Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-09-06
CHAPTER XXI.

This information, disappointing n
II was, produced II marked change l.
Calicot. Ills nervous anxiety CAV
place to a grim look Of concentration
and he grew visibly paler every day
The intelligence that he received il
three days, through Miss Endicoti
amazed and excited him in spite Of hi
seli-control. lie learned that Hen
bricks had captured the gunboat. II!
had 10 get ut the facts of the case from
separate information and from Hen
bricks orders, but he learned enough
10 convince him that the commando
IN the boat had been led into negli
gence by not finding human soul h
the vicinity, and force Of his mer
had been surrounded and captured Ii
the wood, and u party sent to their re
lief had beer overwhelmed. 1t was q
dark night and two large attacking
forces from opposite sides Of the river
had surprised the boat and, after u des-
persts fight, taken possession Of her.
Hendricks had then gone aboard;
dressed bis own men in the uniform OF
the soldiers, and finding the books and
papers Of the commanding officer, had
got knowledge OF his orders, The
captured crew were sent TO the Laran
and the gunboat had gone up the Mis-
sissippi with her flag flying, apparent
ly under government orders. This
was on the night Of 9th 81 August. On
the It'll, the government stores at
Leavenworth were seized by I'M armed
force, the troops ut that place hay
Ing been reduced to single company,
owing to the withdrawal of the Sixth
United States infantry, and Troops A
and +, which had been sent to Paducah.
The arms, consisting Of six thousand
stands OF carbines, five twclve-poundcr
guns, three Gatlings and four brass
howitzers, with about fifty thousand
pounds Of ammunition, Ind been loaded
on the vessel ut Ieavcnworth and
started down the Missouri for ST.
Louis Before she reached the Missis-
sippi, Hendricks, apparently under or
ders, was looking for her, and captured
her about two miles above Alton. lie
then started for Memphis with her in
tow, having sent Il dispatch ut Alton,
publicly announcing tho victory Of
the United States gunboat. The con
sequence was, he was interfered with
on his way down the river, but instead
Of going to'Memphis, he ran into the
bayou and unloadcd I'LL his plumber
Into the Laran.
Calicot had this news verified before
his eyes. lie Ind only to go into one
OF the little stations in the Laran south
east of the rotunda to find evidences OF
the truth Of what he had heard. He
saw strong guard ut tho magazine
and hundred men busily Mt work
transporting the newly-arrivcd ammu-
nition to the place. The wooden doors
OF the magazine stood open ind he
could sec from across the rotunda that
II was u dark hole stored to the stone
ceiling with boxes md kegs. lie
Watched the work with intense inter
est. The electric light in the rotnnda
threw black shadows here md there
md, hidden by ono Of them, he scru-
tinizcd the place carefully through u
pockot-glnss that he had got from Miss
Laport, md he noticed for the first
time that there were iron tubes run
ming down that part OF the wall Of the
that was exposed They
looked like drain pipes Mt distance.
lie asked Laport about 1t and was in
formed carelcssly that they were VEN
tilating tubes put in to make u circula-
tipn OF DIR and keep the place dry. |
There are only two" said Laport,
land they open into the rotunda about
SIX feet above the railroad track.
put them In myself and | ought to go |
md sec that the men who are wording |
there do not disturb them"
u will go with YOU" said Calicot
The next day Stocking met Calicot
and said abruptly In his impulsive
way "See here, my old friend, 1t Is
idiotic to let q GOODNESS spring up be-
tween us at this time because wo don't
think alike"
"We do think alike, replied Calicot,
land, allowing for differences OF tenn
permanent, we suffer alike"
The two men sat down on the bench
In front Of their quarters Nearly
everybody was in the rotunda or south
Of It Save the men stationed as IL
guard at the portal and the worlsmen
In the machine shop there was nobody
to DO seen. The railway trucks wereal
Rt the other end Of the Laran. Hen
bricks and his captains had their hands
full at the military headquarters half
a mile away.
"llave you anything to tell me?7
asked Stocking, despai.ingly. II shall
lose my reason in this place In another
week."
II have been waiting for some time
totell You great deal, replied Calcot,
but | was afraid Of your impctuosity
md indiscretion."
They are dying ont Of me-" said
ruefully. ~ feel like man
10 trance, II ! do not get out Of
This tomb, ] shall perish Of general
II propose to get you out, remarked
,alicot, calmly.
Stocking smiled somewhat grirnly.
i suppose the same conditions arc
down your mind Also said
1e. "Go on-insanity Is at least diver
|ion."
1.-THE conditions have not disturbed,
hey have only concentrated my facul-
les" replied Calicot "and circum-
'tances have aided me In an almost
manner. have been
lble to penetrate Hendricks designs
beyond this stronghold. You will see
hat this Is not a diseased fancy when
explain to you. In the first place he
las wire under ground to some other ,
epdezyOus that Is In communication