Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-10-22

baby whirlwind. I ran after it at my
best gait. sometimes losing ground and
sometimes gaining, only to see the
gust with impish perversity sweep it
from my very grasp. Then my toe
caught in something, and down went
in a heap. AS I regained my feet the
hat. with a fight as clumsy as that of
hen clearing a barn-yard fence,
Topped across saltwater creek and
dropped upon the opposite bank The
tide was at the ebb, and the stream
was neither broad nor deep. Gather
ing such momentum as / could, I ran
to the edge and gave a vigorous leap.
My feet STUCK the farther bank, but
slipped in the soft mud, and once more
L measured my length, sprawling this
time, however, half in the water and
half on shore. In the worst of tenn
pers 1 scrambled out of the slime.
picked up the runaway hat, and then
almost dropped it again in surprise;
Tor right before me was q wire, strung
as neatly as any telegraph line, land sup
ported by posts about foot in height
The-~chase- had carried me into the
marsh to the south of Lamar's house,
toward which the wire extended in
che direction. Where was the other
end of it? That query could have
but one answer = Johnson's cottage,
the only habitation in that quarter.
In the course of the next days visit
to Lamar I told him of my accidental
discovery.
1T is a trifle, small continuance
to summon Johnson said he, quietly.
He is useful,in many ways; he may
be more useful still in others. He is a
stout fellow and u brave
Then you fear-?"
you have the saying" he answered,
with shrug of his shoulders: ".In
time of peace prepare for wars
VII.
Had the master of the house on the
knoll been other than he was. this
latest precaution might have served to
excite n suspicion that his mind was
beginning to give way under the de-
pressing influences of his manner of
existence. Afterward, it is true, sus-
picions of the sort came to me, though
they were never long-lived, but at that
time, while wonder was aroused, the
+ feeling carried with it no suggestion
that he was not actuated by some suf-
flcient reason for the step he had taken.
Sc far as I knew, his safety was not
threatened; but I had to confess my
self in ignorance of the character of the
peril he dreaded. and to note his ar
engagements. without approaching the
need OF them, much as raw recruit
might watch the many and seemingly
excessive precautions of a veteran in
charge of u magazine.
About a fortnight after the adven-
ture in the marsh Lamar surprised me
with an invitation to dine. He said very
little while the meal was in progress,
but when Martha had cleared up the ta-
bic and shuffled off to her own domain
he began to talk with unwonted free
dom. He asked questions about the
village, concerning which his curiosity,
was certainly newborn, and then about
the progress had made in building up
n practice.
WELL said I, rather sheepishly, cts
slow work. People hcreabouts are
conservative. Most of them have sur
tived old DIR. Banks attentions for a
good many years and they are cautious
about changing Besides. most of them
knew me as a youngster, and it takes
time to live down the fact that was a
boy
you maintain the professional air?''
said he, inquiringly.
eyes, though they give me little
cause to smell of drugs. Strange and
powerful odors would impress them.
[ suspect; at least some of the older
brethren seem to find such an aroma
worth carrying about with them
you should possess conveyance of
your own
80 far one has been unnecessary In
case of need, Mrs. Weston lends me
horse and buggy"
''That will not suffice. Procure a
suitable vehicle and a horse-one of
speed. The cost shall be mine.''
''Vexy weI,' answered.
He rose and bowed in the fashion in
which he terminated an interview,
adding, however, before he left the
room: Procure them at once
ITO BE CONTINUED