Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-04-29
CHAPTER XIV.-CoSrISrED.

COl. buxton ana Others-nll the OIL
GERS, almost-felt bound to come to the
house between stables and retreat, just
to see how Randy was getting on, but
the answer was the same to one and all.
No one was to be admitted. for the doe
tor was "trying TO get him to Sleep"
And surely enough, bathed, re-
freshed, his arm set and dressed, Randy
soon found himself slowed away in n
soft, white bed, but oh, so weak and
drowsy after all the labor OF the chase
and the long, long day of racking pain.
They were TO bring Florence TO him
now, his wife, his darling, impatiently
waiting for the summons, ashe thought
her, ut Mrs. Haynes, and he was
stretching out his arms to hcr-his one
available arm. rather, and fondly MUIR
muring her name, when the weary eye
lids closed and, numb and impotent, he
drifted away into deep, deep slumber.
"There." said the doctor, at last,
hell do now"
"Aye," murmured Grafton, "but what
will the waking be II there's no Flor
cnce here tomorrow"
That was an anxious night at Sedg-
wick. Merriam slept like the dead, and
twice the young doctor feared 1t might
he necessary TO rouse him, thinking
that perhaps he had sent that tiny shot
of his hypodermic syringe with too
heavy a charge. But so long as Randy
was ignorant of his wifc's mad csca-
pade he would have slept through sheer
exhaustion and WEAKNESS, and his ply
stefan need not have troubled himself.
Twice Grafton tiptoed in, and the hos
pital attendant arose at his coming and
reported that the patient had not
stirred.
Over at Grafton's quarters, however,
they had to deal with less tractable
creature. Fanny McLane had reused
from her swoon and was nervously, ex-
citably, irritably wide awake, de-
handing actually to be allowed to see
Mr.. Merriam. Even Annette was sent
ont of the room and Mrs. Grafton Ind
her friend aud guest to herself, and her
tears and prayers, her reproaches and
imprecatlons fell on hardened ears.
Mrs. Grafton was adamant.
at Is mad folly to talk of such q
thing, Fanny" she replied to every as
sault. "Mr. Merriam Is fur too serious
ly injured TO see anybody, much less
you, who would importune him for your
own selfish purposes. Capt. Grafton
says the doctor has forbidden him to
and he knows. In the morn
ing Capt. Grafton will see him for you
u the doctor will permit"
Whereat the widow only stormed the
more and declared, with hysteric tears,
that they were keeping her away from
Randy Merriam out Of spite and hatred
Just at the most critical time. "He'll
die, nell die" she cried, ''and carry my
one safeguard with him to the gravel"
Sorely puzzled. Mrs. Grafton had to
leave her once in awhile for few min
uies at time to consult her husband,
who could frequently be heard moving
about the parlor or going quickly In
and out Of the house. 1t was plain that
Grafton was troubled about something
Lt sides Randy, and ut II o'clock the ex-
PLANTATION came.
Up to shutdown Florence-Mrs. Mer-
not been seen or heard Of at
Jose's ranch.
One Of the trailers. Rafferty, by name,
declared that -Mignon's tracks turned
suddenly 10 the northward and led away
from the ranch and into the maze OF
to the right Of the cantonment
trail. Al sundown they had reached
loses, still hoping against hope that
she would be there. but no sign Of her
lad been seen, and, borrowing q fresh
horse, Rafferty, started back TO Sedg-
wick at the gallop TO carry the news. He
net the doctor with Mrs. Hayne only
! short distance from Jose's, and they
vent on to the ranch hoping for better
tidings, but babe him ride for Sedg-
wick with all speed. rafferty, could
tide week In and week out II the horse
ould stand II, and Jose's broncho war
, used-up quadruped by the time they
reached the Santa Clara. There he
turred him into q ranchman's corral |
ind borrowed another, never stopping |
o say "by your leave. sir" This was
n the queens service IN Ra6ertys
uInd. and no improperly rnssaersd