Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-05-28
..Mr. Drane, ! came to this CITY be-

s. LODGE. KANSE
'sMr. Drane, came to this city be-
cause believed that you were i'll and in
trouble, and hoped to help you as you
once helped me. A young man, whom
believe to be representative of the
press, directed me to this house. That
explains my presence; but, of course.
can stay no longer. / must say good
bye"
There, sir; didn't l tell you your
name was Dranev' exclaimed Rev. Mr..
Knowles, who had been fairly bursting
with desire to say 1t since Bessies
first word had been uttered.
"Bessie-Mrs. HarlandI' cried Drane,
choking with love, rage and other emo
tions which af1ict the young, 81 swear
to you that this is all hideous mistake.
l have never seen this woman before to-
day, and don't care to see her again
till the day of Judgment, on which oc-
casion may she escape her deserts! She
was hanging round my neck for some
insane purpose of her own; and this
gentleman"-and Drane softened his
voice and bowed to Mr.. Knowles-"per-
sists that he married us"
"Marriedl' cried Bessie, and she sank
back again upon the sofa.
But he didn't, you know" cried
Drane, Fastening toward her. Hes
nesr-sighted or something, and she real
ly married my necktie-oh. give my
word, don't know what I'm saying,
but IL Bessie, love you, God
knows, and every beat Of my heart has
been faithful to you since my eyes first
rested on your face. May"
''Sirl'' cried Rev. Mr.. Knowles, in a
voice Of thunder. "This is moro than
can permit. Will you make love to an
you young villain?"
But this rebuke fell UNDECIDED, for
Drane's unexpected declaration had
proven too much for Bessie's nerves al
ready deeply shaken, and she had fallen
into faintness, as deep, to all appear
ances, as death itself. Drane sprang
forward to her side, and Rev. Mr..
Knowles puttered along after him.
Nellie, too, was moved by the sight OF
her former mistress pallid face, and she
bid fair to be of more real use than
either of the men. But they were al
in earnest, and SO intent upon their task
that they did not see the door open, nol
did they know that any one had entered
till a harsh voice said: Lawrence
Drane, ye bloomin' lunatic, I've got tc
take yer in!''
Drane turned to confront Jimmy and
the two policemen.
CHAPTER XII
VIRTUES OF NECESSITY.
At this point in Mr.. Drane's adven-
lures he ought to have met the emer-
gency with calmness and a ready wit.
He had certainly experienced quite
enough of encounters with the police;
but, law-abiding citizen that he was,
having an innate and cultivated respect
for the guardians Of the peace and faro
banks, the more he encountered thei1
power the weaker he was to resist them
Therefore, when he was hustled out OF
the good old parsons study he went
with blind acquiescence to cruel fate
mems consciG recti, but very much cast
down nevertheless.
In the hallway of the parsons house
| however, he pulled himself together
and demanded the cause of his arrest
The policemen were by no means will
| ing to explain; they really believed
that they had a dangerous maniac OF
hand, and Jimmy, the reporter, was OF
the Qui rice to get good news item an(
a reward at the same time. However
as Mr.. Drane resisted, Jimmy finall,
produced this telegram from a New
York newspaper:
Rush interview with Drane. Maj
held here proved to be sane and not th'
right one.'
Just one ray of Joy shone against th'
dark background of Mr.. Drane's pros
poets in this dispatch-the tramp, i'm
properly confined as insane at his in
stance, had been released. Thinking o
that as of one sin which had been for
| given, Lawrence bowed his head and &C
companied the policemen out of doors
| An officer was at either elbow and Jim
my pranced along behind. AS Mr.
Drane was very quiet no especial at
| tention was attracted until they cam
to the door of the Beaver House. Their
a man was slowly descending the steps
looking vastly worried and out of sorts
It was the tramp. He had Mr.. Drane'
clothes on and he appeared to be Il
| hard luck. When he saw the officer
and their convoy sailing down tn
street he stopped suddenly and looke'
hard at the prisoner with q wildl
angered expression on his face, 1t wa
| kLn
! thus, but in that moment his reasoning
| faculties went through tremendou
operation. This was about the sui
stance of it:
"Hellol there's Lawrence Dranei
stole his clothes and his name and mai
ried in both of them an awfully ric
widow. He got back at me by stealth
his clothes again and getting me 1
hook. He even inveigled me into a
insane asylum. He is even now gu:
pected of being lunatic. Now kno'
that he is not only sane. but that haV
been the cause Of his misadyentures.
further know that the Kansas City me
who declared this morning that wa
not Drane, will be here by the mex
train from New York and will free thi
man from all his troubles. He is tr'
mendousiy rich and good-natured. D
me If don't do him good turn"
This chain Of reasoning was so speed
ly accomplished that by the time Law
renee and the policemen were opposit
the Beaver House door, the tramp ha
resolved upon his course of action. q
ran down the steps pell-mell, seize
Lawrence by the hand and exclaimed:
well, WE'LL to see you again and
this SHAPED I'm delighted and everlas
ingly relievedr'
/ - -
s., q