Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-09-21
HANDS UP!
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NTHAT a pity Jack is not a
w hero!" sighed Mary, laying

WHAT a pity Jack is not a
w hero!" sighed Mary, laying
down a paper containing list of the
latest recipients of the V. C. dad is
SO awfully gone on soldiers just now"
She glanced toward dainty writing
table, where the photograph of
handsome curly-headed young bar
rister occupied a prominent place.
Power was expressed in every one OF
those clear-cut features-the power to
cleave way through the world.
But Col. Warwick could think of
nothing but soldiers, and his daugh-
ter, Mary, clandestinely carried on
her love affairs, and concocted all
sorts of impossible plans to transform
her civilian lover into something like
a man for the colonel. She even went
to the length of inquiring at the war
office if lawyers, as well as doctors
and clergymen, were not attached to
the headquarters staff O.. the army in
South Africa, and, being disappoint-
ed in that, rehgiously set to work to
inculcate some martial ardor in her
lover by requesting him to take her
to all the military functions in town.
Yet the unconscious Jack would not
be hero.
''Why don't you help me, Beat p
she cried, plaintively appealing to her
cousin, who, gracefully reclining on
velvet ottoman, was devouring the
contents of the latest novel from
Nudes. "Your affair is all settled,
and you've no troubles in the world.
Do put that wretched book away and
help me think of Jack!"
"Mary, you're a nuisance!" ex-
claimed the calm-minded young lady,
shutting her book with slam. "And
SO is Jack! Why don't you think of
something else for a few days? If 1
worried half so much about Godfrey,
I should pine myself into a conva-
descent home!"
sYes; but you don't have to. You're
engaged; and, besides, your dad isn't
mad on soldiers
Miss Beatrice burst out laughing,
and her charming cousin assumed a
dignified pout. ''My dear GIRL she
said. patronizingly, and ignoring the
pout, ''uncle's only a silly old man,
and he doesn't mean one-half he
says!"
Mary was about to espouse his
cause, and even sacrifice her Jack in
her.
''But as for being a hero, why, Jack
can be that as we'll as anyone if he
| likes-and he shall be, for all your I'M
worthiness.'
"a hero! How, Beat-how?'
'Never mind. You say he's coming
to stay over Sunday?"
''Yes. I worried dad into asking
me quiet"
Beatrice gave a sympathetic sigh.
'Wel1, then, next Saturday will. put
him to- the test. and unless he proves
| himself hero and man under such
| desperate circumstances [ shall be
| sadly disappointed. Now, stop wor-
| rying, and go and read the war news
| to uncle. He's dying for it, I know"
And before Mary had time to stop
| her and demand an explanation she
| had flown from the room.
| Jack Winchfield put in an appear
ance on the following Saturday, and,
with little coaching from the two
| girls. made quite good impression at
dinner, when he discussed military
| tactics with keen interest, if not cor
rectness.
At half past II, after a game of bill
| lizards, and a one-sided argument on
| the subject of cavalry remounts. the
two men retired, and an hour later
| the house was dark and silent.
'Mary, are you awaken"
"Rather!" came in a sleepy voice.
81 thought you were never coming"
| "Uncle's been reading and only
| turned his light out a few minutes
ago, but he's snoring now"
| The two girls shivered simultan-
eously, and in sympathy. Midnight
| enterprises are wont to try the
strongest nerves. Mary turned on the
| gas
| s.Why, Beat she exclaimed. 'syou
look just like a man! Where did you
get those old clothes? And, oh! your
| face is so dirty and smudgy!"
! Beatrice laughed, in spite of her
| nerves.
| "Shall / do?" she asked.
| 'Do? You're simply horrible!''
| "Good-by, then. Listen for me COM
ing back: and if you hear me running
open the door and let me in
In obedience to which command
Mary, as soon as her cousin had left
the room, locked the door, threw her
self upon the bed and laughed and
| cried internationally until she fell
| asleep from sheer exhaustion.
| The amateur burglar gingerly
| picked her way downstairs, and silent
| ly turned the key of the library door.
Feeling her way toward a comfortable
couch. she threw herself upon it and
waited. listening to the beating of her
! own heart and to the awful silence