The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-09-30
:ACAPTAININ. .
THE RANKS
CHAPTER Xxx.

y MAtNth sffft ~ statf
n n was after 7 o'clock and darkness,
Ind completely fnllen when Bar
bnra received Gullford Duncan's
tclegrnphic appeal for help In
nest." shc wasted no time--slow
fntor that she was on the telegraph
scndIng messages OF sympathy and
xurnncc. She laboriously spelled
The words. It'll do my best" and
M the instrument IN order that
might attend to more pressing
|ks than tclegraphic chatting. N
he summoned pcr negro boy Rot
erve rs her protector and promptly
Nj forth Into tho night The grcat
crles known nv boat stores" were
STONED 10 be open very inte n,
n. But tho clerks were full Of curl.
when Barbara. escorted only by
negro serving boy. presented her
and began rattling of orders grcat-
IA volume than nny they had ever
lived. even from tho steward Of an
$rcrowdcd passenger steamer. She
<gnn by ordering forty sugar cured
ma and four hlnd quarters OF beef.
followed up these purchases with
|frs for four kegs or molasscs. ak
res OF macaroni. barrel Of rice
&d 40 Oh through her list. Still more
& thc astonlshment OF the clerks. she
<yc scarcely moment 10 the pricing
thc several articles and seemed to
~ her purchases as matters OF or
.nry detail. They began 10 under.
I'd. however. when she ordered the
is sent That night by express TO that
Mon on the Illinois Central railroad
Ich lay nearest the scene OF Gull
~ Duncan's operations and directed
~ the bin bc sent 10 him at ttn Y
tional bank for payment.
Barbara made short work OF her
Wing. When II was done she hurried
1rne and packed small trunk with
{me simple belongings OF her own,
k Z o'clock the next morning. accom-.
knied by the negro boy Robert. she
|ok the train and before noon found
srself ut the little station 10 which
10 had ordered tho freight sent. She
ns disappointed 30 aa:a:a that. although
10 had ordered the goods sent by ex.
'ess. they had not come by the train
which she had Travelled.
The railroad was run by telegraphic
dcrs In those days. aud 80. even nj
Is small station, there were mn instru.
ent aud an operator. Making use OF
csc. Barbara inquired concerning the
eight and was assured OF Its arrival
a train duo at 4 o'clock.
She spent the intervening time In
curing two wagons with four stout
rises 10 each, and when the freight
me II was loaded upon these with
rtlcular care, so that no accidents
light occur 10 delay the Journey. II
0 roads had been even tolerably good |
o OF the wagons might have carried |
Q load perhaps, but the roads were |
ccrably bad. and Barbara was not
nded to take any risks.
When the loading was done II was
arly nlghtfall. but the eager girl In.
tied upon starting Immediately, TO
profound disgust OF her drivers.
70 FIRST ten miles OF road were the
st ten miles. as the drivers assured
+, and by insisting upon start that
pning instead Of waiting for morn
, she managed to cover that part of
, distance by II O'clock. Then she
ablIshed camp. saw the horses |
!, gave the drivers a hot and sayory
)per and ordered them to be ready
start again at sunrise.
IN resumlng tho Journey In the
rnlng Barbara urged the teamsters
their best cndeavors, reinforcing
plea for haste with promise Of a
nptlng money reward for each OF
IN II they should complete the Jour.
that day.
he drivers did their mlghtiest to
y the reward, but the difficulties in