Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-01-20

ing tenderness as he took both her
nerveless hands in his. They say the
fire saught in the Eoier-bouse and
spread to the shafthouse in an instant.
There were powder and giant caps
stored there in the back room-that was
what we heard. 1t was criminal of Nc
Cready. having such stuff there" He
fingered over the broken sentences,
warding off the question he knew must
come.
And papa" she gasped. withdraw
ing her hands and making as though
she would rush on down the hill to see
without waiting for his answer.
1T is hoped that they are all right"
he reluctantly returned, his eyes en-
treating her TO have hope. There are
ten men down the shaft: but if the
air holds good-it must be all right.
There is sure to be time enough to save
them"
They cannot get out?" Her white
lips formed the words, but he guessed
rather than heard them.
THE steam connections and holster,
everything. went to pieces in the ex-
plosion," he slowly explained, his voice
eloquent of compassion. 1T was i'm
POS1'1]S
the alarm was given. But as soon as
we can get the fire out Oh. darling.
darling. don't look at me like that!
Don't think of givingsup until we know.
The men were working in the levels
quite away from the shaft. and the
inference is that your father and Nc
Cready were with them. There is no
reason to believe that they will not be
gotten out all right"
But you do not believe it, 1 can see
in your face that you do not!" she pas
sionately exclaimed, drawing back
from him with look of horror. He is
dead. and you know it! And to think
that at the very moment he died was
Oh, go away from me! l never want to
see you again!-never. never! To think
that should have turned against him
for you. And he the dearest and best
of fathers-always so good to me, so
good! It makes me hate you!"
He looked at her with plying ten
derness as at one distraught. You
do not know what you are saying. dear"
he murmured. soothingly. ''And you
must not give up. L would not tell you
so if it were not true. Your father is
probably alive and unframed. And in
a little while he may be with you to
laugh at all your fright. Don't give up
yet. sweetheart
How dare you call me that-you?"
she bitterly retorted, her eyes flashing
blue fire upon him, her face like stone.
do you not see that it is n judgment
upon me for caring for you, for being
untrue to him? Caring for you. did
[ say? Oh, how could L ever dream of
such thing! To care for you. you who
| brought him here, who were the cause
of all this trouble!-you who. if he is
dead, have been the cause of his death!
| I tell you that 1 hate you'll shall al
| ways hate you!"
AS she went on in this growing frenzy
she had been biindly hurrying down
the hill, Neil keeping beside her with
watchful eye upon her needless steps.
but now he stopped. his peremptory look
bidding her also pause. His face was
white and set. his eyes were full Of
| sadness beyond words. but still his tone
| was very gentle as he said: You must
not come any farther, Dorothy. 1t is
not fit for YOU" They were now so
near the fire that burning bits OF wood
| Uttered the grass all about them, while
| the smoke and heat from the well-nigh
burnt-out shafthouse made the air
'stifiingly oppressive. Crowds of men
| were hurrying up the hill, many turning
curiously to stare at the colonel's daugh
ter ''Xou must not come farther. Neil
said again, gently authoritative. 'Ycu
| can do no good here. / wish you would
let me take you down to my cabin.
ITO your cabin! no." she implacably
returned, glancing away from him as
though her eyes loathed the sight of his
face. But / will wait here-if you will
&C away"
He hesitated, reluctantly regarding
her for an instant. but then, with face
as sad as her own. he walked away, to
send to her woman he had discovered
ao1ong the crowd. 1t was Mrs. Morr-
son, who kept the Mascot boarding
house, 4 motherly soul. though her APP
pearance always promised i'll for the
cleanliness of her cookery. Painting
with good-humored hurry, she came up
the hill to where the girl was standing.
a sort of beaming pity upon her round,
rosy face.
Dear! deari but we'd ought to be
thankful it amt no worse!" she fer
yently exclaimed. energetically stamp
ing out smoldering fagot that threat
ened to set her gown afire.
Dorothy turned upon the intruder
with stony stare; but then. curiousiy
touched by the look OF kindly COM
miseration, her expression changed, her
face nervously working in lines of pain
as she replied, in strange. choked
voice: "But it could not be worse! oh.
it could mott"
"Well. now. it might" returned Mrs.
Morrison, in CHEEKY argument. Il reck-
on there's never anything so bad that
the Lord couldn't "a found way to