Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-01-13

"Give me blank" said Grafton.
| quickly. 81 think ! 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 few into a 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 too! 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, sid Not another man
goes out till we've rounded up those al
ready afield."
OcAPt' NJ d tod H<d nilAOuL d ROIu
of remonstranc8 with his usual grave
salute. From there he went to see that
Merriam'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 Rifiers are
1yra1l,p1 Ut oil
9 Merriam is shot and not MORALLY
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 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?" a
'StiI sleeping, is she?'' asked Graf
ton, ignoring for moment the ques-
ton as to what might happen when
their guest awoke and heard the news
"Yet 1 think you said she was greatly
excited after gettiag that second dis
ouS.''
'She certainly was for some hours,
and you know she walked and tossed
glast night after she came upstairs.
Then she seemed to fall into a deep
sleep, and Annette said she could hard
ly arouse her for her coffee this morn
ing"
Grafton tugged at his mastache and
calf -
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. 1 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 a 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 chung to the breast of the
captains undress coat, she ventured:
There are two things 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 bust
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
tions 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. IT 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
near OF merriam miSndp. dTS. hcldHe
should have met me in Denver three days
ago. Must be ready moment road opens.
EDWARD PARRY"
Three hours later, just as the ladies |
and children began to appear in their |
fresh afternoon toilets and their baby
carriages and nurses were in force along
the gravel walk, and the band was as
sembling for its daily concert on the |
parade, vision of womanly loneliness, |
albeit CARRIED in somber black, came |
smilingly down the stairs at Grafton's |
and rustling out to shower gracious |
welcome on the little group of ladies |