Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-03-30

FLUSH, sirl No one shall speak SO
about anyone I-lksr'
They were very close to the parlor
door and to each other. He bent over
her bright face, its eyes glowing softly
through suspicious moisture, and
Well, it was perhaps fortunate that
Miss Bessie had been correct in her.
statement: 1.-THE coast is clear
Carolyn Clay was pacing her self-im-
posed prison very restlessly when the
pair entered.
81 thought you would never come"
she cried, impatiently, to the man.
''Well, are we ready at last? Cam go
to-night?'
eyes," he replied. promptly; ''to-
night"
.'Then you have heard from-him?"
She dropped her eyes and her color
heightened at the question, but she
eagerly grasped the paper he held out
for answer.
Swiftly her eye ran over it once and
again. Then she seized the large
| shovel, thrusting it between the CRATE
bars far into the glowing Goals. And
once more she fell to studying the let
| ter, her companions looking on in some
| wonderment.
.'You understands she asked Mckee.
| abruptly ''You see what he means?''
vaguely, only. Carroll and I are
both at sea for the full meaning-for
the reason of writing to him.
| For answer Miss Clay drew the shovel
| from the Goals, striking the dust from
| it and folding a newspaper smoothly over
it. Then she pressed the letter firmly
down upon the hot surface.
Come" she said, briefly. ''Read be-
tween the lines.''
| And all three watched eagerly as the
wide blank spaces began to fill with
| faint red characters, rapidly changing
to dark brown as they read:
'"The river is patrolled, but both
banks are clear. Lose no time. A freeze
might delay you for days. Pete will re-
cross Friday night. Your escort is
watched-half suspected. Too many
passes asked. Get another driver-one
less familiar. God.speed and guard your
| There was dead silence as Miss Clay
slowly removed the paper, the mystic
characters gradually fading out as it
cooled. Then she said, calmly:
eff you are suspected, the risk is too
great. Who else, that you trust, knows
! the rOad?"
y
youth answered, with chivalric modesty
contrasting strangely with his boyish
pettishness shown below. ''It is my
right and plighted privilege. Old Pete
| will do more for me than for any man;
and fear no risk
cit is double risk" she replied, de-
cisively- equally for me as for your
self. Some other must go. Can you
trust no one?''
Carroll Meredith, perhaps. No, he
is well known; those suspecting me
would shadow him Also" he began
thoughtfully. He pondered moment
deeply, a smile, strange at such a mo-
rnent, passing once or twice across his
lips before he asked, suddenly:
"You will go, unquestioning, with
anyone l send, no matter how singular
my choice?'
''With any you can trust" she an
swered, calmly.
81 trust this one, as would myself,
he replied. ''Be ready at three o'clock
the moon is down then. Dawn to-mor
row will see you well on the way to lib
erty and home"
you are true, good friend, Mr.. Nc
Kee," the woman answered, feelingly
God knows-though cannot say-hov
I thank you! I will be ready at three. ,
She held out her hand. ''Is this good
by?"
No; only au revoir, think. I viii
see you again, most probably
Hewas at the front door again. But
had the debt of obligation been ter
times as heavy, Mckee would have felt
it paid in full by the tone in which an
other voice whispered, after a hurried
conference in the hall:
''Such a novel idea! And so good o,
you to trust me, Willie! God speed ant
prosper you, brave-de07' boy!"