Chief
OF Police, if this should give any annoyance
to the city authorities but it does not con-
Germ me. If there is any disorder in the
street you have at your disposal the means
for its repression. Take your platoons of
police; if that is not sufficient, send for the
soldiers of the National Guard, and if the
movement takes . dangerous aspect you
will have it in your power to call out the
artillery. But do not understand why you
should address yourself to me in this cir
cumstance. What am to do?"
GAS you ask me, sir, will tell you plain
ly. The reason of these crowds whose I'M
usual presence you have remarked yourself
in street habitually so quiet, is the disap-
pearance of your wife. 1 do not know what
may have given birth to the rumors which
are af1oat; but it is said that for several
days she has been absent from her home,
and they even go so far as to accuse you of
a crime. do not doubt for moment that
all these rumors are without foundation.
But If you are willing to give me an expia-
nation Of your wife's absence, shall then
be able to contradict all the reports which
are afoat on her account, reassure public
opinion and calm the fears of the people.'
Mr.. Brownlow rose, and in q few words
put an end to the chiefs visit.
Il have no explanation to give you, sir"
said he, concerning the disappearance of
Mrs. Brownlow. The fact of her being alb
sent can not constitute on my part an in
fraction against the laws or regulations of
the police, and il l am accused Of a crime,
it is the business Of the proper authorities
to fine the proof"
After this the chief of police had nothing
else to do but retire He had gathered no
information to satisfy public curiosity, but
to put his responsibility at cover he made
out long report upon all the rumors OF
the quarter, upon the conversation he had
had with the accused, and he gave . cor
rect plan of the situation OF the house.
This was the first part Of the brief.
The press could remain silent no longer
upon the event Several journals had re-
ceived already letters from their subscrib-
ers, in which they complained that there
was never any mention In their news
paper of the accidents and crimes which
took place on Fifth avenue. it would ap-
pear that their columns were reserved for
the more central quarters of the city or for
. few privileged suburbs, as it all portions
Of the city should not be SUBJECT to equal
treatment after their annexation, particu-
larly under . republican form OF govern
ment.
But as soon as the affair had become the
object OF u report OF the police, the news
papers began to speak OF it. 1t was at first
in vague terms they contented themselves
with saying that . fashionable quarter OF
the city was in great excitement on account
of the sudden and Unexplained disappear
ance of q young woman belonging to the
best society, but that they did not wish to
make themselves the echo of the grave &C
cusations which were as yet formulated
only in q whisper. The. next day news
paper, more bold or moro pressed for
money than others, told in full the name OF
the street. It was the journal that gave
the most complete details; one of its re-
spOrters knew the dramatic author who had
given the theater tickets to the maid; he
could thus interview her, and, thanks to
the indications which she was only too
much 1attered to furnish him, he was en-
abled to inform his readers that the name
OF the young woman was Leonora, and that
OF her husband Gustave; he described the
furniture and gave some detailed informa-
ton upon the habits of the house.
This number of the newspaper came into
the hands of the lady's parents; her father
came hurriedly to the house of his son-in-
law and at once he asked him:
"What have you done with my daughter?"
81 have done nothing with her. sir"
"Where IS she!"
81 don't know
''Then you will tell me nothing about hera"
"No, sir.''
CHAPTER IL
The lady's father understood at once that
he would only lose time by insisting; he
questioned the servants, went to the chief
of police and gathered all possible informa-