Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-06-28

bhi5 ni6nt uOluBs WltuOut INC COubent
of Mr.. Ware or myself"
Swear nuthin'," muttered jerks,
feebly. "l'll have the law on ye fur
this, ye Varmint!"
Like fash MacArdel graspsd his
arm in vice-like grip and said cold.
ly:
You remember how | handled you
before, jerks? Well, you know I'm
your master when 1t comes to a fight,
and unless you do as tell you and do
II at once, back you 60 to the path
where the ghosts ars!"
81 hain't Altered of 'em ef You
hain't," mumbled jerks, with half.
hearted attempt at bravado. 81 reckon
they won't hurt nobody none"
His very manner showed that he
was quaking in his shoes, and Mac.
Ardel was quick to note 1t and make
the most Of II.
You won't have me with you,
jerks" he continued, impressively.
We'll tie you to tree and leave you
there alone, unless you do as / say.
Do you understand
That jerks understood there could
be no doubt, for his terror was obvi.
Gus as he fastened to exclaim:
I'll swear, mister! I'll swear teh
anything, ef yell only let US git aouten
this place an 60 home!"
There was a small Bible on the II.
brary table and MacArdel caused
jerks and the widow to place a hand
upon 1t as they successfully took uroh
themselves a solemn obligation TO pre-
serve absolute secrecy concerning the
a1air Of the evening. This done, Mac.
Ardel addressed them briefly but i'm
pressively:
DO not think for a moment" he
said, that l have changed my opinion
as to your knowledge Of the things
that are going on here. I'll admit that
there is more to 1t than l thought at
first and that more people are mixed
up in it than l had supposed. But
that only makes 1t the easier for US,
because, in affairs Of this kind, there
is danger in numbers, and, while
am convinced that you two are the
ringleaders in the whole business. the
more confederates you have the soon
er will we be able to make one Of
them confess.
You may go now, but mind you re.
member the oath you have taken to-
night or it will go hard with you both.
As long as you keep this thing to your.
selves you won't get into trouble. but
the moment you start any fuss about
II you will hear from us in a way
that will make your hair stand ON
end! And whatever you do, don't
forget that I'm a doctor, and that
know, just as we'll as you do, what
those old rags have been used for!"
With this significant remark, Mac.
Ardel opened the door of the room
and we followed them out Of the
house and watched them as they clam.
bered into the wagon and drove rapid.
ly away.
When they were out Of earshot |
said abruptly:
This is a pretty mess that you've
made of things, Mac. Do you realize
that these people can have US up for
assault and duress, and | don't know
how many other crimes into the bar.
gain, and yet we're no wiser than We
were before!"
"Oh, yes We are" said MacArdel
We know a lot Of things that we
never dreamed Of at first. and II YOU
hadn't been SO busy with jerks when
he toppled over you'd have seen what
. | mean"
Well, ] returned, they were both
frightened nearly out of their wits By
the spooks, and don't believe they
know any more about EN- than we
do"
| Nonsense" cried MacArdel "You
did not watch them as closely as did
that's all. ! confess they were fright.
ened, but each in a different way. Now
jerks was scared almost TO death. and
you may take my word for il that his
terror was genuine, and that he believ
ed the things to Be supernatural. But
1t wasn't so with the widow She knew
all about them, you may be sure. and
when they came so close to US she was
only afraid that We would capture
them or shoot them or do something
Of that sort. OF course this jerks
knows about the bundle of cloths be
cause he had them last night when
. you shot him in the hand, but | don,
believe he has any idea OF what they
had been used for l tell you, Ware
the widow is at the head Of this whole
Job and jerks is nothing but her
tool"
Well" / replied, 1T may be as you
say, but ! wish we were out Of Il
You may be right in your deductions
but they've got a perfect case against
us II they choose to take 1t into court
and. with the popular prejudice thai