Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-10-28
CHAPTER II.
SNAKE IN THE GRASS.

June the first came in with the radi-
ant sunshine blazing on bunting. The
citizens thronged the broad thorough,
fares to give parting cheer to the
second Badger regiment marching away
to the war. The dusk and the dew
came settling down as the tail lights of
the last section of the troop train drew
slowly along the sweeping curve to the
south, and then the throngS that had
shouted themselves hoarse were easily
m;lrshaled into an impromptu mass
meeting. The governor and the mayor
were to speak, and brief addresses, so
said the handbills, might be expected
from such brilliant orators as the Hon.
George McKinnon and others equally
well known. A roar of cheers about
the temporary stage on Market Square
greeted the executive of the state-a
roar distinctly heard far on the portico
of the modest home, where Paul Ladue
looking pale and weak, sat with his
slim hand clasped in that of his faith
full friend, Fred Benton.
The long suspected enmity of Nc
Kinnon had burst at last into flame.
and the younger man found himself
suddenly involved in a whirl of trouble
The elder Benton, after a conference
with his junior partner, had been
moved to say to Elinor that he for
babe her receiving or being seen with
Paul Ladue. To Ladue he wrote q
cutting letter, accusing him of having
lahen advantage OF mis- intimacy IL
the household to seek the love and de-
StrOy the peace Of mind Of his daugh-
ter. Then singing articles had found
their way into an evening paper, plain
ly pointing to Ladue as a rebel SYM
pathizer and one holding reasonable
correspondence with the enemy. Then
certain creditors had made COM
bined onslaught on his failing, heart
sore father. Ladue had gradually built
up very fair business and had won
the kindly regard of the community.
All on a sudden his store was Stunned,
save by collectors, and one night, after
a meeting at which McKinnon was the
principal speaker, the front windows
were smashed in by half a dozen
drunken patriots and Paul, seated at a
desk over the books of the firm, was
struck in the temple and felled by a
stone. The incident brought about a
temporary revulsion of feeling among
right-thinking people and Fred Benton
had found and soundly thrashed one
of the gang of assailants. But little
substantial comfort could come to the
Ladues, for the old man had lost his
nerve. He seemed broken and be-
wildered. 1t cut him to the heart to
find that at this critical time in his
career, the firm to present and press the
claim of his creditors was that of
Benton, Gray & McKinnon. He had the
shattered windows boarded up and re-
fused at first to reopen his store. The
men who had been his best friends and
advisers, as luck would have it, had
already gone to the front as officers OF
volunteers. He was crushed and sore
ly hurt and st cng, and the well meant
words Of syn oathy spoken by few
neighbors failed 20 reassure him.
1t was then that Fred Benton had his
first difference with his father.
''The whole outrage. SIR said he,
lis the dire~t RESULT of your partners
efforts. I hold George McKinnon re-
sponsible for every misfortune that
hes befallen the Ladues in this town.
and the only reason I don't thrash him
as I did that blackguard Irishman is
that he is your partner"
1t had startled and then angered the
elder man, so loyal and devoted had
his son ever been in the past. Well he
knew that, though some letters had
passed in April between Paul Ladue
and persons in Alabama, it was impos-
sible 10 prove that he was planning
to join the southern army, much less
- ,-I,s e
aid and comfort to the enemy" Since
the first Cf May the worst that couldobe
said Of him was that he had sent three
letters to a certain address in ST. Louis,
and that three missives had come to
him bearing the ST. Louis postmark.
Everybody lZnew that ST. Louis was in
tested with south ern SYM athfzers who
had means OF communication with
friends beyond the line, and it was
these letters McKinnon referred to
when he dared to suggest that it was
the postmaster's duty to open them
and learn their contents Not yet had
the north reached the point Of violating
the sarctity of personal mail.
$50 far from its being McKinnon's
fault" the elder Benton answered, as
soon as he could control his voice, 81
hold your friend Paul solely RESPONSE
BILE. McKinnon Is an Intensely loyal
man, and he and 10th are indignant
that any man should be living here in
our midst and holding reasonable cor
respondence with the enemy. You
will do well, sir, if you hope for a
commission, to hold aloof from so dan
gerous an association" em
h4y
days he was constantly at the Ladues.
comforting Paul as best he could, and
on this evening Of the third day, after