Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-11-16
CHAPTER ".

OdFlu Caught hOudiu ny the arm anu
turned his face towards the little glass
less window at the head of the stairs.
Gown up" he said, with smile, ''you
didn't git wink O. sleep last night"
81 confess it," was the answer. 81
didn't know what was the matter with
me-"
'But I do David touched his brow
significantly; sit was hot blood in the
brain. I know how you felt. You jest
rolled an tumbled. I heerd you git
up an look out O. the window 20 see
eff it was gittin' daylight five times eff
you did once. My Lord, I couldn't rest
for two nights fore I whipped Budd
Meyer fur reportin' me fur sellin' that
quart to the Calhoun boys, but you bet
after made his face look like a buckle
berry custard l slept the sleep of the
righteous. Two O. my friends had to
perjure the'rse'ves to keep me out O.
the changing, an was tryin' to wash
out the'r sin with his blood; eff Their
conscience amt clear it amt because
thar wasn't enough O. the fluid fur
laundry purposes, fer he bled like a
stuck pig. 1 reckon" Dave broke off
suddenly as they began to descend the
stairs, that breakfast is about ready,
I heerd the old man cussin' about thar
bein' too much ham fried
After breakfast our hero left the
houseandtookt heroad leading towards
Carnleigh. He wore his best suit of
clothes, which fitted him perfectly.
In each of the pockets of his dark sack
coat there was a revolver; he had
shaved himself by the first rays of the
sun and wore becoming necktie; his
boots shone with fresh backing, and
he had on stylish straw hat.
AS he left the house Mary Lou and
Ann Josephine, having shirked the
dishwashing, stood arm in arm on the
porch. Their shoes were unlaced, their
dresses soiled and torn, their hair dis
heveled.
'He walks mighty biggity," observed
Mary Lou; 81 reckon he is maxim
tracks fur town to see about bein' ex-
amined fur the lazy. Who do you reck-
on would hire i'm to speak fur 'em?"
''Thar's no tellin' the luck of lousy
calf" opined Ann Josephine. IRON
amt nobody's fool; a body couldn't
read as many papers an magazines an
study law as hard as he does without
l'arnin' something"
He'll take keer O. number one any
ways" commented Mary Lou. 81 heerd
pa say t'other day that Ron refused
to market his cotton when everybody
in the county was turnin' loose O. theirs
last fall an that he held onto it tell it
riz an he put cool two hundred dol
lars profit in the bank; an another
thing, he never goes in debt over head
| an yeers like pa an Dave does; he's the
only farmer round heer that pays cash
| fur labor an that's one reason he gifts
sc much out O. his hands. Niggers don't
| want to work fur orders on the store
at two prices when the cash planked
down will git so much better bargains"
Meanwhile the subject Of. these re-
marks was walking swiftly down to-
wards Carnleigh. The great house was
| grounds through which a fower-bor-
dered walk led in sinuous curves from
the veranda down the grassy slope
where there were a spring, a summer
house and rustic seats. The spot was
only a few hundred yards from the
main road, where, in a corner of the
| colonePs zigzag rail fence, Ronald
paused and waited. hoping that by
some chance Capt. Wrinkle would stroll
in that direction as Ronald in passing
ha6 once or twice seen him do.
He had not long to wait. He saw
Wrinkle in fatigue uniform come out
on the veranda and receive a cigar from
a man-servant. A few minutes after.
| wards, under banner of blue smoke
the young officer took one or two turns
on the lawn among the flower beds
and then, as if obeying Ronald's fierce
desire, conveyed to him telepathically
he turned into the walk leading dowr
to the spring. he moved easily, with 9
lazy, swinging stride, ruthlessly cut.
ting at the nearest flowers with a cane
which he poised on his shoulder like
sword or swung in front of him as il
fencing.
/ No sooner had Ronald seen the di
rection he was taking than he vaulte6
over the fence and made his way
through the dewy grass and weeds into
the wood which INTERVIEWED between
him and the spring.
He came upon Wrinkle as that worthy
stood on the fat stones round tn.
spring. The officer wore his eye
glasses, and had his cigar between hi.
liups. The grass mufaed Ronald,
steps, and as Wrinkle was look
ing towards the house as if expect
ing some one. he did not notice oul
hero's presence till he stood beside him
| "Ah!" CALCULATED Wrinkle, as h.
turned, and then through his glasses b.
eyed Ronald coldly from head to foot
"Ah!" he repeated, and then he took I
puff at his cigar and blew the smok,