Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-07-28

The winter passed and spring came
with its flooding rains The streams
and ponds in the vicinity, fed by the
rain and melting snow, rose higher
than ever before. The Bottomless Pit
was now a lake with an island of cat
tails and flags here and there, and
water being but foot or two below
the railroad track.
For two days, a heavy storm, accom-
panied by a considerable downfall, had
been blowing from the northeast. Al
and started out late one afternoon
supposedly to take survey of the
havoc wrought by the storm, but really
to look in at Uncle HIS. Neither of us
had seen bim for almost week, for
the weather had been such that walk
to the outskirts of the village where
the old man lived was not particularly.
agreeable.
We walked on the track which
crossed the swamp. and as we stood
there train from the direction of the
village came laundering along and we
stepped to one side while it passed.
''My gracious, Joe, did you notice
how that train shook us up?" exclaimed
Al, after it had passed. SIT really
seemed to me as though the ground
trembled. After all. perhaps Uncle Hi
is right about there being no bottom to
this swamp"
sob, nonsense!" interrupted sharp
ly. "Let's go over and see how the old
gentleman's getting on"
The fire had died out In the stove, the
hearth was unswept, and the scanty
furniture was scattered about in great
confusion, although Uncle Hi was al
ways very neat about his bachelor
housekeeping. At the farther end of
the room was the old mans bed and as
we entered wild-eyed figure sat up
among the pillows and stared at us. 1t
was Uncle Hi. but so terribly changed
that he was hardly recognizable.
| His gray hair and beard were matted,
the latter sweeping the breast of his
soiled night-shirt. His face was ashy-
gray. excepting where spot of red
glowed bright on either cheek. His
! eyes were Withholding and rolled rest
lessly. Both Al and l sprang forward
to his bedside.
'.I'm-so-glad you've-come, boys"
he said feebly, catching his breath be-
tween each word.
''Why, how long have you been sick,
uncle. and what's the matter?" I in
quired, striving to straighten out the
! bed clothes while AL went to work to
build a fire.
"It's-been-been coming on several
days / didn't get out-to--lool1 at the
track but twice last night. Isis it all
right?" he managed to gasp.
Its all right, uncle" 1 replied, as
cheerily as possible. Don't try to
talk, but lie still. Well have some
|
to AL in lower tone 1 said: zone of
us must go at once for DR.. Price. 1 be-
lieve the poor old fellows got pneu-
monia."
"Tll CO." declared Al, at once. ''Im
no good around where anyones sick, y
| and he hurried into his coat again.
Hear them shriek-hcre them
shriek,'' he would say, starting wildly
up in bed. They'll all go down to-
gether in the Bottomless Pit! Oh, why
wasn't there to warn them!'
! And then he would try to spring out
of bed and go to warn the train, which,
in his delirium, he saw about to plunge
| into the swamp. could hardly hold
him while soothed him as best 1 could.
Half hundred times before my chum
returned 1 made believe run out at the
old mans instigation to stop the train.
! When Al did return Uncle Hi was cas-
| Ter, but much weaker. too, L could
plainly see. AL reported that DR.. Price
was away from home, but would re-
turn in an hour. and he had left word
| for him to come down at once.
cts dreadful night outside de-
clared my chum with q shiver. ats
black as Egypt and the winds blowing
great guns. Do you think he's very
bad?" he added in lower tone, inclin-
ing his head toward the bed.
81 don't believe he'll last long" 1 re-
piled, and am not ashamed to say that
there was choke in my voice as l said
the words. We all loved Uncle Hi
Al remained>silent and we both sat
gazing at the tea kettle which had com
menced to sing upon the stove. Uncle
Hi had dropped into a state between
| waking and sleeping, and was not de.
lirious.
'.Joe," at last 1 heard him whisper
from the bed.
I sprang up at once and went to him.
-my-lantern-there in the
corner-and-and look at-the track"
81 reckon the tracks all right,
uncle" 1 said. I saw that he was per-
fectly sensible, and that there would
be no use in trying to fool him.
do as tell you, Joe" he exclaimed,
and his voice for the moment grew
firmer 81 have a feeling that all is
not right. In tep minutes the express
from the north is due, and suppose that
track should be washed away"
''Tll go, Joe," said Al, who had come
to the bedside, looking. with plying
eyes at the poor old man.
eff anyone has got to go out I'll so, y
1 said, decidedly. putting on my coat.
Its my turn
! Hurry, Joe, hurry" cried Uncle Hi,
sitting up in bed, and / could see that
he was growing delirious again
1 seized the lantern and plunged out
into the storm. At first had intended
to only stay outside the door for few
moments, for the storm was something
| awful to face; but something seemed to
impel me to go forward along the track.
Perhaps it was the earnestness with
which the old man had begged me to
go, and, being unable to shake off the
feeling, ] started to cross the Bottom
less Pit.
1 had not gone ten feet when sank
into the earth up to my knees, and the
pale CLEAN of the lantern showed me