Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-08-02
CHAPTER XXI.
An Amphibian Mystery.

MY dSJOnlSnment at tnlS last remarl
9 OF the Bruce woman was beyond ey
: preston, and, grasping her some
what rudely by the arm, | ex
sclaimed:
What do you mean by that? Elk
plain yourself at once!"
you know well enough what
mean, and who l mean, sir" she re
piled in a whisper, placing her mouth
close to my ear as she spoke. "a:
you love Miss Carney, and as you
value her happiness, sir, you mus
trust me and ask no questions now.
Ipondered deeply for a moment be
fore answered her and then | said
In low tone:
You are asking great deal of me
Mrs. Bruce. You must remember that
/ am Miss Carney's legal adviser and
that am in duty bound to look out
for her interests. This thing has gone
quite far enough already, and yet
matters are growing more and more
mysterious. heard jerks tell you
that was up on the hill this morn.
Ing, and | have no wish to deny it,
but | saw something there that must
be explained at once or | shall notify
the authorities; and, for my part,
do not see how it can be explained at
all"
What did you see, SIR" she gasped.
as If in great mental distress.
well" | replied, slowly, 81 saw a
number of little graves, or what ap-
peared to be such"
ooh, my God" she moaned, cover
ing her face with her hands, 81 did
not think anything like that could
happen! should have burned them,
sir. Oh, why didn't l burn them!
It'would have been much safer!"
. jerks had skunk into the house.
leaving US to ourselves, and | was
enabled to talk more freely.
Look here, woman!" I exclaim.
ed. What in the name of heaven
does all this mean? Speak, or by all
that's holy I'll have you in jail before
morning."
My imprisoned words had no effect
upon her other than to make her
weep piteously, and | waited until she
had regained her composure some.
what and was able to talk coher.
emily.
You misiudge me, Mr.. Ware" she
said. Indeed you do, sir. | have com.
mitted no crime, sir, and l am doing
all In my power to prevent one: for
1t would be a crime if it happened
although the law wouldn't call it So
sir"
She laid her hand on my shoulder
. respectfully and then, the old-fashion.
ed, motherly way coming over her.
Bic continued in choking voice;
You must do as ask, Mr.. Ware
Do not disTust me, l beg Of you,
sir, for ! have SO much to bear and l
nave borne it ali SO patiently and
30 willingly, too, sir. Remember, I
pave 20 fault to find, and l am glad
to have been able to do what l have
done, sir, but the end is so near
now that cannot bear to have every.
thing go for nothing at the last"
Her eyes we're filled with tears, and,
90 what l might, l could not doubt
ner honesty and sincerity. Before I
could speak, she went on hurriedly
looking about her in an apprehensiye
way:
= 'sSust believe in me for a few days
Sir won't you? Do this for your own
SAKE and for Miss Carney's and the
other young ladys. You will never
regret it, sir, promise you; swear
IT. sir, on everything l hold sacred
and God knows l am a churchwomap
anu live in fear of Him and His love
sir"
For my life I could do no more than
she asked, and, after a moments
hesitation, l said slowly:
u must trust you, Mrs. Bruce but
must tell you that l do so against
my best judgment. l do not see how
al these things can be explained sat.
isfactorily and they must be ex.
planned soon in every way. Still, I
believe that you are sincere in what
ycl tell me, and, for the present at
least, will ask no more questions and
rely upon you to fulfill your protesta.
stions OF good faith when the proper
Nme comes. You will understand, of
course, that in spite Of this promise
snail feel perfectly free at any time
70 take such steps in this matter as
9:may deem necessary, and, while |
am willing to let things stand as
they are now for a short time I
shall act promptly and effectively II
any new or otherwise suspicious cir.
cumstances arise"
With these words l turned and
walked down the path in the direc.
zion OF Carney-Croft, leaving her
standing by the gate, crying SOFTLY.
The next afternoon took boat On
the river and padded aimlessly up and
down trying to kill time and watching
tor an opportunity to speak to Miss
Carney, whom l had not seen for two,
Gays Miss Weston's condition was
growing steadily worse, and the arriy.
a OF the nurses from town and their
close attention to their natiant