Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-01-07
XIII.

Whatever business was occupying
Lamar, it was not the sort to be dis
posed of quickly. Hour after hour
passed,and still he did not rejoin us. At
last climbed the stairs and, knocking
at the door of his room, asked if there
was anything he desired us to do.
''At present, nothing" he answered.
"No use tryin' to nudge him. John
son observed, when I returned to the
living-room. Hell let us know fast
enough when the time comes. You'd
better get some sleep, doctor, If you
can curl up comfortable in a chair. I'll
stand watch
Nothing better suggesting itself,
tried to follow the fisherman's advice,
at first with very Indifferent success.
The events of the evening had not been
of the sort to make one sleepy. So
sat in my corner specializing on the
probable outcome of the encounter.
What Lamar's plans would be it was
difficult to foretell. Physically he was
in poor condition to undertake further
fight from his enemies, yet he would
hardly dare to remain without estab-
fishing a small standing army. John
son had covered himself with glory, but,
he was but one man; and 1 did not
enumerate myself as part of the bel
Hgerent force. Again, the excitement
and worry the presence of his enemies
must cause would certainly have an
extremely bad effect upon Lamar, ag-
gravating his disease and cutting short
even the scant allowance of time had
estimated as his. If anything could
have overcome my extreme repulsion
for him, it must have been the cool
courage he had displayed in the face
of danger; but, though appreciated
it, 1 could not bring myself to more
kindly feeling for the man who had ex-
hibited it in such trying circumstances.
What would Dorothy have to say such
part of the tale as could tell her?
was thinking more of her and less of
Lamar. when my eyes closed for weari-
ness.
Johnson's hand on my shoulder
brought me back from my dreams.
Hes called for you,'' he said. HE
wants you to go up to his ROOM
every well; I'll go; hut what's the
time?" I asked, grinding my knuckles
into my eyes.
'''Most six o'clock. The suns just
risin'."
Reaching the head of the stairs, I
heard Lamar's voice from the rear
room, one which he had never before
invited me to enter.
''Come in,' he said at regret to have
detained you so long, but my task is at
last completed.''
In spite of his efforts to maintain the
old steady tone, his voice sounded
hoarse and full of WEAKNESS; and all
that it suggested was more than borne
out by his face, upon which fell the cold
light of the morning, revealing with
pitiless distinctness the traces of the
struggle of an indomitable will against
physical weakness. His palIor was
CHASTITY, the skin was drawn above the
temples, the cheeks were sunken, the
lines about the mouth were grown TO
burrows. His eyes burned with fever
ish fire. The hand which rested on the
desk at which he sat shook, notygith-
standing its support. had never seen
the man in such state-so completely
mastered by his infirmities. How he
had been able to work through the night
was almost beyond comprehension,
though the bottle of brandy at his e.
bow showed that he had had the aid of
a stimulant. 1t had carried him
through, but at fearful price. Plain
ly, it was no longer a question of weeks
or months with him; his days, perhaps
his hours, were numbered.
ITO BE CONTINUED