Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-10-28
night. Now do you believe y.

tenOSQ 10 MIN. IL pore the ST Louis
postmark. 1t had been sliced open
with q knife. It was addressed to
Paul Ladue, Esq, bookseller and sta
toner, East Water street, -. and it
contained another envelope still sealed
and unbroken, addressed in round.
clerkly hand 10 First Lieut.. Paul La
due, Eleventh Alabama infantry. and
bore at the upper left hand corner the
letters so often used in the old DAYS
of the old army, o. P. S. Con public
service1, instead OF the later shibbo-
leth of the war department, Official
business
1T is fatal" said the veteran law
yer, with gasp of dismay.
1T is a forgery said Fred. his son.
whereat McK;Hnon started as though
stung. And row the mob. headed by
Hugh Gale, came swarming to their
gate, and their spo'- esman, in his re-
sounding basso, addressed himself to
the master.
Squire Benton. it is my belief that
the man we want is hidden here on
your premises. Your son has long been
his most intimate friend. Mr.. Ladue
invited our committee to enter and
search. Will you do the same? Or
are you going to shelter rebel spies and
traitors?"
You are not going to enter and
search" answered Benton, sturdily
This city has been my home since
it was a mere village. This is my
home, and by the ETERNAL you shall
not violate iti''
Shut up" yelled the crowd go
suiting action to word two of their
number leaped down upon the flower
beds and came lunging out across the
grass plot. In an instant Fred Benton,
breaking from Elinor's restraining
hands, sprang to confront them, and
without word, sent his clinched fist
square at the leaders jaw and tumbled
him among the pansies. His fellows
Tecoiled to the fence, and a howl of
mingled wrath and admiration went
up from the mob. Then somebody
picked up a huge clod from a pile of
soft, fresh-cut sod that stood by the
tree box at the edge of the gutter, and
with practiced hand hurled it at Nc
Kinnon. 1t took that portly counselor
'twiXt midriff and gorge. just as a
bulky vegetable, hurting through gas
lit space, landed full on his distended
cheek.
Then of sudden there arose from
the threats of the mob a yell of tri-
umph and rejoicing. for at the head of
the steps stood Paul Ladue, facing
them with flashing eyes and without
a tremor. Another instant and before
Fred could interpose, light and agile,
he bounded down the steps, across the
lawn and vaulted to the flst-to2ped
fence at the corner, lighting like a cat
on his feet, and confronted them.
Who accuses me-aRd of what am /
accused?' he cried
You're damned spy" Rebel"
Traitor" Here, give us that let
ter, Squire" were the yells from the
crowd. And then big Gale, the black
smith, tore a way round to the side
and waved under the pale, Quivering
face McKinnon's contribution to the
evenings disturbance-the letter he
would now have been glad to with
draw. What have you to say to this,
Mr.. Lieut.. Paul Ladue, Eleventh Ala
bama?"
81 say it's forgery and lie!" was
the ringing answer.
ANY man would, fixed as you ara"
doomed the blacksmith do you deny
corresponding with your rebel crowc
in Alabama, too?'
mo, and you can see their letters
any time you wish
Damn their letters!" shouted Gale.
Then facing the crowd. Fellow citi-
zens. what shall we do with him %
in the midst Of which Fred Benton
sprang to the fence beside his friend,
and his father v3inly shouted. begging
to be heard. '+Yol he quiet, Squire -
answered tie neornost We don't
want you-you're all right" Fred
was feiled b. stone that struck him
full in the forehead. Paul Ladue's
legs were :er-ed fTcm under him and
he was dragged, struggling and strik-
ing a every face within reach, and
torne a"ay, the vortex OF a whirlpool
Of raging humanity whose -hcarse
ShoutiEcs c~-Gually died to distant
roar as t1c- sErSed onward down the
slope TO 3-Gr- e. :, rare. Benton and
McK;lnon Taialy following. imclor-
:ng and 70, cst:rc. Then one level
i-SaO0N III - lie : OSCI - the euGl =
ters Of a cadet company across the
river, ar6 T.-:Ie Elinor knelt there by
her stricken a-oth=r, ch2fng his hand
and bathing ~ 5:zolc-ed brow. the
courthouse tell = -a2id clang. Pealed
out the alarm OF i.e,
An hour later, linn md exhausted
in the care of a physician, and es:
corted to the rier hy Benton and city
officials, the victiTn Of mob fury was
borne to a stateTcIn 81. t-la or IT.
Light and so on to Chicago.