Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-10-21

that he's IN the rebel service at this
m1nute-that he's here a spy in our
understanding notes of all our prep
aratiCns and forces and numbers. and,
just as Andre was hung on the Hudson
so years ago, SO should that young
scoundrel hang here now The laws
Of war the world over viii tell you
So"
And then scrambling to the crest.
full in the light OF the unclouded
moon. the two climbers straightened
up and stood face 10 face with the man
OF whom they were speaking. Elinor
Benton clinging, trembling, in speech
less indignation at his side
For a moment there was awkward
silence. Paul Ladue, with cleaning
eyes stood squarely confronting the
foremost, a portly man OF 80 years,
who was still breathing hard as the
result of his climb. His companion,
tall and spare and a few years older,
slowly ranged himself alongside his
friend and looked to him to speak The
stout man stared for q few seconds at
the silent twain, partly to recover
breath. partly to recover wits. Finally
he lameiy said, ~Oho!"
Then finding the steadfast gaze OF
Ladue's burning brown eyes hard to
bear, he turned to his companion
Rather a-coincidence, isn't it?'' said
he This remark, too. fell fat, for no
response followed. 1t became neces-
sary to say something more to relieve
the situation, and obviously the gentle
man knew not what to say. II there
lived in this western community a
man Paul Ladue held in especial dis
favor, it was George McKinnon, junior
partner in the firm Of Benton, Gray &
McKinnon, attorneys and counselors
at law, and il was George McKinnon
who stood there in the tlesh and who
but moment before, had denounced
him as deserving the fate of the spy.
Ample reason had he to hate McKinnon
for, ever since Elinor's return the
previous autumn from a visit to rela-
tiveS in the east, that energetic practi-
toner had been constant caller at the
Benton homestead, and despite the
fact that Elinor had not yet finished
her school days, was persistent in at
tentiOns that showed to all society he
had become infatuated with her radiant
beauty-that the man of 80 eagerly
sought the girl of IL as his wife. On
the other hand. McKinnon had noted
with jealousy unspeakable, that the
frank, joyous, boy and girl friendship
that had existed throughout the lads
school days had given place TO the half
shy, half hesitant, yet strangely sweet
relationship OF early love, pure yet pas.
sionate. McKinnon was a keen stu
dent, rising man at the bar, bril-
liant Jury lawyer and just the one
needed to strengthen the somewhat
slow and ponderous combination of the
old firm Benton, a lawyer of the old
school, held his young partner in high
esteem If not, indeed, in certain awe.
due to the daring and successful meth
DDS that had distinguished him ever
since his call to the bar. On the other
hand, he was not we'll pleased with his
sons choice of an intimate. Paul La
due was a dreamer. an idler, poet
perhaps what the stern, hard-headed
old deliver in facts and figures called
"a lapdog sort OF a fellow" And now
the war had come. The flag had been
lowered in defeat at Sumter. The men
of Massachusetts, had been mobbed in
levies in the far west had clashed with
the enemy in Missouri, and hostile ar
mics were arrayed upon the sacred soil
of Virginia Now when the young
men of the Badger state were hocsfng
to the recruiting offices, and companies
and regiments were being filed TO over
towing, when Damon, trimming with
patriotic zeal and energy, was seeking
commission in the union volunteers,
Pythias, Paul Ledue, was known to be
writing frequently doubtless urgently
to his native state-the state that haC
banished and impoverished him, yet
could not Danish from his soul the old
time loyalty and love. 1t had amazed
and offended many Of these, his north
ern friends who had welcomed and
cheered him in the hour Of his adver-
sity 1t had scandalized one man who
had never shown him sympathy at al
the man now standing uneasily be
fore him, unable TO face the stern gilt
ter in his speaking eyes. II was final
" Paul who spoke:
You say the postmaster should dc
his duty, Mr.. McKinnon," said he, con
tempt and hot hatred in his trembling
voice. BY opening my letters, do yor
mean? Somebody has been doing thai
already, and 1 believe you know
| VIII o."
ICoNTIS CEDl