Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-04-20

capped by helpless youth should some
chance open a way out from the surround
ing danger. And this I frankly told my
companion, though to me he made no reply
For the most part he walked pace or so
ahead of me, and thus we went along, GO
ing easily enough while crossing open fields,
but faring sorely when we struck woodland
or plowed ground. Perilously near, too. we
went to dwellings, even stopping at a well
hard by one to drink, though first making
sure there were no dogs about. / never
would have dared this had been alone, but
my companion laughed at the risk, and /
followed his lead, though it then struck me
as strange that 1 should let this stripping
take the upper hand in our expedition. The
truth is, was tagged and not myself, and
though If driven to corner would have
fought like a shrew, had no head for fine
points on that nj ght, and was growing timid.
Anon we took to the high road for space
TO flank swamp, and once dog went wild
at the smell of us, but we were unmolested.
Not house showed light Though that was
small wonder, it being past midnight), and
now we felt the breath of the damp that
rose in the cooling air, and could even mark
the pondlike appearance of the mist as it lay
in some black hollow of the land Through
brooks, small swamps and pools we went,
with heavy boots going dryshod, though
Ames, with but pumps and stockings, was
wet to the knees, and / could hear the
scrunching of water in his shoes as he
walked. But there was little to choose
about him after / had pulled him out of a
ditch into which he stumbled, though he
made joke of it even while his teeth were
chattering from the chill of his sousing.
1t was fearful going in the dark The Dove
lay five miles from Turtle bay by road, but,
with our circling and ffetracing, we must
have gone three or four more. For the most
part we spoke little, and, though much re-
manned to talk about, was in no spirits to
ask Questions-or/ answer them either, for
that matter. With me there was now no
thought of what lay behind or before, all
that remained of my wits being stupid,
stubborn determination to get on and reach
our destination, be it what it might.
| take 1T twas past one o'clock, and had
been following my leader in an aimless fash
ion for half an hour without word be-
tween us when he halted and laid his hand
upon me, pointing toward house with the
bulk of barn looming through the gloom
behind it. l seemed to wake then, and no.
tice the glimmer of water stretching beyond,
and knew we were on the bank of the Sound
river.
'-Is this the place, them" I asked, as /
tried to make head or tail of the bleak build
ing that stood against the faint sky like a
black block.
He grunted an assent and climbed fence,
I following tamely behind, but instead of
proceeding to the house, we cut around it,
and finally entered what might have been
disused COW shed built against the rear of
the barn. Going to the end, he laid his ear
against the rough boards of the barn and be-
gan scratching gently. Nothing coming of
this, he fumbled about, and presently, to my
great establishment, broad board came
away in his hand, leaving in the barns side
long, black hole that looked to lead into
the bowels of darkness.
fro BE coNTINUED.1