Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-07-06


the return of the Phantom. and was now
in the habit of daily taking walk up the
gently sloping cap of the cliff, which sud-
denly breaks away to the sea in an almost
sheer precipice, to get, if possible, glimpse
of his craft. Oftentimes on these occasions
Gertrude would be with him.
One day Ames asked him to give McCary
an overhauling for some papers taken by
his sister from Mrs. Badely's desk, which
were now missing. Accordingly, when next
he met the doctor, he asked him for the
papers. McCary had his gun with him, and
his gray eyes were bloodshot, betokening
free use of liquor. He started, and the gun
slipped from his hand. If there were any
doubts before that he was the thief, they
were now dispelled. Before he could formu-
late an answer ~Thorndyke leaped for and
laid hold of him. With one hand he twist
ed him around, with the other drew from his
breast pocket mass of papers, then with a
finishing push thrust him backward. By the
time the surly redcoat had gotten to his feet,
Donald had found what he wanted, and then
walked off with the gun over his shoulder
without even looking to what might be
McCary's next move.
A few days later when Donald walked to
the cliff Gertrude was with him. He was
hundred feet in advance of her as he reached
the brow of the promontory. He gave
shout as he sprang forward, for there,
stretching out for miles, vessel after vessel,
was the British fleet.
Then he heard behind him a piercing
shrek. Turning he saw. Gertrude throw her.
self on the form of McCary, just as he sent
| bullet whizzing by his head. In moment
] he tore himself from the girl and put off in
| full flight, and Thorndyke after him. They
met on the verge of the cliff, from which by
| mighty effort the doctor was thrown head
| long.
Then, turning, Donald hurried to where
| the motionless form of Gertrude lay. His
passion broke against all restraint, and he
poured into her deaf ears the story of his
love, and kissed her white lips. Her eyes
| opened slowly, and he knew she had not
| been deaf to all he had said. She looked him
! sq,farely in the eyes and said: Donald, have
| you only courage while in the grip of MUIR
| derous monster and-and over the body of a
| lifeless woman? My poor boy-my hero-oh,
| my love-"
On the morning of the 9th of September
/ Mrs. Thorndyke was too Ill to rise from
! her bed. John Phillipse, the doctor at
| Edgartown, was called.
Nothing ais your mother" he said to
Donald, Saving the disease Of old age. Y on
may have her with you for awhile yet, but
| she's tender, lad"
| Next morning the British landed on the
| island, with but little warning of what was
| to come. Capt. ScammeH with several ma
rines was at the house. DR.. Phillipse and
| Rachel Thorndyke were in the main room.
| Donald had had time to hide himself to
await developments. No one seems to have
| known at the moment what had become
| of Gertrude. Ames, of course, was still con-
! fined to his room.
Without knocking, Scammell entered and
demanded that Gertrude King, Beverly
Ames and Donald Thorndyke be surrendered
| to him. At that moment the hall door
| opened and Gertrude entered. Her face was
flushed as though just awakened from nap.
| Seeing Scammell, she uttered a scream,
| and turning, fed through the door by which
she had just entered, slamming the portal
| behind her. Rachel placed herself against
| the door, but one of the marines pulled her
rudely away and sprang up the stairs, with
Scammell close behind.
AS Thorndyke appeared on the scene he
met marine, who opposed his advance, but
he was shortly laid out by blow from the
butt of gun. A third marine had attacked
the doctor, and Donald dealt with him in
| the same summary fashion. Then up the
stairs to his mothers room, where he knew
he would find Gertrude, he rushed.
Ames was leaning against the wall con-
fronted by the marine who had come up
l;with Scammell. In front of the bed stood
| Gertrude with cooked pistol in her hand
and facing Scammell.
AS Donald entered the room, he heard
| the brave girl say, in answer to some ques-
| ton: Meyer alive, sir! Settle with him!
liam the promised wife of Donald Thorn
| dyke!'
Donald drew his sword, and with the
| cry: "Turn, you villain, turn!" he smote
| Scammell across the shoulders with the fiat
of the blade. As the two men shifted, cir
cling for an advantage, Scanned neared the
door, and quickly turning, rushed to the
| room below. Here there was more room
for the play of swords. The officer was
| clever, but Donald drew him foot by foot
Suddenly throwing his wrist out of line, his
point fell off. Like lightning Scammell tool
| the bait; the next instant his sword was
spinning through the air. Before the whSrl
ing steel reached the ground, Thorndyke'
blade had passed through the throat of the
villain.
In the meantime in the room. above the
marine had shot at Gertrude. The bullet
had missed her, but had done its deadly
work on the aged sufferer in the bed. Ger
trude fred with her pistol, and the marine
| lay on the floor dead!
Over the bed, where lay his beloved dead
Donald swore vengeance which should not
cease untd his country was. rid of the butch
| ers invading it. Ames reached out his hand
and thus was cemcnted anew the covenant
between them.
For the two days the British remained on
Martha's Vineyard Donald and his little
party lived in disused shed deep in the
heart of the forest. On the second evening
he returned alone to the house, and was
surprised to find it still standing, showing
no evidence of having been entered since
they had fled from it. A crude coffin was
constructed and the mother was buried in
| the woods near the edge of the home lot
DR.. Phillipse doing the last Offices. And
there she still rests, marked by the stone
Donald lived to see begin to etumb!e away
undnr tho hand of fimo