Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-04-13
CHAPTER XII.
A FIGHTING QUAKER.


A FIGHTING QUAKER.
Here was at last pinned down to close
quarters. had hoped they would eat, then
drink themselves drunk and leave, but the
sharper's intention of remaining all night,
if necessary, together with the known hard
ness of head of the average trooper, made
the hope D. forlorn one. It seemed that was
to be confined to the bench for hours unless
some chance should free me, and had re-
signed myself to this when the black came
in with food for the two, and at the same
time the door reopened, there entering a
man whom even in the dim light knew to
be of different stripe than the others.
ii was Quaker, and so infirm that he
walked slowly and heavily with the aid of
staff Giving the two at the table wide
berth, he wended his way to the rear of the
room and, seating himself on the settle, or
dered a plain meal of milk and bread and
buttef.
There was nothing remarkable in the adj
vent of tired Quaker, but his appearance
caused the sharper and his companion to
draw their chairs together and whisper,
though after a moments close talking the
former shouted across the room:
"Hello, snuffy! Where be thee from?"
There came no immediate answer to this,
whereat the trooper swore roundly and re-
peated his fellows question in a louder
voice.
'eI travel from the Kingsbridge and be-
| yond, FRIEND" was the final answer re-
| turned in feeble treble.
'To where, then, thee son O drab?''
mimicked the gambler, as he put in his turn
at insulting the old man.
''To friend in the city-a Capt. Scam
| nell, of De Lancy's regiment. Mayhap thee
! knows him?" was the innocent response.
| But, innocent as it was, it had its effect
on the two, who were at once more respect
full in both tone and words.
| yell not find him, them" volunteered
| the trooper. HE has sore head an a
broken heart-the one from scrimmage an
! the other through loss O. his lady. Ha' We
seen aught O. a runaway beauty on yer trav-
| elsa tall young lass with painted head?''
docs thee mean a young girl with hair
inclined to red?" asked the traveller, with
something of interest in his voice.
cay, that same" returned the trooper.
bringing his feet under him and half rising
"Yea, friend. 1 met with a female.
though scarce beauty, and with hair as
thee describes. She was tired and wan as
she came from the woods near Days tav
ern, by the Hollow Way, and ASKED me fo1
| victuals. But, friend, I was unprovided, and
indeed, in these times fear stragglers, be
they male or female
WAS the same tall an fine O. skin an
with dark eyes?"
cay, think she was of proper height and
her eye was dark, if do not err"
"'Fore God, an I believe it the lass
Lovingly" said the tfooper, starting up anc
for the first time giving the card-sharper
naIae. 'I'm off on the scent. Where away
did she 80, old mann"
Beck to the woods, as I say her" va.
the answer.
what woods? In what dirsetisa?' hur
riedly asked tae rsGse@at.
"Thee kpewssst ease woods sad oresars
where Waghsra5toda ysoEsted H8we On H.
height 81 Hes5@Ay That is tbs sE8t. frasAd
j sarstse& use she 1asaElt be faiS e#@ugh aStes
iead AID RESI- / Nasl noe have der Aarraaa
tbnaEgh s1s, 1h&9 aa3---"
+ %DAmn yssr tlaaas an thous ss2' W@zA
iEgton 49, bgsls s3@asted!' sABatel tn,
trooper, sNesseaag. ~rm off, InNp8g. Tel
the rest wlssa 3ssg come. us q fsir Ia,
that bid y& aesn ne fer a sup ID this flese
1 VIII reaalse y@ yet. Give ne q Qsa'er 70
truth an gssass ssssea.z. aGsh, saGs's And vii
rattle of ssssssss3 h@ ssas cut af the sess
whias' IN 3 EaasIesssss I heard his haTsc put
ting from the yard fnti tit.
As I listened to sa,s es,ssaEqtSa description
of the gzrl. of whese dsntses / doubted q
little as did the trooper. my heart saIlk With
in me. I considered the suffering she hai
undergone to make necessary her assill
food OF a stranger on the high road, and wa
fast getting to the point of leaving Ey plac
of concealments dispatching the man Low
ney, stealing his horse, overtsking che troop
er, and rescuing the girl myself, and al
without thought of my own risk, when a,
accident put an end to this sudden dream o
heroism and caused me to face stern facts
Twas but natural that / mad taken
quick dislike to the Quaker, who had limo
Gently been the means of setting pursue
on the track of the patriotic girl, and 'twa
Also natural that wished to, see more Q
BIN than his legs and the butt of his staff
: To the end of satisfying my curiosity, lift
? ed my head as before, but was seemingi
{ less cautious with my foot, for, moving 4 M
l thinkingly, tilted my sword. which mus
, have but just balanced ON the edge of th
bench, and sent it crashing to the floor wit