The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-18
AT FURBER'S CAMP.

listen to what I have to say. Eighteen
years ago George Chadwick, bookkeeper
for a large importing firm in New York
city, married young lady of his acquaint-
ance. Chadwick was of a jealous DISPOSE
ton, hasty and hot tempered, and after
two years of stormy welded life his wife
fed from him, taking with her their year
old child. Chadwick made no effort to
trace them, devoted himself to his bust
ness, was admitted to the firm and by
perseverance and shrewdness amassed a
large fortune. -Four years ago he died and
left a viii bequeathing everything he pos
sessed to his child if living. If not found
in five years, his entire property was to re-
vert to numerous charitab organizations.
I was appointed executor. / employed de-
tectives, who traced Mrs Chadwick and
her child to the west, where she had gone
with the evident intention of seeking a
home with her brother, who owned a ranch
in Colorado. All trace of her was lost
after reaching Julesburg until the past
month, when it was discovered that the
mother was dead and the child living with
q miner at Furber's Camp named Norris
sey-yourself-and regarded as his daugh-
ter have come to you to claim that child
and take her to her proper home"
"And If she does not choose to CO."
asked AIorrissey hoarsely, ''what then?''
''Then I shall invoke the aid of the law.
And as the young lady is not yet of age she
shall be compelled to accompany me, re-
piled Hadley.
LAW, lawl'f cried Dan passionately
Remember, yer not in tn east now We
know no law but tn law of right, and if
Bessie's says tibet she stays, by -, she
stays"
The speakers were interrupted by the
opening OF the door from the adjoining
room, and Bessie, pale as death, crossed to
where Morrissey sat, and, placing her arm
affectionatsly around the old man 8 neck,
said: Dad, heard all You are the only
parent I ever knew. You have been kind
er to me than it appears my real father
possibly could be. Ny place is here with
you, and here 1 shall stay
''Bessie, - said Dan tenderly, with mois-
tened eyes, 81 promised yer dyin mother I'd
be father to ye and I've done my best.
Me and StenZel-him thet you know as
Dutchy-was ranchin down near tn Platte
when we found you two one evenin, she
1ayin senseless and dyin and ye baby
at her breast. We carried ye to our shanty,
and she died tibet night But afore she
died she made me swear tibet I'd bring ye
up as my own daughter. She told me yer
name was Bessie, but wouldn't tell tn
last name, and she gave me some papers
tibet promised not to tech till you were of
age, and when swore to keep my prom
Uses she died happy. We buried her on tn
ranch and afterward came up into tn
hills, where I've pFospered. And now,
Bessie, you know all. -
eyes, dad. And if my dear mother can
look down and see US now, she knows
you've kept your promise. AS for you,"
said the girl scornfully to Hadley, ''you
ask me to give up dad, who has always
loved-yes, WOrshiped me-and go east to
live on the money of the man whose cruel
ty killed my mother. You have had my
answer, sir. There is the door. Gol'
A Il Id ~, Il -Io
that decision?'' said the lawyer furiously.
''Whatl To find you after four years search
and then give up a position of $4,000 q
year as yotr guardian; toshave Chadwick 8
money distributed among a lot of hypocrit-
ica1 psalm singers! You do not know Pc
ter Hadley,'' sneeringly. "You belong to
me by law, and I'll have you by fair means
or FOUL
BE careful, Mr.. Man. replied Nor
rissey threateningly. Bessie has chosen
fair and square atween US, and ye should
'bide by 1t. If ye try any foul business,
yen find We hev a way here in the hills
of settlin such things thet might not be
agree BILE to ye."
"Your threats do not brighten me, sir, -
the lawyer said, rising and preparing to de-
part. ''You shall hear from me again,
and sooner perhaps than you expect, !" and
the door slammed behind him.
"I'm oneasy about tibet Teller, Bess, &"
said Morriesey after the lawyer had gone
"In run down and let tn boys on TIL
c'mittee of safety know what's been goin
on and give Mir. Hadley warnin to leave
camp"
There was no doubt as to how the
''boys'' on the committee of safety felt
about the matter AS Bill Brandt had
said: 81 'fess up tibet see only one way to
fix this thing c'rectly. Miss Bessie has
spoke her piece and tibet settles it. We've
(. O
to leave camp, and if he's here after thet
any one es wants to speak to him II hev to
bring ladder. "
The mods and expressions Of approval
from the rest of the committee showed
that all ware of the same mind.
Brandt, Stencil and Morrissey were del
egated to wait on Hadley and inform him
of the committee decision.
On inquiry at the Conglomerate it was
ascertained that Hadley had concluded not
to stay there overnight, but had purchased
horse and started up the mountain to-
ward Morrissey's cabin.
The three committeeman stared b1ankly
at each other, and then, as if with one i'm
pulse, hurried from the "hotel.'' They
had not proceeded hundred yards when
there was a sound of rapidly approaching
hoof beats, and a moment later horsenan
flashed past bearing a burden on his arm.
| A momentary struggle and feminine
shrek of ''Helpr' left no doubt as to who
the riders were. Hadley had kidnapped
| Bessie.
There was a hurried dash for horses, and
| in five minutes dozen horsemen were in
hot pursuit of the fugitives, Morrissey at
/ their head, with lariat around his waist.
Two hours later the hOrsemen returned,
Bessie in Morrissey's arms.
The next issue of the Silver Greek Boom
| er contained an item reading as follows:
There was flare up over at Furber's
last Wednesday night. law singing
/ dude from the effete tried to steal Dan
Morrisseys daughter Bess, but the boys
| eorralled him before he got down the
mountain, and in the storm that followed
the tenderfoot got struck by lightning"
Any interested person that investigated