The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-04-16

went quickly into details, ns was his
business, in striving to learn the extent
and nature Of Merriam's wounds; then,
the colonel being over home, turn ed for
advice to Grafton.
"Only our contract doctor left,r no
said. "The others are Off with the
Rifers or-in chase" Hurriedly he
wrote few lines to Buxton and then
turned to McGrath.
"Tell Capt. Grafton about these mes
sages for MIR. Merriam, will you?" said
he. "and captain, will you please at
tend to that while look to Randy's re-
lief? Thank God they didn't kill him."
he added as he went noisily out. What
In heavens name did Buxton expect
him to do. anyhow"
"Have you right to say what IL
wanted of Mr. Merriam and whom these
are from?" asked Grafton of the opera
tor.
II couldn't say word, sir, ordi-
narily, but believe they'll never blame
me now. It's Mr.. Edward Parry and
he begs Mr.. Merriam, who can get
through. to come up beyond Cimarron
to him OIL important business-h
trains blockaded by strikers"
"Give me blank" said Grafton,
quickly. II think I partially UNDER
stand the case" and these were the
words that were wired at one o'clock to
the eager lawyer on the waiting train:
Merriam wounded in affair with ban.
dts this morning-mics from post Mrs.
McLane Is still under my roof. Command
my services.
GEORGE GRAFTON. Captain"
Then Grafton followed the trail of the
adjutant-went straightway to Buxton,
who was taking his monday sicsta and
hated to be disturbed at such time
and was cEusty, as could be expected,
when asked permission by Capt. Graf
ton to ride out and meet the wounded
officer. Tie flew into tantrum.
my God, sir! No, sir. Am to scat
ter my medical staff to the four winds,
with Brady and Corcoran past praying
for here, and then have my troop lead
ers scattering tool The Lord only
knows what's going to happen before
we get through with this day, and now
Merriam's shot and otherwise injured,
and all on account of those beggarly
greasers. No, sir! Not another man
goes out till we've rounded up those al
ready afield"
Capt. Grafton turned without a word
OF remonstrance, with his usual grave
salute. From there he went to see that
Merrlam's- home was in readiness, and
then to his wife, who read tidings Of
new disaster in his troubled eyes.
"Oh. George!" she cried. Twill this
dreadful day never end? The servants
say Merriam's shot and MORALLY
wounded, and that the Riflers are
wrecked at Calamas Gorge"
Merriam is shot and not n,ortallv
wounded. dear, and the Riflers refused
to be wrecked at Calamas Gorge. Where
Is Mrs. McLane7 Has she heard?"
"Dozing placidly in her room-too
much shaken to come downstairs to-
day. Had her coffee and her luncheon
in bed, and gave Annette positive or
ders to let her know nothing about
Florence, and she hasn't. But present.
~. when she dresses for the afternoon
and comes down and hears about Ran.
dy? What then?"
~eAeA ''a&SPhh bilcb dSkeu NfrAIs
ton, ignoring for a moment the ques-
ton as to what might happen when
their guest awoke and heard the news.
yet think you said she was greatly
excited after getting that second dis
patch, and had been dreadfully ncrv-
ous."
"She certainly was for some hours,
and you know she walked and tossed
last night after she came upstairs.
Then she seemed to fall into deep
sleep, and Annette snid she could hard
ly arouse her for her coffee this morn.
ing"
Grafton tugged at his mustache and
gave himself over to deep thought
few minutes, Mrs. Grafton anxiously
watching his face.
"Well," said he, starting up, and, as
1t were, shaking himself together, 'let
her have her sleep out. fancy more
news is on the road; know her LAWYER
is."
"Why! Mr.. Parry?-hcr brother-in-
law?"
"The very same, Harriet, and his
train is sidetracked by strikers miles
above Cimarron. There are three dis
patches from him for Randy now"
Mrs. Grafton was silent moment, as
she stood by his side looking up into his
thoughtful face. as though seeking
there the solution of the questions that
puzzled her. Then, busting awny with
her finger tips some flakes of cigar
ashes that chung to the breast of the
captains undress coat, she venturcd:
"Therc are two things can't UNDER
stand. Ifhe's her lawyer why he should
be wiring to Randy and not to her, and
why it is the strikers don't cut the
wires if they want to cut Off all bust
ness"
His broad, brown hand patted cnrcss-
ingly the taper, white fingers toying
about the little toggle of his watch
chain, as he looked down into her anx-
ious, upturned face.
ellis letters to Fan have been unan-
swered. and he probably expects her to
pay as little attention to his dispatches.
AS for the wires, they arc more neces-
sary to the strikers in their combine
lions than to anybody else, otherwise
they'd have cut them long ago-ah, here
comes our messenger now"
And sure enough the orderly trum-
peter came trotting up the steps. the
usual brown envelope in his hand.
Mrs. Grafton eagerly watched her
husband as he read. II thought So"
said he, looking quietly up. Read