The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-01-18

sail gang IN chase OF Dean cOulu
send them here, with the safe-key.
Those few clerks and employees would
be no match for them"
"By heaven, believe you're right"
cried Folsom. (Which way are you
going now?"
Back to the hotel by way of the
depot" was the answer "Will you
go2"
zone moment. do not travel about
Just now without gum" said Folsom,
stepping within doors, and even the
low sound of their voices died away and
all was still as desert. The old trader
did not return at once. Something de-
tanned him--Miss Folsom, probably.
reasoned ,he engineer, as he stood
there leaning on the gate. Aloft
blind crealied audibly, and, gazing up
ward, Loring saw a dark, shadowy
! shutter at the third-story window
| swing slowly in. There was no wind to
move it. Why should human hands be
so stealthy2 Then dim light shone
| through the Stats, and the shade was
! raised, and, while calmly watching
! the performance, Loring became aware
Of dim, faint, lar-away clicl; of
horses hoofs at the gallop, coming
| from the north. "lf that were from the
eastward, now thought he, at might
bring stirring news" But the sound
died away after "A moment, as though
the rider had diyed into sandy soil.
just then Folsom reappeared 81 had
to explain to my daughter. She is most
reluctant to have me go out at night
just now
Naturally" said Loring. calmly.
And have you been way mp to the
third story? / suppose Miss Folsom
has gone 90 her room
"The girls have, both of them--but
not to the third story. That's Mrs.
Fletcher's room"
"Ah, yes. The woman, ! believe, who
accidentally scared your horse and
threw your"
"rhe very one!" he answered. "T'm
blessed If l know what should have
taken her out at that hour. She SAYS
she needed air and a walk, but why
should she have chosen the bact-gate
and the alley as a way to air and sun
shine?"
"Would you mind taking me through
that way?" asked the engineer. sud
denly. TITS the short cut to the depot,
] understand"
"Why. certainly. hadn't thought of
that" said Folsom. "Comc right on
And so while the hoofbeats up the
road grew louder, the two turned
quickly back to the rear of the big
|
brings rews," muttered Loring to him
self, as he turned the corner. 1--WE can
head him off, but ! want to see this
situation fSst."
Looking away southeastYard from
the porch of Folsom's homestead, one
could see in the daytime vista OF
shingled roofs and open yards, broad
valley, with a corral and Enclosures on
the southern edge of the town, but not
a tree. Tonight only dim black shad-
ows told where root and chimney
stood, and not Il sign could they see
of the depot. Loring curiously gazed
aloft at the rear and side windows OF
the third story. "They command quite
a view, | suppose" said he, and even as
he spoke the sash OF the southeast
room was softly raised, the blind
swung slightly outward. That woman
Watching and listening again! And il
was She whose sudden and startling ap
: pearance at the rear gate had led tc
Folsom's throw so early the morning
Burleigh and his mysterious frient
were found missing from their quar-
tiers just after dawn--the very morning
Dean, with his treasure package ant
, little escort, rode forth from Emory or
that perilous mission-the very morn
, ing that BirGsall and his murderout
, gang set forth from Gate City in pur
/ suit.
! And now those hoofbcats up the
, road were coming closer. and Fol
a som, too. could hear and was listen
! ing. even while studying Loring'i
, face. Suddenly n faint gleau sho
: across the darkness overhead. Clanr
r ing quickly upward, both men, deeI
[ in the shadow, saw that the eastern
u window on the southern side wat
l. lighted up. out in the Gl!cyway low
e yet clear, whistle soundcd-twicc
Q Then came cautious footsteps GoWI
/, the back stairs. The bolt OF the rea'
e door was carefully drawn. y WON
g ans form, tall and shroudcd in Il Ion.
= cloak, came swiftly forth and spec
Il down the garden walk to the rear gate
o Come on, quick" murmured the en-
# gineer. and on tiptoe. wondering, IN
IS two men followed. They saw her hal
d at the barred gate. Low. yet distnc
l. she spoke single name; George!
a And without, in the alley Il voice an
i swered: 81 am here! open quick!"
2, "Swear that you are alone!"
IS "Oh, stop that damned nonsense! O
g course I'm a!one!" was the sulen re
l. ply, and at the sound Of the voice Lon
d ing seemed fairly to culver. The gat
A, was unbarred. A mans form, slende
is and shadowy, squeezed in and SCENE
y peering cautiously about. you &c
q my note?" he began. you kno'
& what's happened?'