Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-12-26
CHAPTER NJ.

CHAPTER III.
After all the despairings on the
score of the lost treasure, it hau come
TO light in the final half hour of the
voyage; had not been disturbed, as
the finding proved. Some sudden jar
had shifted the cargo of coffee, clos
ing the Granny into which the treas
ure had been thrust, and opening an
other one.
With the prize once more in hand,
Griswold had a return of the levitant
JOY which had thrilled him in the
earliest moment of success. Once
again he was on fighting terms with
the world; and if, as he made sure,
the final struggle was awaiting him
onNthe levee at ST. Louis, he should
not fight as one to whom victory is
barren.
He made ready for the possible
struggle while there was yet time
The negro whose part he had taken
in the melee with the mate was CRATE
ful, and of him Griswold made con-
federate. They would go ashore to-
gether on the mooring line, and in
event of an attack the negro was to
snatch the bundle and run. Further
than that, his instructions were brief
but definite If Griswold should be
overpowered, the bundle, certified by
it's owner to contain "conjure," harm
less if undisturbed, was to be flung
intorthe river. And for all this Girls
void paid well, and in advance.
1t fell out much as he had pre-
figured. When the Belle Julie had
edged her way into the fiotilla of
steamers at the landing Griswold and
the black trailed the mooring line up
to ring on the paved slope. There
was a MONDAY glare of electric light,
and the thick-piled pyramids of
freight on the paved levee cast inky
shadows. Out of the nearest of the
shadows leaped two men at the mo-
ment of rope-knotting, and the fight
was on.
AT the critical instant Griswold
dropped his bundle, and the negro
snatched it and ran, with cone of the
officers in pursuit. And a battle
blown minute later the fugitive found
himself looking into the muzzle of a
revolver. Even then he would have
fought on had he not caught
glimpse of Charlotte looking down
from the Belle jules guard. But,
knowing WudC IL WOuIu 10 nSE
to see him shot down in struggle
for which she was responsible, he
chose the greater of the two evils and
submitted.
So it was that the air castles crum-
bled and he was marched unresiSting-
~ up the levee and thrust into wait
ing carriage. Here there was slight
hitch in the official programme. Five
L,
league had not yet brought in the
negro; and when Impotence bios
sorned into thirst the officer went
into saloon hard by to get drink.
first comma nding the cabman to come
down and watch the prisoner.
The driver was little, wizened
Irishman, and he went about the
guard duty with whining protest.
Griswold saw his opportunity, and
seized it. when the detectives back
was turned.
whats your job worth, my man?"
he whispered, with his face at the
window.
Don't yez be timptin' a poor man
wild wife an swim childer hangin'
to um-don't yez do it, sor!"
But Griswold persisted. cts
hundred dollars to you if you can
get me footloose. Have a runaway
anything! Here's your money!"
The cabman took the sheaf of
banknotes. Followed quick swish
of the whip. and the purchased runa-
way; the driver hanging to the re1ns
like faint-hearted Autolycus.
Griswold saw the detective dash
out of the saloon at the alarm, and
waited only until the electric glare
was left behind. Then he opened the
door on the river side of the plung
ing carriage and rolled out.