Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-01-29

know his best girls writing. Let's see
how she has addressed it, diving into
the waste-basket for the fatal ''red'
envelope. Its been done with stub.
There's not the slightest resemblance
to the inside. And she's forgotten 60
put personal on IT,
"Hence this thusness.'' said the flip
pant night police. I'D rather be ia
Dan Coughlan's shoes than yours
All the rest INDUCED in remarks
equally encouraging.
.'Oh, stop chatting and tell me how
I'm 20 get il back 60 him. I can't go
and take il 20 him; he'd knock me
down, and then there would be murder.
Any other kind OF a letter could ex-
plain the mistake, but he wouldn't be-
lieve me about this
''1f he doesn't get il che poor girl will
be made unhappy said the sporting
editor, pensively.
Eyes, it's only for her sake that 7
would take any trouble about IT," said
Tom, feelingly.
''Only see Tommy, che cynic, in the
role of injured loves protectors
''Ho, no, ha, ha, ha," chorused the lot.
Tom began to get ireful again. cts
ayvfully funny to you but il places me in
the deuce of fix. He hates me and
he'll swear did il on purpose
''Tell you how 90 do it, said the night
police, used to plots and counter plots.
PUT it into another envelope and write
a note in a ladylike hand stating il came
into your possession, but it's not neceS-
sary to tell how, and let him think what
he likes. I'll take it out to Ninety
seventh street and drop il in box. It's
Of such a nature that he'll never think
of asking us about it,
wonder how she happened to use
this hideous thing, any way?" said the
society editor, as he flliped the envel
ope contemptuously into the waste
basket with his polish ed, pointed-n nailed
thumb and fore-fnger.
''That's easily explained" said the
practical real-estate man. ''She lives
in a country town, where there is only
one mail day. Spoils her last en-
velope, uses one of papa's, and 60 make
the surprise more complete, borrows
his stub and pleaseS herself with the
delightful surprise her darling will
feel when he opens what he expects TO
find a prosy affair Of business. But, IN
fortunately, in the excitement of the
occasion she fOrgets the cabilistic word
that would have prevented all this mis-
chief"
The fatal letter was consigned TO the
night police for remailing, and il would
have been a frSt-rate plan had il been
| carried out. But there was a murder
out on. Ninety-seventh street and in the
| excitement of the moment HaZelton
| forgot IL.
Tom watched his superior slyly, just
! 10 see how the ''old man. acted when
! in love. That afternoon Mr.. Baird
| went through his letters more slowly
| and carefully.
Evidently he's been used TO getting
| 'em by this MALL unused Tom. But
| you won't till little later this time,
my boy"
He chuckled TO himself as he with
drew 60 his own desk.
| The next day the city editor went
through his mail twice, the last time
very impatiently. He was cross that
day, and all the fellows watched him
with interest, and Tom confided 20
them that for sonae reason or other sit
hadn't come YETI
That evening the night police didn't
show up for his assignment. He was
sick in bed with che grippe, and he did
not return for three days Meanwhile,
the city editor ~aXed crosser and more
unbearable. The city room was on the
point of a strike en- masse, but it was
with ''cowhide" they wished 60 do il,
and try its potency on their chief.
The third afternoon the city editor
was observed by Tom 20 pen brief
note on plain paper, which he inclosed
in plain envelope, not using the office
stationary: This in itself was ominous.
He went in and reported 20 his fellow
conspiratOrs.
Boys, i'm afraid it's all up with that
poor girl! He wrote her three lines
and went and dropped it. into the box
/ himself. And to my knowledge that
| letter hasn't come YETI
| Il wish night police would show up,
may be he could explain it!'' said Smith.
| AS if in answer TO the wish he did a
that moment come in, looking pale and
| ill.
| Soon a group collected in the farthest
| corner, and Tom said:
| ''Hazleton, do you know that con-
founded letter hasn't comeyet?''
| cit hasn't! Why, that's strange!
mailed it the night of the Ninety
seventh street murder. / dropped it in
just as I heard the first shot and then
| started to run as ="
Here a curious expression passed over
his face and he faltered.
"Boys, I remember now. 1 had got
to the box and was reaching in my
pocket for it when 1 heard those two
| shots, and / rushed off and haven't
thought of it from that day to this!''
Then he drew forth from its retreat
the identical epistle.
Tom said: ''Give it to me. I'll take
| it to the post-offce. Better late than
never"
The letter received in answer to Kit
j tvs must have been heart-rendinp in
deed, and there were only three lines OF
| it.
MISS BROWN: I understand your silence
and construe it as it is doubtless meant that
all is over between u.s. FRANK BAIRD
Tom caught glimpse of a very shor,
note, the chirography Of which was