Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-01-10

must struggle on, must exist, must
suffer, and try, at least. to be strong
that they might not starve. II only
those debts were paid, if only he could
retire and take the children to some
quiet eastern home, however humble,
where they might be sent to school and
where Connie might receive the educa-
ton thus far so utterly neglected, then
Morgan might live on, grateful and al
most content. He could surely get some
c1erlzship, some desk work that would
enable him to add a few hundred dol
lars yearly to the allowance of a re-
tired dragon. He did not begin to
know, poor fellow, how universal was
the theory among business men that
old soldiers were unfit for business of
any kind. He wrote to Carries broth
ers again, saying nothing, of course, OF
how often and how much he had helped
them in the past, and begged them to
find some opening that would warrant
his retiring. No answer came. lie wrote
again. Then Bob sent a few curt lines:
Yours reed. contents noted. Tho't VIM.
had anS'd or wild have done 50, Business very
slack. Times hard No opening OF any kind.
Ed to dischg two clks last month. Better
hang on to your present situation awhile long
er. If anything turns up will let you know.
''Yr bro. any
Morgan read human nature well
enough to see just how much that
meant. He would hang on to the sit
uation" as matter of course, despite
the fact that the doctor said the rheu-
matism would hang on to him as long
as he remained in that climate. Both
Gen. c. and the colonel had again
interested themselves in his behalf,
and the railway managers said they
could place him in their Office in town
when he got ready to retire. The sal
ary was very small, but would help.
The work was exacting, however, and
the doctor said he simply could not
do it in that climate.
''Never mind, old friend, we'll fix
it somehow" said Tintop, cheerily, as
he came to say good-by, looking very
much the younger of the two as Nor
gan leaned heavily on his stick. You
just stay here and run the ordnance
| Office this summer. There's bound to
be promotion by fall" And SO, sadly
enough, the veteran trooper had seen
the squadrons ride away, and he was
left sole representative of the commits
stoned force of his regiment at old
Fort Ransom, and not till they had
been gone two days did he note that
Connie was dropping.
what is it, Little Mother, he said,
fondly strolzing back the tumbling
mass of auburn hair and kissing her
white forehead. ''Tired out with all your
household care? Growing too fast?
Lot and Billy too much for you now?'
The big pathetic brown eyes were
swimming a little, but she looked
bravely up. perhaps it's spring fever"
she said, with an attempt at laughing
it all lightly away. I'm sure there's
nothing else. I'm only trif1e tagged.
1t will be all right now that we can
| get out again in the sunshine every
| day"
She was fastening his necktie for him
at the moment; then, patting his griz-
| zled cheek, she took the whisk broom
to dust the worn old fatigue coat pre-
pa-atory to letting him stump forth
on his hating way to the ordnance
storehouse, but there came rousing
rat-tat-tat at the front door just at the
instant, and, nanny being up to her
elbows in -four and Penner away at the
commissary, Connie sprang to answer,
and there, precise and soldierly as
ever, stood Schramm.
''Why, Schr-r-ammr' she cried, de-
hSnCeO1y- w ny-Whon-nOW O1Q you
| get bacl1?"
''Sergt. Schultz, gnadige fraulein,
was sent back with dispatches, and 1
came with. him. Is Herr Lieutenant
within? I bring letters" And he
handed her packet.
Come right in, Schramm; papa will
be SO glad to see you"
And thus hidden, yet ever unbend-
ing, Schramm stepped to the inner
door, and there, hand at salute and
heels together, he stood attention, his
kind blue eyes alight with fidelity and
affection.
"Hello, SchrammI" exclaimed Nor
gan, imping around the big base
burner with extended hand, which the
soldier grasped respectfully an instant,
then returned to his invariable atti-
tude. well, you must have ridden
| hard"
''Only forty-fve miles, sir. We left
them in camp on Bear Fork at mid
night. There was news from the
agency. We go back this afternoon
with orders to catch them tomorrow at
Painted Lodge
Hurridly opening the packet, Nor
gan glanced over the contents-two Of
fetal letters for himself, and a smaller
note. why, Con, this is for you-fron
Thornton" he said, in surprise. Then,
never noting the eager, almost incred-