Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-04-19

my grandfather's memory. Lord.
can't face the fellow again."
"As have said before. you're rattle
lacking at times in rerspicacity. You
intelligence is marred by large or.Sl
spots. Now that there seems to De q
woman in the case you're less sane
than ever. Bah, these women! Ant
now we've got to go to work"
Bah, these womeni My own heart
caught the words. was enraged and
bitter. No wonder she had been anx
ious for me to avoid Pickering in Gin
cinnati, after daring me to follow her
therel
We called a council Of war for that
night that we might view matters in
the light Of Pickerilgs letter. His
assuredness in ordering me to leave
made prompt and decisive action
necessary on my part. | summoned
Stoddard to our conference, feeling
confident Of his frie1dli1ess.
"Of course said the broqd-shoul.
dered chaplain, IF you could show that
your absence was on business of very
grave importance, the courts might
construe in your favor"
Larry looked at the ceiling and blew
rings of smoke languidly. ! had not
disclosed to either of them the cause
Of my absence On such a matter |
knew should get precious little SYM
pathy from Larry, and I had. more
over, feeling that | could not discuss
Marian DeyereuX with any one; | even
shrank from mentioning her name,
though it rang like the call of bugles
in my blood.
She was always before me.-the
charmed spirit Of youth, linked to
every foot of the earth, every gleam of
the sun upon the ice.bound lake. every
glory of the winter sunset. All the
good impulses | had ever stihed were
quickened to life by the thought of her.
Amid the days perpleyities | started
sometimes, thinking | heard her voice,
her girlish laughter or saw her again
coming toward me down the stairs, or
holding against the light her fan with
its golden butterflies. / really knew
so little Of her; | could associate her
with no home, only with that last fling
OF the autumn upon the lake, the snow
driven woodland, that twilight hour at
the organ in the chanel, those stolen
moments at the Armstrong;. re-
sented the pressure of the hours af.
fairs, and chafed at the necessity for
talking of my perplexities with the
good friends who were there to help.
| wished to be alone, to yield to the
sweet mood that the thought Of her
brought me. The doubt that crept
through my mind as to any possibility
OF connivance between her and Picker.
ing was as vague and fleeting as the
shadow OF a swallows wing on a
sunny meadow.
You don't intend fighting the fact
OF your absence, do you?" demanded
Larry, after a long silence.
"Of course mott" | replied fiercely.
Pickering was right on my heels, and
my absence was known to his men
here. And 1t would not be SQUARE to
my grandfather,-who never harmed a
flea, may his blessed soul rest In
peace!-to lie about 1t. They might
nail me for perjury besides"
Then the quicker we get ready for
a siege the better. As | understand
your attitude, you don't intend to
move out until you've found where the
siller's hidden. Being a gallant gen.
ueman and Of fcrgiving nature, you
want to be sure that the lady who is
now entitled to 1t gets all there is
coming to her, anS as you don't trust
the executor any further than a true
Irishman trusts British prime minis
ter's promise, you're going to stand BY
to watch the bullion counted. Is tho.
a correct analysis of your intentic-57"
That's as near one of my ideas az
you're likely to get"
Spoken like a man Of spirit And
now we'd better stock up at once, IN
case we should be shut of from our
source of supplies. This is a lonely
place here; even the school is a "a.
mote neighbor. Better let Bates raid
the village shops tomorrow. I've
tried being hungry, and don't care to
repeat the experience"
Il can't imagine, | really can't be-
lieve," began the chaplain, that Miss
Devereux will want to be brought
into this estate matter in any way. In
fact, have heard Sister Theresa saw
as much. | SUPPOSE there's no way q
a man from leaving Il.
property to a young woman who Nas
no claim on him,-who doesn't want
from him"
Bah, these women! People don't
throw legacies to the birds these days.
OF course she'll take It," observed
Larry. :
Then his eyes widened and met mine
in gaze that rejected the mystiflca.
ton and wonder that struck both of
US. Stoddard turned suddenly from
the fire, into which he had been gaz.
ing, exclaiming:
What's that? There's some one no
stairs!"
Larry was already running Inward