Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-04-21


ruff1an, and, if possible, strike the first
| $50 often the last) blow
But the unexpected. that element in
human affairs which we invariably
| ignore, ruled otherwise I had hardly
crossed the threshold of the inner room
| when heard n heavy football in the pas
sage. At the same moment the voice of
Jap Byers, calling me by name. echoed
grufiy through the darkness, while &
CLEAN of light pierced the gloom. As
| the door was flung open. revealing the
| thick-set figure of the coachman. lam
tern in hand, crash of glass to my
right set my nerves tingling. Deme-
| trius had 1eaped through the window,
| glissaded down the roof OF the veranda.
and was already lost to sight Jap and
I confronted each other, our mouths
! agape, our eyes starting from our heads.
IF this amt picnic" said Jap, what
| is it?''
Attempted murder, Jap. You ar
rived in the nick of time
81 heard that ther hound a-bayin',
Mr.. Livingston, an 1 suspicioned tina.
somethin'-a coon, may be-was STIR
| rim. Well, sir, old Sultan wasn't givin'
| tongue fer nothin'; fer the next thing L
knowed there was that Greek sarpint
| a-crawlin' around the house. Thinks [,
| I'll watch you. mister, an maybe take Z
| hand myself in this yere game. 1 piped
| him off as he unlocked the back door.
and then I saw, not five minutes ago,
| the light in Mr.. Burlington's room go
out. Gosh! I done some tall thinkin'
| right then. I dassn't cry out. cause
| that'd ha' given the hull snap deal
away. So fetched the lantern, sashayed
across the yard. and tried the door. It
| was unlocked, and then-why, then [
| jest follered my big nose till it led me
| here"
| How much time do you say elapsed
between the putting out of the light and
| your appearance in this room?"
Three minutes. maybe. Not more"
Good heavens! And it had seemed to
NE three hoursi
Motioning to Jap to remain where ne
was, 1 hurriedly entered the front room
and glanced at Burlington. He was
sleeping calmly.
Jap" said I, softly, something must
be DONE
That's right said he. Lets do it.
You stay with Mr.. Burlington. 1
must see your master at once"
Gerard occupied Nancy's room, who
was sleeping with her mother. In less
| than five minutes / had recited the
facts. He listened attentively, his gilt
tering eyes bent sternly upon mine:
that he fully assimilatcd my amazing
| narrative I could not doubt.
''Demetrius." I said, in conclusion,
murdered Ferdinand Perkins, partly
| from jealous rage, partly 20 pave the
| way for his own advancement. Every
thing else follows in natural sequence.
He alone knew that Perkins, not you,
would be left that fatal night; he was
| in possession of Your cipher; he took
advantage of your love for Mrs. Bur-
| lington to render you a service which he
thought half your fortune would
scarcely repay; he. with devilish clever
ness, played upon the feelings of nerv-
GUS woman and bounded her to your
arms; he made capital out of your shat
| tered nerves; he"
Enough" said Gerard, hoarsely; II
am satisfied. My God! how cruelty
that f1end has used me! And" his voice
failed my little Mark is in his;
bloody hands! Come! not second is
tc be lost
He flung his clothes upon his lanky
person, and sputtered out his fears.
Demetrius, he felt assured, would hast
en- to the island, hold Mark as a hostage,
and make what terms he pleased. saw
the force of this reasoning. AS he said,
not a moment was to be wasted.
'Mr. Gerard said I, ''you must stay
here. Let me act for you. 1 shall take
Jap with me, and you can rely upon my
mother-wit to rescue Mark and bring
Demetrius to the gallows. You are
not"
Hugo" he rejoined, impressively,
you think ] am a coward, not fit for
such desperate adventure this viii
prove. My lad, fate plays queer tricks
with US. That night at Red Gulch
paralyzed my nerves. This nights work
has undone the mischief. I'm ready,
by Jupiter, to encounter that monster
single-handed. And, Hugo, mistrust
that hot head of yours. My child's life
is at stake. Demetrius is desperate.
If it comes to choosing between Mark S
life and the capture of the Greek. how
could I hesitate? You might precipitate
more bloodshed. God knows there has
been enough. Come"
A few minutes later we were on our
way, Gerard walking with feverish
stride ahead. The nurse was left with
Burlington.
''Je-roosalem!" whispered Jap to me-
yell let me have one crack at the son of
gun, Mr.. Livingston, won't We, now ??
81 want more than one myself, Jap
But I'll try and remember you"
ITo BE CONTINUED