Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-25
Copyright. 1891. by A. N Kellogg Newspaper Co.
CHAPTER xI.-CoNrINuED.

Copyright. 1891. by A. N. Kellogg Newspaper Co.
CHAPTER XL-CoNrINUED.
"Let us stroll down this path, Besant,
and intercept him at the gap yonder.
We may get something out of him any
how
with pleasure, Major" and the two
officers started for the point suggested.
Evidently there was something on the
Majors mind, Frank thought, as they
walked slowly down the path, for he
was generally FATTY and agreeable
enough, but now seemed moody and dis
Inclined to talk.
'.You seem out of sorts, Major, -
Frank said at last, really anxious about
his superior's manner.
''And well I may be, Frank. am
very much concerned about Charlie Full
ton-not so much for his sake as for his
fathers, who is an old and tried friend
of many years"
sob, Charles all right. SIR Frank
said. confidently.
''You think SO. Well, am sorry to
say do not agree with you. Now, do
not like to ask you boys to tell tales Of
one another out Of school. and want
you to quite understand that 1 am actu-
ated by no motives hostile to young
Fulton's interests, So
81 quite understand that, Major"
''Wen, do you know any thing about
young lady named Lascelles?''
Frank was too amazed to speak. He
was certain that not-one living soul but
himself and young Fulton knew their
secret. Fulton, for his own sake, would
not have been likely to mention her to
any one, and he was positive her name
had never dropped from his lips. &
''Ah, see you have heard of her-for
Gods sake, Frank. hope you are not
mixed up in this scrape?" His tone was
SO earnest and sympathetic that Franks
conscience smote him. Ell
81 am in no scrape, Major"
s'No, was wrong to doubt you, my
boy; but was afraid Fulton had drawn
you into some connivance with his guilty
correspondence with this woman"
.'Guilty correspondence You amaze
me, Major Hopkins
''Yet. am afraid there is no other
expression that will describe it. With
out betraying confidence, can not ex-
plain to you what information has
reached me, or how have gained it,
but know that Fulton met Miss
Lascelles in Nashville more than once,
and. from something that has Just oc-
CURED, 1 am suspicious that onr every
movement is communicated to her, and
through her to Others"
''Oh, sir. Impossible! would stake
my life that Charlie Fulton could never
be so base!'' 84
"Nay, you misunderstood me, Frank.
Do not for one moment suppose that I
imagine Colonel Fulton's SON could ever
be a traitor. He has sinned unlxnow-
ingly: at least that's how Z read it.
Caught in the fascinating tolls Of this
handsome, but INSCRIPTIONS, young
woman, he has allowed himself to be
cajoled by her into giving her valuable
information. 1 can picture to myself
the bait with which she has played him
the tender inquiries about him and
his doings, his whereabouts, his ex-
pected journeyings here and there, his
friends, his little bits Of camp news
all SO interesting to one who loves him.
Pshaw, it is the old tale of Delilah over
again, and if you and do not put our
heads together, our poor young Sam
son will be surely shorn Of all his
locks
Franks brain seemed in q whirl.
''Major Hopkins" he said at last, ssyou
asked me few moments ago if knew
Miss Lasceles, and then evaded your
question. do know that lady, and I
I'm going to tell you how and where 1
made her acquaintance. But first
need your word of honor as a gentleman
that you will never reveal to any one
what may tell you-no. not even II you
stood on your oath before q court
martial
81 never will-so help me Heaven"
the Major declared, with as much
solemnity as though he stood before q
whole bench of judges.
Then Frank related from first to last
his adventures with Mary Lascelles,
emitting only the little episode of the
garden and her gentle hints of prefer
ence for himself, which the honest lad
was 10th to believe even now were any
thing but sincere.
By this time the mounted stranger
had approached short, thick-set old
man, dressed in the garb of minister,
with Bible and hymn book sticking con-
spicuously out of his coat-pocket, and
mounted on a lanlk, ill-fed mule.
He greeted them warml- as he rode
up to them.
"Ah, gentlemen" he said, cit is in
deed a blessed privilege to see North
ern face in this unhappy country, where
1T is a crime to remember that one once
swore fealty to the stars and stripes -
Both officers shook hands with him.
you are a Northerner?' the Major
asked.
Eyes, by birth and education, but the
best years of my life have been spent in
Tennessee and Georgia, and other
Southern States, for soldiers path
you know is ever wandering one"
"a soldiers. you say? Have you ever
served?''
cam not serving now, friend? Are
we not both soldiers-you of the sword,
of the cross?''
''Oh, yes, exactly did not look at
it in that light, Mr.. - he paused for
the stranger to fill up the blank
abel Green, or as the simple folk
around here generally dub me-Parson
Abe"
well, Mr.. Green, / am right glad we
have met, not only that it Las given me
pleasure to shake hands with North
<arn man down here Int hecausa I GOO