Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-11-18
CHAPTER VI.-CoNTINUED.

Mr.. McLane they had not met at all,
nor did they again, on that now I'M
clouded wedding journey, once encoun-
ter her. 1t was easy to trace the wan
behring's of this Manhattan magnate and
his lovely wife. Their movements were
the subject of daily paragraphs in the
papers from San Diego to Seattle. and
not until they had left Coronado Beach
did the Merriams go thither. Not until
the McLanes were hera!ded at the Pa
ace in San Francisco did the happy
couple move on to Monterey, and there
one morning as they were at breakfast
the papers were brought in and there
was sensation. Merriam had not yet
begun to appear at table with that in
fallible symptom of the Iong-married
couple-a newspaper for his own en-
tertainment and silence for his wife
and he and she were giancing about the
great apartment and exchanging hap
Ply, low-toned condolences about their
surroundings and possibly their fellow
sojourners.
A man at an adjoining table, however,
had opened the sheet and suddenly ex-
claimed: ''My Godi" and this instantly
attracted the attention of his wife, who
had resigned1y accepted the situation
and was finding such consolation as she
could in studying the occupants of the
room. He began to read aloud: "Mr
John Harold McLane, of New York, who
with his charming young wife has been
spending few days in this city, was
shot and dangerously wounded while
stepping into his carriage in front Of
the University club at late hour last
night, his unknown assailant escaping
in the confusion that followed. The
ball, evidently n heavy one, struck him
with such force that the shock felled
him instantly. He was carried into the
clubhouse again, where Drs. Storr and
Humphrey, who were present, made
prompt examination. It was found that
after striking full force and partially
destroying the contents of fiat pocket
book in his overcoat the ball, DETECTED,
evidently, had torn its way round under
the skin of the left breast and hurst its
way out below the armpit. Bleeding
was profuse and the shock severe, vet
the physicians think that the chances
are in favor of his recovery.
There is much mystery about the
affair. The coachman says a man and
a woman walked up and down in front
of the club on the opposite side of the
street full half an hour before Mr. Nc
Lane came out, he being accompanied
by a friend who had formed one oftheir
party at whist. Instantly the strange
man left the side of the woman, hurried
across the street. and. placing his left
hand on Mr.. McI.ane's shoulder, turned
him sharply, and accosted him in low,
somewhat angry tone. The moment he
spoke Mr.. McLane struck furiously with
his right hand at the others face, then
thrust it into his overcoat pocket, where
later pistol was found. 1t was at this
instant that the other fired. The car
Rage horses, startled, attempted
to run, and by the time the
coachman had regained control
of them they were some dis
lance down the street. On his return,
Mr.. McLane was being borne into the
club. Quite little crowd had gath
cred, but nobody but himself and the
friend referred to, who was some
what intoxicated, had seen anything OF
the shooting. A neighbor said he saw
a man and woman hurrying round the
corner. but that was the last of them
The police have clew which they re
fuse to diyulge. Mrs. McLane, who
was attending the brilliant reception
given at the residence of Hon. j. l.. San
bourne, was not informed of the trag
edy until an hour later, and was pros
trated by the shock. AT three a. IN
the wounded man was resting under TIT
influence of opiates."
Breathless, Merriam listened. his fac
paling. and breathless Florence watche'
him. When the reader had finishes
and his wife began to ask questions
Florence said no word. Her dark
pathetic eyes were fixed upon her hus
oand's pallid face, then timid1y sh