Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-09-27
already. and I believe you know.
CHAPTER II.
A SNAKE IN THE GRAes.


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
marshaled 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
we'll 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 VIII irl 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 Lsdue. To Ladue he wrote a
cutting letter, accusing him of having
taken advantage of his intimacy in
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
pathlzer and one holding treaIonable
correspondence with the enemy. Then
certain creditors had made a 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 sudden his store was Stunned,
| save by collectors, and one night, after
meeting at which Mckinnon was the
| principal speaker, the front windows
| were smashed in by half dozen
drunken patriots and Paul, seated at
desk over the books of the firm, was
| struck in the temple and felled by
| stone. The incident brought about
temporary revulsion of feeling among
| rlght-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 stung, and the we'll meant
words of sympathy spoken by few
| neighbors failed to reassure him.
1t was then that Fred Benton had his
first difference with his father
"The whole outrage, SIR said he,
| lis the direct result of your partners
| efforts. 1 hold George McKinnon re-
| sponsible for every misfortune that
has befallen the Ladues in this town,
and the only reason l don't thrash him
as l did that BLACKBOARD Irishman is
| that he is your partner"
ITO Be Continued