The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1894-10-19
CHAPTER XVI

| mert. were to Itendrlci-.; . he 1-r5t greet
ton that the forces of society
had IL some way put facts enough to-
gethcr 20 variant an intelligent at
tempt to run him down. Whatever
theory these officers had been working
on had been summarily frustrated by
Hendricks taking them both prisoners.
He had, with his usual Quicl1ness of
decision, summed up the whole chain of
consequences. Their mission was a
secret one and only the secret service
department knew of it, but their dis
appearance would speedily bring about
his place the whole enginery of the
government. He expected to be be-
sieged in the end, but as war on a
large scale had been part of his calcu-
lation from the start this did not deter
him. He calculated as usual with great
shrewdness on the clement Of time,
and he felt sure that if the under
ground rendezvous could be kept from
the knowledge of the public until all
! his plans were matured he would pre-
serve an enormous advantage even in
fight with the government.
In order to narrate what occurred in
the Laran at this time it is necessary
to go back to Miss Laport.
Miss Laport was a slender and pretty
girl of twenty. with serious gray eyes, q
great abundance of beautiful wavy
chestnut hair and rather pensive oval
face, in which there were Indications
Of strong character and much spiritual
ity. She had received an excellent
education when her fathers means
were ample and she had suffered deeply
when his disgrace came. She was now
living life of expectancy and mystery,
waiting only for the release of her
father to redeem the promise early
made to go away with him and forget
in some distant place their wrongs and
their troubles. Placed under Fenning
in Memphis she proved a valuable
amanuensis and clerical assistant.
She worked patiently and uncomplain-
ingly and got to know great deal of
the confidential business that was car
ried on between the Bayou house and
the office. She awakened Jennings
interest and respect and she was CRATE
full for his consideration and care Of
her, and when he began to cvince a
deeper interest she did not repulse
him, although he awakened in her
none of the emotions to which girl of
her age is susceptible. She treated
Fenning with an undisguised kindness,
for he had shown real solicitude in
her personal comfort and her future
welfare. and had secured for her o
handsome salary which she scrupulors-
ly put in the savings bank.
When they went to Laran Mrs. Hen
bricks treated her as an equal and 4
guest. But if it had not been for Fen |
ming. her life there would have been |
monotonous enough. He secured for |
her the latest books, took her out for |
long rides and looked after her amuse-
mcnt and comfort in thousand ways.
But Jennings was evidently not the
nature to touch her deeply. His cool, |
mind may have won her
admiration when she saw it exercised
in crisis or dilemma, but it did not
move her affections. She was under
heavy obligations to Fenning and she
would not hurt his feelings. The mo-
ment that Lieut.. Stocking became
guest in the house. the whole aspect of
things changed. Here was passion
ate, heroic and emotional southerner,
who immediately exercised over her
an influence that she could not resist.
His nature was the antithesis and the
of hers. He was imrnedi1
ately attracted by her. They came to-
-
which had been enjoyed
with Fenning now wore 4 new ardor
of romance. l brief, these young per-
sons fell instantly and deeply in love.
When. therefore, on that morning of
the fight. she had seen him wounded
and dragged fighting to the signal
room, her Indignation was unbounded
and her misery uncomfortable. She
knew enough of Hendricks affairs to
suspect that he was in some way acting
in opposition to the authorities, and
she had gathered from Stocking some
thing Of the peculiar nature of his
visit. When, therefore, he disappeared
down the shaft, her heart sank within
her. She believed that he would never
return. In this wretchedness she took
to her room until Mrs. Hendricks en-
deavorcd to extricatc her from her de-
spair. That lady foUnd her in a con-
dition of morbid melancholy from
which it was no easy matter to rescue
her. and it did not take her long to as
certain that contact with the lieuten-
ant had changed the girls views ma
She wanted to go away and
reminded Mrs. Hendricks that Hen
bricks had promised to release her
father at the expiration of a year. To
this Mrs. Hendricks replied that he
had been at liberty to go for some time
but had become interested in the COM
pletion of gun and was staying vol /.
to see it tested. She further ,
insisted that Lieut.. Stocking would be
treated well, and probably was anxious
TO communicate with her in the signal
room. This brought about . request
from Mrs Hendricks to Hendricks to
let Stocking speak to her through the
telephone, and the lieutenant was sur ,
arico6 "a hoax HavAvsnlre ear. SsHvl~-l