Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-05-10

CHAPTER x-CoNr1EUED.
I tried to say all this to my kind
friends in a way that would not seem
ungracious.
'sWell, my lad, so be it, said MIR.
Dorion. 81 have forebodings about
you, and you must promise to write to
me all ab,ut Bostock. I have heard
something of northern pluck and obsti-
macy; reckon you've got both If you
will go, wait till the cool of the day,
and I'll drive over with you to Barre's-
It's only four miles across, and it will
be much handler than to go up to
Vicksburg. The Cotton Queen stops
there to wood up on her way down the
river"
Very little passed between us as we
rode over to the river that evening.
Mr.. Dorion was serious and thought
full; and, while anticipated new
scenes and adventures, could not but
be sad with the parting.
81 hope we shall meet again, Dorr, :"
he said, as a glimpse of the river ap-
peared through the trees.
ST knolo we shall, was my answer, de-
livered with a fervor that startled my
self.
We did meet again, in situation and
under circumstances which romance
would vainly attempt to rival.
"Barre's'' was a place on the low
riverbank where stood solitary store
house, and some thousands of cords of
dry wood. ready for use. Two white
men of the class which had never
been two miles away from the river
sat and dangled their rusty boots in
the water. and with some profanity
and vast expectoration of tobacco
juice, hotly argued the unsettled
question as to which was the fastest
boat, the Cotton Queen, or the S. S.
Prentiss.
''Thar comes the Queen now" said
the champion of that craft. e'Ah, but
she's beautyl If she ever kftches the
S. S. on this water she'll walk right
pff'n her.
''She'n never cotch her.
''NIuch you know bout boats.'
60 yOu talk ] was sailin' the Mis-
sissippi when you couldn't tell a pint
D. water from hogshead O. 1asses."
The discussion was In fair way to
Ego on forever" but the near ap-
proach of the stately Queen put an end
to it. Heralded by great volumes of
smoke beyond the point, and by that
peculiar. deep-drasvn coughing of the
pipes that accompanies one of these
river monsters, she burst into view like
a splendid apparition, reminding one
of the genii of the Arabian Nights.
Hex great paddles churned the river
into foam. Twilight still prevailed,
but the signal colored lanterns were
hung out fore and aft and aloft, and
lamps were lit in the saloons, state
rooms and cabins. Tier upon tier the
great height of the steamer rose from
the water, the light flashing out from
every opening. Surmounting the
whole was the ''Texas," or pilots
cabin, with the gilded figure of a queen
displayed in front of it, seated on a
gilt-corded bale of cotton. The lofty
smolze-pipes lowered from the decks.
Everywhere the boat was crowded
with people.
1 had long ere now recovered from
the amazement with which / learned
that wharves and docks were unknown
jim these waters, which deepen rapidly
from the shore, and that these steam
ers are so light of draught that, to use
the quaint language of the illustrious
man who thoroughly knew the west,
they can go anywhere ''where the
ground is little damp" The Queen
came straight up to the shore; the two
aoungers who had been discussing her
and her rivals took the cables that
were thrown out and moored them to
the trees; and Immediately a swarm of
half-nalxed negroes sprang ashore, and
under the urging of the mate, with an
occasional oath and blow, began to
take in wood for the long passage
down the river. 1t was a work of some
thine, and darkness succeeded the
moon rising late. An open iron bas-
lxet, fixed on standard at the bow,
WAS filled with fat pine knots, continu-
ally rep1enished as they burned out.
The fierce red light f1ared out over the
duslky faces and fitting forms of the
negroes, and gave occasional g1impses
of the passengers as they leaned on
the rails and watched the picturesque
scene. Mr.. Dorion, standing at my
side, suddenly pinched my arm.
Look up there on the second deck,
just beyond that group of ladies. Do
you see that tall man with the red vest
and check shirt-front?'
Yes"
81 haven't seen that face in twelve
years: but can't be mistaken in it.
That man is Conrad Bostock. Dorr, I
hate to have you go on the same boat
with him! If you are wise -
The bell rang sharply. ''An aboardi'
the captain sang ont.
/ wrung Mr.. Dorion's hand, and
passed over the plank There was a
great CONFUSION of the engines and
splashing of the paddles as the Queen
backed out into the stream looked
toward the landing, but my good
friend was hidden in the darkness.
AS our boat steamed down the river !
went about on this floating palace and
observed the curious sights
CHAPTER K
"A STIRRING SCENE
All told, there were about fifteen