Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-11-20
A KNIGHT OF
THE HIGHWAY
By CLINTON SCOLLARD.
Author Of "a Man at Arms. The Son
Of Tory" Etc.
Copyright, 1901, by J. B. Lippincott Co.
All rights reserved.
CHAPTER XIH.-CoNTINUED.


After his plunge out of the bushes
ROssiter hurried up the field, crossed
into the upper orchard, and made
his way to the sleeping quar-
tiers of the men. What he had just
seen and heard had suddenly dis
solved the resolution and purpose
that had been daily taking frmer
and more definite shape since he left
the freight-train that night at Illica.
Life never would, never could, hold
aught for him. What he had recent
~ experienced proved this but too
plainly. He was a fool to think
that he could ever be anything but
a vagabond. He would take to the
road again. Hastily he put his few
belongings together and strobe to
the door. There he paused. Should
he leave without word to any one?
The love in his heart flooded over him
like great wave as his mind revert
ed to Miss DensmOre. No, he would
somehow contrive to send good
by to her. 1t was a browning piece of
folly, perhaps, doubtless, for it would
mean nothing to her, but he would
indulge in it nevertheless. It would
be his final tribute on the now shat
tered altar of hOpe-the shrine which
he had so unwittingly reared.
He remembered to have seen Joe
Becraft that morning slip small
pencil into a vest hanging upon n
chair near his cot. The garment was
still there. He took out his brothers
letter, tore off at the crease little
strip upon which there was no writ
mr. IN he srlt
words of adieu. He then replaced
the pencil, thrust the folded mes
sage into his pocket, and rending in
scraps the remainder of the letter,
scattered the fragments upon the
grass as he stepped from the door.
There's an end of that!'' he said.
In the hop-lliln, by dull lantern
light, some of the picl1ers were hav-
ing a last impromptu merry-making
to the wheezy music of mouth-or-
gan played by one of their number.
Among the dancers was Joe Becraft.
It had been Rossiter's intention to
bid him good-by, but he saw that he
could not do so without encountering
many others, so with a consciousness
of real regret he turned away. AS
he came to the end of the barn he
deserted Jack Parmelee's familiar
figure moving towards the house.
Here was the very man for his pur-
pose. He hailed him.
'Mr. Parmelee!' he called.
The farm manager halted.
"Oh, it's you!" he said, as Rossiter
drew near. "What's up?" He had re-
marked the pole-puller's bundle.
''I'm off," said Rossiter. GIVE
changed my mind about waiting till
morning. If 1 hurry think 1 can
catch the Hintonville train, but ]
can't wait to say good-by to every.
one. Won't yon make my adieus
to Mr.. and Mrs. Merton and Miss
Merton and to the Becrafts,-Pm
very sorry not TO see them all,-and
would you be kind enough to give
this to- Miss Densmore?"
He held out the slip of paper with
its penciled words. Parmelee tool
it.
why, certainly, to be sure" he
said. But you'd better wait. In
deed, wish you'd stay right on. We
need just such a man as you. Mr.
Merton'd give you good wages, yo,
know"
Its very kind of YOU Mr.. Mer
ton spoke about it. but must CO.
answered Rossiter, holding out his
hand
: "Well, you'll come next year?'
said Parmelee, giving him a hearty
grip. stPll keep place for you, i
you say so."
SCI can't PROMISE" Rossiter replied
Thanks just the same.'
Parmelee watched Rossiter strid,
out Of the gate and take the Hinton
vile road $50 77esasi5f Ets s9r
/ There's q chapsI c.a't make out,