The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-11-16
CHAPTER XXlL

CHAPTER XII
One night not long after this Calieot
woke Lieut.. Stocking up about twelve
o'clock rather urgently. Listen he
said.
His friend sat up on his cot and re-
marked that Calicot looked very white
IN the dim light. The harsh hum of
many voices reached him in a confused
and disagreeable way, interningled
with occasional shouts of command
and the tread of feet and accompanied
by the loud drone of the machinery.
What is ito" he asked.
Hendricks is sending up all his
forces. 1t has been going on now for
two hours. Get up and dress yourself;
the women are frightened. l think a
battle is going on overhead or is i'm
pending"
Stocking then got up and the two
men went into the adjacent quarters,
where they found Miss Endicott with a
shawl around her head and Miss La
port rubbing her hands. Both of the
women were very much alarmed. as in
deed they we'll might be with all that
hideous din going on in the arena.
Calicot then explained to them as calm
" as he could that the armed forces
were being sent up as fast as the lift
could carry them. There is" he said,
"a struggle about to take place. Let
US preserve our wits so that we can use
TO the best advantage the only means
we have of obtaining information"
Miss Endicott, in spite of her trepi-
dation, appeared TO understand the sit
uation. and when Calicot asked her if
she could put herself en- rapport with
Mrs Hendricks, she answered prompt
": Yes. 1t requires no effort what
ever now" She merely closed her eyes
a moment as If collecting herself and
then said: she is packing her trunk
she is attired in a riding habit; there
are four men with her; they look as if
they had been travelling; now she goes
to the instrument; she is reading its
message to the men. 1 cannot hear
what she says They are all listening
to her eagerly. They are disputing;
the man who was with her before
writes something and reads it to them;
the woman shakes her head; she does
not approve of it. Yes, can read it.
We start at three o'clock. Miss Frank
lin must come back with Mrs. H"
Here Miss Laport made an ejacula-
ton. II am lost" she said. They
are coming to take me-"
Lieut.. Stocking ground his teeth in
an impulse of helpless Indignation.
Calicot held his hand up deprecat-
ingly: Miss Endicott went on: She
has gone 10 the telegraph; the man is
waiting for her with paper and PEN
Gil in his hand"
The man" Calicot explained to
Stocking. is Fenning. He will write
down the dispatch that comes from
Hendricks. Listen
she is speaking" said Miss Endi-
colt. He IS writing; they are all
listening"
lBoUgereaul
Yes. yes said Calicot. you must
read the writing"
Don't move until you get orders
from me. Bloody work here before
morning"
What does that mean?" asked
Stocking.
1t is Hendricks dispatch. He does
not want them TO start for the Laran
until he has driven off the forces that
are here. 1t is plain enough We at
least have gained time by the arrange
ment and must profit by it"
How are we to profit by it," asked
Stocking.
Calicot held up his hand as warn
ing not to interrupt Miss Endicott.
They are gone" said that young
woman: lit is dark.
They have gone said Calicot, to
the telegraph station
But. oh dear" exclaimed Miss La
port, how is all this to our advan-
tage?-
Yes" said Stocking. That's what
wswant you tell US"
Calicot addressed himself to Miss
Laport-
Hendricks he said. will be
flushed with victory, self-confdence,
and more likely to grant any request
you make of him If your father were
70 ask him now to let him take you
away, pending these dreadful scenes
he would probably consent / believe
he would let the lieutenant go with
him if he gave his word to return"
Which 1 never would do" said
Stocking
Yes, you would" said Calicot- IF
Miss Franklin and l insisted upon it,
and II were to our advantage. He has an
idea that your interest in Miss Frank
lin viii close your mouth; that you can
not betray him without betraying her
tather-besides. l viii remain as hos
Gage for you When we have got the
women out, the rest is easy. and will
disclose II TO you when you come back.
The moment the issue OF the fight is
decided, you must take the women