Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-10-25

pistol practice again. You beat .me
at Leasenworth, but you can't. do it
now. Got. your gun-anywhere?-
| the one Dad gave you?" And Dad
or Daddy in the Ray household was
the sslovingest" of titles
| Maidie turned a languid head on
| her pillow. I'm the upper drawer
OF the cabinet in my roonss think, .
| said she. 81 remember Mrs. Brent's
examining it,,
Sandy went In search, and present.
| " returned. with the prize, a short,
big barreled, powerful little weapon
of the bulldog type, sending a bullet
like that of a Derringer, hot and
hard, warranted to shock. and stop
an OK at ten yards but miss barn at
over twenty; a woman's weapon for
defense Of her life, not d target pis-
tol, and Sandy twrled. the shining
cylinder approvingly. 1t was a
cleaning toy, with its ivory stock
and nickeled steel.
Every chamber crammed,'' said
Sandy, land sure to knock spots out
of anything from mad dog to an
elephant, provided it hits. Best keep
! it by you at. night, Mafdie. These ma
| tives are marvellous sneak-thieves.
They go all through these ram
shaclzleP upper stories like so many
ghosts. No one can hear them.''
| Then, when he took his leave, the
pistol remained there lying on the
table, and Frank, coming in to see his
most interesting patient just as. the
band was trooping back to its post
on the right of the long ines picked
it up and examined it, muzzle upper
most with professional appreciation.
yours, see, Miss Ray; and from
your father. A man hit by one of
these" he continued, musingly, and
lingering the fat leaden bullets,
"would drop in his tracks. Do you
keep it by Xou?-always?"
ct? Mol" laughed Maidie. :. ''Im
eager to get to my work-healing-
not giving-gunshot wounds
"You will have abundant time, my
dear young lady," said the doctor,
slowly, as. he carefully replaced the
weapon on the table by her side. s.'and
opportunity, if I read the signs
Alright, and we must get you thor
Isoughly well before you begin. All!
What's that? What's the matter over
there?" he lazily asked. 1t was a
fad of the DOCTORS never to permit
himself to show the least haste or ex-
citement.
A small. opera glass stood on the
sill, and, calmly adjusting it as he
peered, Frank had picked it up and
leveled it towards the front and CEN.
ter of the line just back of where the
colonel commanding sat in saddle.
A lively scuff1e and commotion had
suddenly begun among the groups of
spectators. Miss Rays reclining
chair was so placed that by merely
raising her head she could look out
over the field. Mrs. Brent ran to
where the colonePs fieldoglasses hung
in their 1eathern case and joined the
doctor at the gallery rail.
Three pairs of eyes were gazing
fxedly at the point of disturbance,
already the center of surging crowd
of soldiers off duty, Obvious now to
the fact. that the band was playing
the 'sStar Spangled Banner and
they ought to be standing at atten-
ton, hats off. and facing the flag as
it came floating slowly to earth on
the distant ramparts of the old city.
eDisdainful of outside attractions,
the adjutant came stalking out to
the front as the strain ceased, and
his shrill voice was heard turning
-,I ~ Ael