Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-04-02


THE HEALTH OF MR.. HUNTLY
was coming upon him,as. indeed, it
was. The privat1on had been too much
for him, and to that, along with his
unnatural surroundings of accumulated
filth, he finally succumbed. Before
another day dawned he was in de-
lirious fever, and all that his captors
could hear him cry was: ''Armida!
Armida!''
For days did he lie in this terrible
state, attended only by Gaucho, who
professed knowledge Of medicine, and
who was the person always called upon
to administer to the sick whenever
such were found about the place.
Percy possessed strong constitution,
and, fortunately, pulled through. with
the assistance of the Gaucho doctor.
self-haggard in appearance and about
half his normal weight. Certainly,
none of his friends would have known
him. 1t was several weeks after he
passed the critical stage of his fever
before he was able to walk about, and
then his guardians would not permit
him to stroll far beyond the door.
A rude bench had been constructed
Just outside the hut, upon which he
would sit for hours at a stretch, ponder
ing over the exciting adventures he
was passing through and wondering
how it was all going to end. He did
not know where he was and could not
form the slightest idea. From the num-
Der of little islands which lay in the
river he saw running through the val
ley about a mile away he judged it must
be Rio de la Plata, or River Plate as it
is better known to English speaking
people. Still, he could form no defin-
lite opinion, but thought that in case he
was for tunate enough to make his es-
cape it would probably provide the
means Of carrying him back to Buenos
Ayres. There was not an hour during
which a little steamer or craft of some
kind did not pass.
Thus did he spend many weary
hour until his strength began to return,
and he commenced to display more enc
ergy in looking for means of escape.
But before he could find one a cloud
was thrown over his prospects by the
appearance of the tall Spaniard who
had acted as Emerick's second at the
duel.
It was early in the afternoon when
that unwelcome visitor arrived and he
at once came to Percy. In a hooking
tone he asked after the health of Mr..
Huntley, and said that he regretted to
hear that he had been i'll. To all his in
quiries and remarks Percy paid but lit
tie attention and made but brief replies.
After awhile the Spaniard asked
Percy what had become of the suit of
clothes he wore when he came north,
and to this question Percy replied:
''These beasts whom you placed in
charge of me took them and with them
they took all the money and valuables
possess"
''Ah, yes, that is so," said the Span
lard. I'VE needed that suit to put on
another dead Englishman who died a
few miles below San Pedro a short time
since. According TO my contract with
your estimab1e friend, Mr.. Limerick,
you were to have f1oated down that
river, but humanely decided to spare
your life. and have resolved to make
use of you on this farm. You will, no
doubt, make yourself handy when you
recover, and these handsome gentlemen
by whom you are surrounded will take
care that you do not escape
Il would almost rather have f1oated
out to sea, down that river. than be
compelled to make my home among
such set of evil-looking villains az
there are here Even my life will
never DO safe in their hands" said
Percy.
Never fear, they will not hurt you
as long as you behave yourself" re-
sponded the Spaniard
no BIZ cozTINuED.l