Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-07-12
CHAPTER TX.


"MRs. Z. pRANK."
As tho train began its rumbling jour
ney into tho night Mr.. Dranc felt wild
exultation. He was escaping from the
scenes Of the utmost misery he had ever
experienced. and he was going TO see
the most adorable girl in the world. The
more no thought Of 1t the moro the
tramp's story about his marriage ap'
peared to be absolute fiction-and yet,
the fellow had been so confident, so un-
mistakably pleased with his prospectsl
And Bessie had said that she lived in
Buffalo. Was she deceiving him, and
Mrs. Bowers, too? It was all very
strange. Why had he not taken the
precaution to learn the tramp's real
name? Had he gone and married Bessie
under the name Of Drane?
Lawrence shivered until he recalled
that tho tramp had known Bessie in
childhood and therefore could not pass
himself to her under false name. This
was some comfort, but as he puzzled on
over tho situation he began to doubt
whether he had done wisely in running
away from his Kansas City friends who
had come to New York to find him.
Undoubtedly, however, they would have
declared that tho story Of his advent
ures was the Pigment Of q disordered
brain.
So, with perplexities and doubts his
exultation gave way to anxiety, and
even the prospect Of seeing Bessie again
failed to relieve his mind Of trouble.
1t was long past midnight when he
reached New Haven. A cab took him
to the Beaver House, where he was de-
MED admission because all rooms were
taken. Leaving an application for the
first vacancy, he found accommodations
elsewhere, sleepy Waterman, grum-
bling immodcrately, showing him to
tiny chamber on the top floor. When
he came downstairs in the morning to
pay his bill the clerk politely requested
him to register, q formality that had
been neglected. Certainly no would
comply, and with a determination,
formed in fash, to sail under truo col
ors, no wrote his name and address with
a bold, legible hand. Then he stood DO.
fore tho window, apparently gazing idly
into the street, really absorbed in form
ulating a plan Of action. just rs Mr..
Drano was registering STRENGTHENING
young man with notebook in one hand
and pencil in the other entered the Of
T. ,,,ntAA1 had
withdrawn from the counter and then
began industriously to copy the names
and addresses from the big book. The
clerk greeted him jocularly:
"Well, Jimmy, what's the news to-
day?"
Read the Evening Dispatch and find
out" was the smart reply.
This brilliant repartee had done serv-
ice for opening the conversation be-
tween the clerk and the shrewd young
man daily for many months, and it is
probably so serving still. There Is moth
ing like having witty rctort that is
warranted not to wear out.
Tho young man copied rapidly down
the page until no came to the last page.
Then he paused and scowled an instant,
after which he wrote Lawrence Drane,
Kansas City, Mo-, No. S46, pd.," very
slowly, and turned about slyly to scru-
tinize the broad back Of the gentleman
at tho window.
"Any thing up, Jimmy?" asked the
clerk, observing this action.
Jimmy winked and nodded mystcri-
ously, and began to search among the
lying on tho writing table.
no found New York paper
Of the day before and turned 70 the ac-
count Of Mr.. DrAne's escape and the re-
ward offered for his capture.
81 thought sol" he said, with tri.
umphant grin, while the clerk looked
on in undisguised curiosity. Jimmy
gave him no comfort. Instead, he
heightened the clerks emotion by sit
ting down where he could see Mr..
Drane's face and scanning the paper
again with frequent glances upward for
''Mustache gone and clothes differ
ent," he muttered; but IL must DO the
nan. / wonder whether he'll become
violent and murder mo II I speak to
him. Perhaps ] can inveigle him to
police station"
While Jimmy vas still debating what
20 do to scoop" tho boys on big piece
If news and gain q humping reward,
Lawrence decided upon his own course
md started to leave the hotel. Jimmy
vas on his feet instantly and intcr-
,epted him.
''Mr. Drane. l believer" he said, In
errogativcly.
Eyes," replied Lawrence, with start
" surprise.
Lawrence Drano, of Kansas City,"
continued Jimmy.