Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-05-20
An Army Wife.
BY CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.
Copyrighted. 1896. bv r. rennyssn Neeiy.l

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Copyrighted. 1896. by r. rennysSn Neely.l
SYNOPSIS.
Chapter !. - Fannie McLane. O young
widow, Is invited 70 visit the Graftons
at Fort sedgwick. Her sister tries to dis
suade her, as Randolph Merriam, (whom
she had Tilted for old McLane) and his bride
are stationed there.
Chapter 1I.-Fannie McLane's wedding
causes family feeling. A few months later
she, while travelling with her husband.
meets Merriam, on his wedding trip.
Chapter III.-Some time previous to this
Merriam had gone on n government sur
vey, fallen III, and had been nursed by Mrs
Tremaine and daughter Florence. A hasty
note from Mrs. McLane's stepson takes
him TO the plains.
Chapter Iv.-Young McLane dictates to
Merriam dying message, which Ia sent
10 Parry "a young Chicago lawyer and
brother-in-law OF Mrs. McLsne). Reply
causes Merriam to swoon. Re Is taken to
the Tremaines: calls for Florence.
Chapter Encouragement Of Florence
Tremaine to Merriam Ii announced; we'd
ding shortly follows.
Chapter vI.-Mr. McLane Ia mysterious
ly shot In San Francisco. Merriam Is
greatly excited when he reads account In
papers. While still In mourning Mrs. Nc
Lane prepares to visit Fort Sedgwick.
Chapter VU.-Mrs. McIane arrives Mt
The fort. Merriam Is startled at the news,
and he and his wife absent themselves
from the formal hop that evening.
Chapter VIII. - Mr.. and Mrs Merriam
pay their respects to the widow on an
evening when she would be sure TO have
many other callers. When the call is
returned Merriam Is away, and his wife
pleads illness as excuse for not seeing
her Mrs. McIane receives telegram:
rested, Chicago. Your uncle strlcken-par-
alysis. You will be summoned. Secure
papers. otherwise lose everything. c. NJ.
She faints and Is revived with difficulty.
Chapter IX.-Mrs. McLane desires to see
Merriam. Grafton persuades him to 80.
hut the widow postpones the meeting till
next noon.
Chapter X. - Florence learns Merriam
has been to see Mrs. McLane, and In
storm OF passion will not allow him TO ex-
plain. Shortly after Merriam is intercepted
by Fannie McLane as he Is passing through
Graftons yard. Florence witnesses the
meeting. which she supposes has been pre-
arranged. and swoons.
Chapter XI.-Mrs. McLane begs Merriam
for papers given him by her stepson. but
which he tells her were all forwarded to
Parry. Merriam Is seriously wounded In
eight with greasers.
Chapter XII.-Florencc. in her deep dis
appointment. leaves her home In the night
FOR her fathers at the cantonment.
Chapter XIIL-Three personal telegraph
messages come for Merriam from Parry.
Latter Is notified of Merriam's mishap
miles from post. A dispatch from her law
yer on his way to the fort. together with
account of serious injuries to Merriam,
causes Mrs. McLane TO faint.
Chapter XIv.-Merriam is brought In In
the ambulance inquiries for Florence, but
gets only an evasive answer, doctor fear
ing news OF her flight may prove fatal TO
him.
Chapter Xv.-During absence OF hos
pital attendant Mrs. McLanc steals In
on Merriam, hoping TO get from him some
papers or information: tells him OF his
wife's disappearance. Randy staggers out
to the stable. and Is shortly galloping
madly Off over the mesa. Mrs. McLane
breaks down. tells OF dying message OF
her stepson to effect that the first Mrs
McI4ane was alive at time OF her OTan-
nie's) marriage. and OF the backmail and
extortion practiced on McLane by his
first wife and her family. Finally this Mrs.
McLane agreed to leave him on payment OF
q big cash sum. McIanc hears that his
Sacramento wife had married again. but
lawyers sent TO investigate are confronted
by the news OF her death. McLare return
ing TO New York meets and falls In love with
Fannie Hayward. Shortly after his en-
gagement Is announced he receives n letter
from the supposed-to-be-dcad woman de-
manding further heavy payment as the price
of her silence. Upon telling Fannie of his
predicament she bade him pay the money
and have II done wish" Added 10 this
young McLane's dying statement, Wit
messed by the officers from sedgwick, had
declared his mother alive. Report comes
that Florence has fallen Into the hands OF
Apaches.
Chapter XVI.-Merriam has ridden hard
and fast and reaches Jose's. Randy would
have gone headlong TO the ground. but two
troopers caught him just In time. But the
troopers knew what to do for their officer
and speedily brought him round. and when
he asked for DR.. Gould they told him OF
his going. and Randy's next demand was
for coffee and q fresh horse.