Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-05-20

SIrs. Hayne. She flung herself into her
fathers arms when. white-faced and
ten years aged. he reached her at the
ranch, and told him what fend she
had been and what IN angel Randy-a
statement the captain could not entire
~ indorse, for he went back 10 the can
Torment ut the end OF the week conf.
dent still that there must have been
something in Randy's conduct to under
mine the faith Of such an unusual girl
as his Brownie. But he did not say So
II would have done no good.
And her story was very simple. Near.
ing the ranch early In the first after
noon, she saw party Of horsemen rid.
ing in toward II, and In her half-crazed
state she believed them troops from the
post-Ilandy's men. So she turned
square to the north and rode for the
foothills. She had little store Of pro-
visions and some wine in the large sad
dle-pouch, and only then discovered
that her bag was gone. She could ride
away round the ranch, find "Mon Abri, :"
and hide there during the night. She
had her Navajo blanket. Mignon would
have grass and water. What more could
army girl ask in that warm and rainless
region? Before sunset she had found
the romantic little spot, unsaddled apd
pickcted Mignon, and later moved her
farther down stream for fresh grass.
and. then. wearied, she herself slept for
hours; and when she awoke and would
have pushed on to the cantonment, 10!
Mignon was gone. Florence had heard
no sound. She could not account for II.
She could only sit and brood and think.
and then, as the long, long day-the
second day-drew to its close, pray
heaven for Randy's coming. There,
more surely than anywhere else, II he
loved her, his love would lead him.
What days of jubilee there were at
Sedgwick when at last Randy was con.
valescen, enough to be moved, and the
ambulance brought him back through
the same old hole in the fence, Flor
eDce seated by his side. Another pa.
tient was out on piazza farther down
the row, taking the sweet fresh air and
listening languidly to the purring OF
Minturn. who still worshiped at the
shrine deserted by Whitaker. Unde-
niably sallow looked the Widow Nc
lane, and her eyes gazed but languidly
ut the joyous little cortege entering the
westward end Of the road. Capt. and
Mrs. Grafton, the Haynes, and other
sympathizing friends had focked
tbither TO welcome the fugitives, and
SO It happened that there was no one
Mt home but Mrs. McLane and much
rerlurbed young battery officer to
greet two somewhat dusty civilians,
who had just driven out from the juno
ton, and now slowly assembled the
Grafton's steps. One - MIR. Parry
came jauntily forward. The other-a
mutton-chop whiskered, plethoric-
looking party-hung reverentially
back, us though waiting permission TO
venture into the presence OF queen.
With swift, anxious, imploring glance
the invalid searched the impressive fea-
lures of her exasperating brother-in.
law aud read no hope; but even from
the depth of her despond sprang some
thing Of her old-time coquetry as she
lcnguidly lay back in the easy-chair
and extended slender, bejeweled hand
TO the adoring Swinburne. The bat
teryman bowed stifily and pulled at his
mustache In recognition of this new ar
rival, and Ned Parry almost audibly
chucklcd his enjoyment OF the situa-
ton. Then stable call sounded and
drew the warrior away and left the
field in the hands of the civilian. and
then Parry decided he must "join the
gang" ut Merriam's; and there pres.
emily he was patting Randy on the back
and showing symptoms of desire TO
kiss Mrs. Randy's hand. US he did Mrs.
Grafton's. Mrs. Grafton hurried out.
declaring she must go and order
more dinner, whereat Parry followed
her to the gate and called & halt. She
saw the twinkle in his eyes and stopped.
you've brought her god news.
know" said she, with womanly eager
ness.
more than that" said Parry, with q
comical grin. "Alore than Fan deserves
10y good deal-l've brought the fellow
that brings her the news. Never mind
dinner-givc him ten minutes"
"Oh, how did you get at the truth"
~ didn't couldn't. They were shy
OF me rs though I'd been Pinkerton.
! knew Swinburne was sore-smitten. ]
knew he'd blow in his whole bank &C.
count IL need be. told him the story
and my suspicious, and set him TO work.
lie found the engineer and got the
proofs. She owes her deliverance 10
him."
"Then 1t was as you thought-as you
told Capt. Grafton?"
certainly. Mrs. McLane No. / died
two months after she got her $4,000.
but the family couldn't afford to lose
80 fruitful member. They had read
and written each others letters from
childhood. Either surviving sister
could write just rs well rs the young
Est. They planned the game; they
fooled McLane completely, and they as
deceived poor young Jack.
Me only reputable connection they had.
FANS all right now. thanks to Swim
burne. Let him be happy for ten min
utes-she'll make him miserable the
rest OF his life. Let's go back and look
It a picture Of absolute bliss-Floy
face. Isn't she an ideal army
Tife?"
THE END.
Trials of IN animal Artist"