Willmar tribune., 1898-10-05

narily, but believe they'll never blame
me now It's q Mr.. Edward Parry and
he begs Mr.. Merriam, who can get
through, to come up beyond Cimarron
to him on important business-his
trains blockaded by strikers r.
"Give me blank said Grafton,
quickly. Il 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-miles 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 siesta and
hated to be disturbed at such a time
and was crusty, as could be expected,
when asked permission by Capt. Graf
ton to ride out and meet the wounded
officer. He 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 word
Of remonstrance. with his usual grave
salute. From there he went to see that
Merriam's home was in readiness, and
tlen to his wife, who read tidings of
new disaster in his troubled eyes.
''Oh, George!" she cried. evil this
dreadful day never end? The servants
say Mcrriam's shot and mortally
wounded, and that the Rifers are
wrecked at Calamas Gorge
''Merriam is shot and not mortallv
wounded, dear, and the Rifers refused
to be wrecked at Calamas Gorge Where
is Mrs. McLane? 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 I gave Annette positive or
ders to let her know nothing about
Florence, and she hasn't. But present.
ly, when she dresses for the afternoon
and comes down and hears about Ran
dy? What then?''
"Still sleeping, is she?" asked Graf
ton, ignoring for a moment the ques-
tion as to what might happen when
their guest awoke and heard the news.
Yet l think you said she was greatly
excited after getting that second dis
patch, and had been dreadfully nery-
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 a deep
sleep, and Annette said she could hard
~ 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
it were, shaking himself together, <'let
her have her sleep out. fancy more
news is on the road; know her lawyer
is.''
''Why! Mr.. Parry?-her 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 away with
her finger tips some flakes of cigar
ashes that clung to the breast of the
undress coat, she ventured:
'"There are two things I can't under
stand. If he'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 busi-
ness"
His broad, brown hand patted caress-
ingly the taper, white fingers toying
about the little toggle of his watch
chain, as he looked down into her anx-
ious, upturned face.
'His 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 are more neces-
sary to the strikers in their combina-
tons 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
that" and handed her the dispatch.
ITO Capt. Grafton, Fort sedgwick:
Thanks for your courtesy. Shocked to
hear of Merriam's mishap. Mrs. McLane
should have met me In Denver three days
ago. Must be ready moment road opens.
EDWARD PARRY"
Tnree hours later, just as the ladies
and children began to appear in their