Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-10-15

| think it worth while to push the in
| quiry further. In short, my neighbors
manifested no more curiosity about me
than about the vanished builder of
last years birds nest still swinging
on a bough of the half-dead tree at the
corner.
It would have been easy to return
to Merton long before the appointed
time, but / tarried in town to enjoy n
luxury which had charmed my fancy
on many a day when the cravings of
hunS,r possessed me. There was ares
taurant, famous far and near. a gas
tronomic Mecca to which many pill
grins journeyed joyously. under whose
roof was determined to dine. Often
had 1 surveyed its glories from the
pavement without, proving about the
place in fascination at the picture of
good cheer visible through its windows.
Now l was privileged to enter, strong
in the consciousness that a roll of bills,
still of goodiy size in spite of the pay
ments made from it, nestled in my
pocket. Let it be confessed, how
ever, that as [ stepped through the
doorway my hand was clutched about
the money, as if in fear that it might
vanish. Not until I had dined and the
account had been liquldated did the
dread of an awakening from so pleas
ant dream disappear. The remem-
brance of that solitary feast will be
always with Inc; for it brought the
first convincing proof that the old
period of stress was at an end.
A suburban train bore me to Merton
early in the evening. / went at once.
TO my employers room. Before leaving
the city I had secured time-ta bles of
the road on which we were to make our
journey, and had found that through
express stopped at the town at ten
O'Clock. Lamar was well pleased with
this bit of information. He had not
quilted his quarters in my absence, he
said. and none of the hotel servants,
except the somnolent porter who adj
mitted US. had had glimpse of his
face, for he had kept out of sight
when food and drink were brought to
his room. A little before ten o'clock
I settled our reckoning, and we left the
hotel by Il side door, reaching the sta
ton just as the train rolled up to the
platform. My companion chose a coach
in which there were few passengers
and, picking out dark corner, buried
his face in his upturned coat collar
and pretended to sleep. One of his
hands was ciasped about the strap of
his little valise, and not orce in the
course of the journey did he loosen his
grip upon it.
There was & weary ride of several
hours, and then an equally weary wait
at a junction at which we were to take
a train over = branch line; but long
before the lazy folk-if there were
any sfuggards in that Ivorkaday region
were stirring, our travel by rail had
been completed. We left the cars at
BASKERVILLE, the station nearest Rod
neytown, which was separated from the
railway by Il ten-mile stretch of coun-
try. AS it happened Sam Carpenter, the
owner Of u livery stable near by, who
usually supplied conveyances to per-
sons desiring to reach the village. was
an acquaintance of my boyhood days.
With him l was soon in friendly dis
course.
I've got patient with me. Sam
said l. and he wants to breathe pure
sea-breezes. I'm taking him down to
the old place. He needs good air and
quiet"
Wall, he won't git much else, I guess
said the man, with all the contempt of
the railroad town for place less blest.
Want Il steady nag, don't We? Take
{. boy along, or drive yerseIf?'
'Ncver mind about the boy; I know
the way" answered. I'll see that the
team gets back to you this afternoon"
a little later L drove up to the station
where Lamar had been awaiting me.
He climbed into the buggy with an
agility which was surprising, consider
ing his appearance OF illness, and settled
down beside me with the valise still in
in his hands. / offered to stow it away
with my sole piece of luggage back of
the seat, but he shook his head.
1T is my preference to keep it," said
he. ut is not = burden
The morning was fresh and clear, and
as we drove along the charm of it
gained possession of my senses. for
got the fatigue of the night in stuffy
car and the fact that we had not break
tasted. About us -Tere gently rolling
hills, topped here and there by dark
woods, below which stretched broad |
meadows and cultivated fields: a clear
brook rippled near the road, which fol- |
lowed the tortuous corrse of its little
valley; and overhead was sky without |
a heck of cloud, in the heart of the |
SnTincr r1nrpinU tina Tn0cf