Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-03-25
CHAPTER XII.
AT SEA.

Will MI. was OtAOA
and spirited. Hammond did not wait
for any explanatins, but proceeded
to denounce Hestor in scathing
terms. That gentleman smiled pleas
ant1y and waited for him to con-
clude.
''This is the act of mad man or
a villaini' said Hammond as he paced
angrily up and down the narrow
room. Hestor had seated himself at
a writing desk and leisurely rolled
a cigarette. 'You do not look like
a crazy man, but you act like one.
You have not been drinking to ex-
cess, and cannot plead intoxica ton
as an excuse for this outrage OF
all the unaccountable things! What
do you mean to do? What is your
object in OBTAINING these men whom
you have induced to become your
guests? Have you stopped to think
of the agony this will cause their
relations? Have you considered how
my sister Olive will feel when fail
to return homer"
He stopped in front of Hestor, his
eyes flashing anger. His voice trem-
bledswith rage and he restrained him.
self by an effort from a physical at
tack on Hestor.
Don't get. so excited, Sidney"
said Hestor,. as he lit cigarette.
''There is nothing so serious about
this as you imagine, Olive. thinks you
have gone to Europe with me. L
sent her a telegram and signed your
name to it. I made copy eof the
message and here it isl
Hestor handed a slip of paper to
Hammond, who read as follows:
Miss Olive Hammond:
1t is necessary for me ito accompany
Mr.. Hestor, on a short business trip to
Europe. We sail early this evening, and
I shall be too busy to come home to bid
you good-by. Pack my trunk and valise
and send them to Mr.. Hestor's Office.
Do not come down town, I do not
know where II shall be in the meantime.
Put my scrap sbooks and some writing
paper in the trunk, as I wish to work on
my essays on the trip across and back.
Also enclose the matter I have already
written. I shall not be gone long Re
greet that cannot see you before leave,
but know that you are used to these sud-
den Journeys and will forgive me.
SIDNEY HAMMOND.
."sThat shows that while n forger
you are not entirely lost to decency,o
said Hammond, with evident relief,
but no signs of relenting. 'But how
about these other men? They have
dear ones. They. have feelings.
Think of what they must suffer and
how much grief you will cause IL
you persist in your course. You must
put this boat back to New York at
once.o
1T cannot be done, Sidney" said
Hestor. 81 have this all planned out.
Tomorrow these men can commun-
icate with their people. 1 will take
care of that" Hestor's manner
changed. The smile died on his lips
and his face grew dark. "You are
my friend" he said in a tone sin
gularly harsh and strident. .sYou are
my friend, but shall not permit you
to interfere in the least with my
plans. This is my yacht, and we are
on the high seas. The man who re-
fuses to obey orders on this boat
will be put in irons. I should not
like to see you in the BOBBY hatch,
Sidney" and Hestor laughed in an
unpleasant way.
There will be some one hurt be-
fore I go in sirons," Hammond said
fiercely. after what you have done
1 should not be surprised, however,
at any attempted outrage. Do you
care to give any. sane reason for
this affair ?''
81 gave you the reasons at the
dinner table," said Hestor, whose fit
OF anger had passed. 'These men
now on this yacht have managed to
secure control of about everything
in the country worth having. They
run Wall Street, the banks, 1.-The
trusts, the railroads, and dictate to
the government. ] want to find out
what would happen if they should
die simultaneously. Such thing
might happen. don't you know? Well.
what would be the result? No one
knows. am going to find out.
They Will be cut of from commune
cation except for one day. During
that time they may be dead for all
any one knows. Then will see that
word is received from them, saying
that they are safe. That viii relieve
the strain on their families and
friends. We then win see how the
country gets along without them for
awhile. Crest scheme, don't you
think?''
Hammond continued to pace the
floor but said nothing. Hestor
seemed intensely in earnest.
ssDoes Mr.. Van Horne, the editor
of The Record, know anything about
this?. asked Sidney.
ssOf course he does not" said Hes
tor promptly. have net seen Bob
IN SIG months. This Is my personal