Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-05-03
CHAPTER XI.-CoNr1NUED.

<Go and hurry that buggy" he or
-adered, as he crushed the sheet of pa
per on which he had been nervously
figuring. Then, springing up, he be-
gan pacing his office with impatient
stride. A clerk glanced quickly up
from his desk. watched him one mo-
ment with attentive eye, and looked
significantly at his neighbour. "Old
mans getting worse ratified every
day." was the comment, as the crash
OF wheels through loose gravel an
zaOunced the coming of the buggy,
sand Burleigh fastened out, labored
iGnto his seat, and took the whip and
fzeins. The blooded mare in the
shafts darted forward at the in
.xtant, but he gathered and drew her
AN, the nervous creature almost set
ytling on her launches.
Say to Capt. Newhall when he gets
back-that I'll see him this evening""
called Burleigh over his shoulder.
Nov, damn you, go-if you want
Ho!" and the lash fell on the glisten-
ing, quivering fink, and with her
head pointed for the hard, open prai-
r.Tie, the pretty creature sped like mad
= over the smooth roadway and whirled
zfhe light buggy out past the scattered
wooden tenements of the exterior
limits of the frontier town-the tall
white staff. tipped by its patch of
f. acolor Tapping in the mountain breeze,
.-sand the dingy wooden buildings on
the distant bluff whirling into view
=as he spun around the corner where
the village lost itself in the prairie;
land there. long reaches ahead of him,
ajust winding up the ascent to the
post was a stylish team and trap.
John Folsom and the girls had taken
AN early start and got ahead of him.
Old Stevens was up and about as
Eolsom's carriage drove swiftly
through the garrison and passed
straight out by the northeast gate.
I'll be back to see you in moment,
shouted the old driver smilelessly, as
7he shot by the lonely colonel, going,
peppers in hand, to his office, and Stew
.-a,ns well knew he was in for trouble
Already the story was blazing about
s.he post that nothing but the timely
arrival of Dean and his men had
-ssared Folsom's ranch, and Folsom's
people. Already the men, wondering
and indignant at their young leaders
arrest, were shouting over The suffers
bar their peans in his praise, and their
xaenunciation of his treatment. Over
Ghe meeting of sister and brother al
the latter's little tent let us draw a
'~eil. He stepped forth in moment
and babe his other visitors welcome
shook hands eagerly with Loomis anc
urged their coming in, but he never
passed from under the awning OF
fly" and Folsom well knew tn.
reason.
Jump out, daughter" he said t.
Pappoose, and Loomis assisted hel
20 alight and led her straight up t.
Dean, and for the first time in thos,
two years the eX-cadet captain ant
the whilom little schoolgirl with tn,
Iheavy braids of hair looked into eacl
~otner's eyes, and in Deans there wa
amaze, and at least momentary de
Hight. He still wore his field rig. an,
zzhe rent in the dark-blue flannel shir
was still apparent. He was claspins
Miss Folsom's, hand and lookin.
straight into the big dark eyes tina
were so unusually soft and humid
when Jessie's voice was heard as sh
escame springing forth from the tent:
Look, Nell, look! Your picture!'
zshe cried, as with the bullet-marke,
-scarte de visite in her hand she flitte,
straight to her friend.
''Why, where did this come from :?
asked Miss Folsom in surprise, IAN,
what's happened to it?-all crease,
and black therei" Then both the girl
and Loomis looked to him for explana
sfion, while Folsom drove away, an,
sseven through the bronze and tan tn
hoy was blushing.
.~Eborrowed it for a minute-a
1he ranch just as Jake came in wound
I'D. and there was no time to retur