Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-06-28

left, and not a company to oppose
them. No, sir, more than enough of
that troop have already been sacri-
feed! The rest shall stay here"
And well was it, for one and all,
that Old Pecksniff' held firm to his
decision. 1t was one of his lucid in
tervals.
Late that evening, after ten o'clock,
there came the sound of hoofbeats
on the hard road and the crack Of q
long-lashed mule-whip, and the fort
ambulance clattered up to Folsom's
gate, and the colonel himself, his adj
jutant by his side, came nervously
up the gravel walk. Folsom met them
at his door. Instinctive1y he felt that
something new and startling was add
ed to the catalogue of the days dis
astrous tidings. Pecksniff's face was
eloquent CT gravest concern, mingled
with irrepressible excitement.
LET me see you in private, quick"
he said. "Mr.-ah-Mr. Adiutant.
will you kindly remain in the parlor,"
and, taking Folsom by the elbow,
Pecksniff led impetuously into the Ii
brary. The girls had gone aloft only
a moment before, but, dreading news
of further evil, Pappoose came fut-
tering down.
go in and welcome the ad1utant,
DEAR" said Folsom, hurriedly. "The
colonel and I have some matters to
talk Of" Obediently, she turned at
once, and, glancing up the stairs,
noticed that Mrs. Fletcher's door
must have been suddenly opened, for
the light from her room was now
streaming on the third-foor balus-
tiers. Listening again! What could
be the secret of that woman's in
tense watchfulness? In the parlor
the young staff officer was pacing up
and down, but his face lighted at
sight of ,Elinor.
''Do you know-Is there anything
asked, as she gave her slim young
hand.
Not concerning our people," was
the significant answer. ''But I fear
there's more excitement coming"
Barely waiting for Elinor to with
draw, -Pecksniff" had turned on Fol-
som. "You know opposed the send
ing of that party? You know it was
all ordered on Burleigh's urging and
representations, do you not?"
eyes, I heard so,' said Folsom.
"What then?"
"You know he planned the whole
businessmen 'em around by Canyon
Springs and the Sweetwater?"
''Yes, heard that, too," said Fol-
som, still wondering.
"You know some one must have put
that Birdsall gang on the scent, and
that Burleigh has had alleged nerve
prostration ever since, and has been
too ill to see anyone or to leave his
bed"
eyes, so we were told.'
well, he's well enough to be up
and away-God knows where, and
here is the reason-just in from the
NORTH" and, trembling with excite
ment, Pecksnif pointed to the closing
CORDS. seals and wrapping were intact
when handed to the quartermaSter, but the
contents were nothing but worthless pa
per. 1t must have been so when given to
Lieut.. Dean"
Folsom's eyes were popping from
his head. He sank into chair, gaz-
ing up in CONSERVATION.
Don't you see. mani" said Peck
sniff, ''some one in the depot is short
$4,000 or so. Some one hoped to
cover this shortage in just this way
to send little squad with a bogus
package, and then turn loose the big
gest gang of ruffians in the country.
They would have got it but for the
storm at Canyon Springs, and no one
would have been the wiser. They
couldn't have got it without a MUIR
derous fight. No one would ever dare
confess his completely in it. No state
ment of theirs that there wasn't a
cent in the sack could ever be be-
lieved. Some ones shortage would
be covered and his reputation saved.
The plot failed, and Gods mercy was
over Deans head. He'd "a been MUIR
dered or ruined if the plan worked
and now Burleigh's gone!"