Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-12-10

very little about the newcomer. She
thought that he was a foreigner, with
one of those outlandish names that no
body but an alien could understand. /.
was easy to conjecture that Mrs. Lor.
ing had CHANGED to meet him in Trent
and had insisted upon bringing him to
Rodneytown. to talk over old times and
to gossip about people they had known
in the Lord knew what distant land.
In the morning. no doubt an oppor-
tunity would be given me to pay my re,
spects.
But the morning brought no oppor-
tunity of the sort. When called upon
Mrs. Loring she was alone. and her
guest-Col. Mendoza she called him
was out for ramble about the neigh
borhood. He had expressed a desire TO
visit the beach, she explained, and, in
asmuch as he had taken Johnson's boat,
was probably cruising about the bay or
some of the many channels branching
off from it. She expected him to re-
turn in an hour or two. and she was
anxious, so very anxious, that I should
meet him. Couldn't I arrange to dine
with them? Really it was distressing
that another visit to Banks patient
would prevent an acceptance of the in
vitation. The colonel was such a
charming gentleman, so very, very
charming, so courteous, so erudite, SO
widely Travelled, and so on through the
list of applicable adjectives. However.
that afternoon or evening, or at supper
yes, that would be n capital time
the meeting could be brought about.
Of course I acquiesced, and then, as
Miss Gray was not in sight, parted with
her aunt rather abruptly. After a
quarter of an hour with Jones, whose
case showed no unfavorable symptoms,
came the call upon Lamar. Contrary
to his custom, he was pottering about
his domain that morning, lured from
the house, perhaps, by the beauty of
the day, which, however,w was not potent
enough to change his manner, for he
gave me his stereotyped greeting, and
our talk was brief and formal as
usual. He asked no questions as to the
progress the injured man was making,
and I volunteered no information on
the subject. Then, in turn, came the
ride on Banks business. I returned
from it early in the afternoon, and after
a hasty meal-I challenged any man to
1inger unnecessarily over n country
dinner gone cold for a couple of hours
4 spied Miss Gray ON the porch OF
Mrs. Clark's residence, and strolled in
her direction.
'tI've come to make CALL said I, TAX
ing a seat beside her.
How fattering to us!" she answered,
with q smile. ''I'll bear the news to
my aunt at once
ooh. there's no hurry. Let me catch
my breath. I'm here to see your wise tor
this time
''But don't you know that he has
gomez" she asked.
NO. I supposed him good for two
or three days at least. Certainly Mrs.
Loring didn't expect him to bid good
by so speedily. He must be a genuine
bird of passage"
HE surprised us. Really, we saw
very little of him; for he started out
| early this morning and didn't return
until nearly noon. And then he was
off to Trent without waiting for dinner.
| He explained that he had recollected all
important engagement, which must
have escaped his memory when, carried
away by the pleasure of meeting my
| aunt. he accepted her invitation
That's odd" said I, idly, good deal
| need not meet the stranger. who, no
| matter how agreeable he might have
| been, would have 1essened my chances
for chat with Dorothy. 'Come. let
us solace ourselves for his fight by q
| cruise IN your boat. You'll be COM
Portable in the shade of parasol."
She readily agreed to the plan. and
| in ten minutes we were standing on the
bank above the sl1iff, looking down at
it with a pretense of inspection.
''It is surprising that johnson de-
| Hvered the boat with so much mud on
| the Seats" said I. LET me brush it off
before you try to embark. I'm amazed
| at his carelessness.''
Perhaps the fault is Col. Mendoza's, -
| she observed. HE used the boat this
| morning, you know"
''Most of the muss is out of the way
now,' said I, assisting her into the stern
sheets and settling myself at the oars:
| ''but I'll speak to johnson about it.
| anyway. One expects more neatness
| in an old Inan-of-war's-ma
1.-THE colonel is far more likely to be
the guilty person." she objected, as
| bent to the oars and the boat gathere1
| Roadway.
who is he? Is he a mystery or
\ ,1oSr