Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-12-23
The Old SILVER TRAIL.
BY MARY E. STlCKNEY.
copyright 1896. by j. B Lippinoott Col
CHAPTER IX.-CoNTINUED.

CHAPTER IX.-CONTINUED.
The colonel smiled perfunctorily. He
had heard the tale before. II rather
wonder he did not come down on Us
with an order for examination this
time" he observed.
well, 1 reckon from what they got
out of it before that he thought he'd do
better to take somebody that had gone
through the workings without an order
from the court" suggested. the superin-
tendent, with a grin.
Col. Meredith thrummed absently on
the table, his eyes fixed in frowning
thought upon the floor. 1T would SIM
flify Matters" he observed at length,
evidently referring to some proposition
that had been discussed before. The
mine has stopped work, you say"
Eyes; engine broke down." Nc
Cready's tone conveying a hint of sub
tie humor in the explanation.
We'll, if you can make it go-I don't
know that we take any great chances"
the colonel said, rising with distinct in
timation that he considered the inter
view at an end. but there is no object
in carrying the joke too far. I would
stop short of the dislocated shoulder
this time if I were you. Come, Doro-
thy;" but he started with surprise as he
looked at her, exclaiming with genuine
concern: But what is the matter,
hild?-are you sicll?'
AZ believe think I have a slight
headache" she nervously returned,
wave of red suddenly dyeing her cheeks.
''The heat"-she stopped to pass her
hands in a bewildered way across her
eyes-''it is sitting, is it not?"
'I hope you're not going to have
mountain fever her father impatient
ly calculated. selling upon her hand to
feel her pulse.
81 don't know but we've been givin'
Miss Meredith suthin' of a scare with
our talk" McCready mumbled. in o
somewhat jocose tone of apology from
the door. ''Mebbe she thinks she's got
in with some pretty tough citizens;"
but nobody was giving heed to what he
said
"a little too fast the colonel pro-
nounced, releasing the wrist while he
shut his watch with an impatient snap
II dare say it is nothing; but you would
better take some quinine and go 10
bed
''Yes; I do not care for any supper.
I will go back to my room,'' Dorothy
murmured, hurriedly, carefully avoid
ing at.glance at McCready as she passed
him at the door.
''Take at least five grains of quinine,'
her father anxiously advised, looking
after her. "And I will send you up some
toast and tea
Five grains of quinine! How far
would that go toward sparing Harvey
Neil a dislocated shoulder? How far
toward saving her father from the dis
grace of even tacit acquiescence in such
villainous work? Dorothy laughed in
hysterical amusement as she restlessiy
paced her room, laugh which ended
in something like a sob.
She had always been so proud of her
father; proud of the instructive refine
ment which spoke in the almost finical
care of his person, III the temperatures,
well-nigh austerity, of his living; of his
fine appearance in the world of men; of
his brilliant war record. when his title
had been won by signal bravery in the
field; of the unbroken series of business
successes which had given him the
power and prestige of money. However
they might malign him, men treated
ways accepted as just tribute to his
worth, looking up to him in that hero
worship which seems an innate impulse
of the woman nature. That this adj
miration so boundlessiy fostered was
not all love she had hardly realized
until now, when she seemed to feel her.
self shrinking back from him with a
sort of horror. Words that in moment
of excitement her mother had uttered
years ago came back to her now
as she paced the floor. ST hope you
have inherited your fathers temper
ament = for your father has no
heart" the unhappy wife had
sobbed, bitterly regarding the child,
who had been too young then fully
TO grasp the meaning of the words
People who have no hearts are never
nurt; they only hurt other people; aud
for them it is better so,'' she had gone
on TO say; and now for the first time
Dorothy seemed to understand. II was