Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-12-14
The World Against Him
BY WILL N. HARLEM.
Copyright, 1900. by
A. N. Kellogg Newspaper Company.
CHAPTER VWI.-CoNTINUED.

The shot told on Evelyn. In the pres
ence of her father, she dreaded the dis
closure that Wrinkle. in his anger, might
make with regard to her intimacy with
Ronald; but the old gentleman paid no
heed to their innuendoes.
"He certainly is foolhardy," he Joined
in; "but to save me can but admire
the fellows courage. Why" the colonel
snapped his fat fingers, eff he keeps
that sort of thing up, or tries to inter-
fere when the man is caught, 1 wouldn't
give pinch of snuff for his life. Some
chap like sgd Hart would draw bead
on him, and be proud of it till the end
of his days"
Then Mrs. Lancaster came and pu-
her arms round Evelyn's waist.
"Don't act hastily, my DEAR" was her
whispered warning; and she drew the
girl to the other end of the veranda.
Don't you see what he wants?" she
asked; "he is trying to rouse your IA
, Tiers suspicious"
About five o'clock the occasional
shouts in the swamp grew louder and
nearer, and into them was suddenly
blended the ominous baying of dogs.
1.-THE hounds!" announced the
colonel, tragically.
"And they are out for business" glee-
fully added the captain; they are
headed this way"
Evelyn and Mrs. Lancaster stood lean
ing against the baiustrade, their faces
towards the swamp.
"Come inside, DEAR" said the latter.
1T will do no good to witness It,"
But our young lady only shook her
head.
After few minutes the shouting and
baying Of the hounds died down. The
colonel gave it as his opinion that they
were off the track, but that it was only
a question of time before they would
catch the scent again.
Two hours passed. The sun sank be-
hind the distant mountain peaks. The
sky beyond was as red as blood. The
wisps of clouds lying against the noun
tain-sides looked like glaciers. The
landscape took on a delicate veil of
gray. Objects in the distance began to
assume vague shapes. The dark out
lines of the swamp were fast merging
into the night.
"They have been taking a zig-zag
course" proclaimed Hasbrooke from
his IND of the veranda. 1.-THE rascal
will he as timber as a rag when he is
freed. There are no two ways about it;
it's all ap with him; the darkness will
not be in his favor; nothing but blood
will satisfy the fury of that mob"
do you mean that the sheriff will
not be able to control them?" queried
Mrs. Lancaster, who had begun to walk
about nervously.
ssHo'd have IN horo a lot ~ ho
to even try it," answered her host.
He'd be knocked out like straw in a
hurricane; murderers of old women
stand no chance with these crude An
glo-SaXons."
the moon, which had just risen and
doomed up like huge conflagration be-
yond the tree-tops. For yet half an
hour only an Intermittent shout or the
sudden outburst of barking was heard
from the swamp, but each time the
sounds were nearer. Old Ephraim, as if
anticipating his masters desires, drove
round the horses and trap.
IA good idea," approved the colonel;
gentlemen, we might as well get near
er. think know where they will
come out.
by all meansl" cried the captain.
with enthusiasm. He was the first to
get seat in the vehicle, and was fol-
lowed by his host and Mr.. Hardy.
When the trap had gone, Miss Has
brooke retired to her room with some
complaining allusion to her nerves, and
Evelyn and Mrs. Lancaster remained on
theveranda, guarded only by the old ne
gro. who stood like sentry on duty at
the foot Of the steps.