Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-07-03

i
| The young man walked down the
| steps quickly and out to the gate.
| "You carn't mount that there bike
until we've walked down the road a
bit," said Badly Towner; Sin fact, I
dom know as ye'd better mount at
ALL" Whcreupon he took an aw1
from his pocket and gave the tire a
| jab; there was a great rush of air,
| and the punctured rubber collapsed.
| Glow dare you'll" said the lad.
| 'sThat is an indictable offense. I'll
have you up in court. I'1l-''
'You kin do anything but go to
| the Hall; tibet We carn't.''
Bill stood where Badly ordered him
to stand, in the middle of the road
| leading up to the Hall, ready to
spring if Badly gave the word, and
back to the village, pushing his use
less bicycle in front of him along
| the way that he had come. I saw
| who was driving in one of the regu-
lar buggy-hacks that take visitors
out to the country places round Gal
tersville. The buggy stopped right
| in front of our door.
els that another of those report
| ers, Char1fe?" I called to the man.
He was a driver for our one livery
| stable. We had been to the village
school together in our childhood.
81 dono'm,'' said Charlie. 'sHe said
he wanted nice place to board, and
thought I'd bring him out to your
house."
81 never saw anything like the
| number of people wanting board just
now" said I. 81 might make money
| if I owned a hotel. No, haven't any
place for you," for I saw that his
| pockets, too, were fairly bullying out
with papers and pads and pencils.
By this time the man was close to
| the steps.
'What paper are you from2"
said l.
''How did you know? Oh, my ma
terials, I suppose. Well, then, the
Star Union
ST wouldn't take man from the
Star Union for his weight in gold"
said I.
whats the matter with the Star
Union?" he asked. 'sBeen saying
anything about you, or anyone con-
meet
| NO. said I. ST never get into the
papers. There is no reason why
should, but I don't want to take
newspaper reporters. have an in
valid aunt"
81 should like to interview her
-" He took a pad from his
pocket.
eve have ghost in the house,
| and
"I'll write it up" He drew a
| pencil from another pocket.
81 have a strange young woman, a
| trained nurse, in my lower front,
and"
"She might give me an article on
the system of training nurses
And a news-but no! I won't
take you"
| newspaper MANI"
| 81 was going to say that a news
paper never knows enough to mind
it's own business, and I, for one, will
have nothing to do with Them
"Then I'll go on to the Hail. said
the stranger, turning towards the
buggy.
Charley Blount," I called, eff you
let that man go to the Hall, you and
I are friends no longer. You know
what the ladies wish. Do it, and
don't let strangers come meddling in
| Gainesville"
Charlie Blount looked uncertainty
| at me. Then he turned to the
stranger.
81 don't know as I can take you,'
said he. "Ef the ladies don't want it,
huff said.'
''Then I'll walk
''Not eff Bill knows it," said Badly
Towner. "Here. Bill"
"Well, I'm blessed! Deprive man
of his liberty on the high-road in this
free country? I'll see what the law
says to that and the stranger got
slowly into the carriage to drive
back to the village with Charlie
Blount.
He had not more than taken his
seat in the buggy before Miss Dacres
dashed down the hill from the di-
rection of the Hall, rode up to the
side of the fence, jumped lightly off
in that way that experts have, and
leaned her wheel against the elm
tree. She stood looking inquiringly
at the two men.
''What do they want?' she said.
zones q newspaper man." I re-
Piled 'tHe wants to interview the
ladies up at the Hall, but as far
as I can, shall prevent it,
perhaps I'll let you interview me
some day." said Miss Dacres, smiling
at the stranger.
you're not what I'm AFTER" said
the man as they drove off.
'Wen," said Miss Dacres, 'I'm glad
Tn, not xuhof hoss oftoro ord come