Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-04-28
CHAPTER VIu.-CoNrINUED.

had formulated in my own mind
plan which i dared not share with Mark
Gerard. Left to himself, / foresaw that
he would sacrifice justice to his love for
the boy-that the Greek would go scot
free, to enjoy his ill-gotten gains. And
such a thought was eXaSperating.
Taking advantage, therefore, of my
patrons long strides, dropped to the
rear and submitted my scheme to the
worthy Jap. He was good enough to
approve it nightly, and eagerly
proffered his assistance.
eff we don't corral the cuss, Mr.. Liv-
ingston, swear Pll-IIl never be able
ter kiss Danish Mary again-and enj'y
it,
told him to be of good cheer and to
carry out my instructions to the letter.
Gerard urged US continually to mend
our pace. He carried rifle-a catapult
would have served him as well-and
muttered to himself as he stumbled
through the darkness. Jap and I were
we'll armed-to the teeth, as the dime
novels have it-and Jap carried his
lantern.
Before we crossed the low sand-dunes
which lay between the marshes and the
sea, Jap extinguished the lantern, and
we held a brief council of war. It was
decided to treat with the enemy under
friendly cover of. the fog, the whitest
and largest of flags of truce.
SIT would be WISE" said I, 'to advance
in open order. The hut is provided with
n large-bore duck-gun, and a charge of
swan-shot might excite panic"
''Tll take the center" said Gerard,
-'and do the talking"
''Ill take the left" said Jap, ''an' do
the cussin'."
"And I'll take the right said I. land
keep my mouth shut
The fog was now so thick that an OBJ
ject dozen yards away could not be
seen at ALL
1.-THE first thing to determine is
whether the Greek is here" observed
Gerard. ''Are you ready? Then
march,"
Our chief halted at the
identical spot where I had stood few
hours before, and I heard him sigh
heavily as he realized that the boat was
on the wrong side of the channel. The
Greek had returned.
''Demetrius," he yelled, shrilly.
<'come out"
81 am here" was the instant reply.
I waited for no more, but ran noise
lessly for some fifty yards to the right.
Tt was bitterly cold, but ] stripped off
coat, waistcoat and boots. Then, hold
ing my gun in my left hand, pushed
through the tules and entered the icy
water. The channel was deep, and, at
the place had selected, broad. A swim
was inevitable
When / reached the island removed
my dripping underclothes and stole for
ward, naked as an Indian. ] feared
that the swish of wet cloth might be-
tray my approach, and, besides, the
clinging garments might impede the
free use of my limbs. Demetrius must
he taken, if possible, alive, and I de-
.cided to leave the gun within reach and
to trust to my muscles and a knife
which thrust between my teeth.
What passed between master and man
while was executing these maneuyers
i learned subsequently,. Demetrius, as
we had expected, submitted a cut-and-
dried proposition, worthy, I must adj
init, of his subtle brain
He denied nothing, and conceded
nothing, but his conditions implied ad-
mission of guilt Briefly, they were as
follows: Gerard and his party were to
return to the house and stay there. He
and Mark would take the morning train
to the city. There, in San Francisco,
he would leave the boy at some hotel
he naturally did not specify the hotel
and go his way. If-he laid great en-
.phasis upon the conjunction-if any
:treachery were attempted. by tele-
graphic communication with the po-
lice, or otherwise. he swore solemnly te
Kill the boy instantly. he would use