Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-06-21

A
Hoskins was standing by the door
Is we left the room and ] asked him
where we could find the stage driver,
but his reply was far from encourag.
ing.
I "Ye can't find him at ALL" he said.
He didn't git in till nigh mornin, an
he's abed yet. His wagons aout ten
tn barn. an eff ye want teh hitch up
yerselves an git tn trunk ye're vel.
| come to, fur all | can see. I'd send
one O. my boys fur 1t eff / could, but
they're all workin' to-day, an / can't
git hold O one nohow."
We decided that We were quite
equal to this task, and, proceeding to
the stable, undertook TO hitch up" on
our own account
MacArdel did the driving, and sat
on the seat behind him In all the glory
OF an escorted guest. AS we turned
the corner into the road that led to
the station, sudden gust of wind
waited into my face the same indie
scribable odor that had offended my
nostrils the night before and / called
him to stop.
6 "Mac!" ! said, there's something
wrong here! l can get that confounded
smell again."
He pulled up his horse with a jerk
and, springing to the ground, began,
with me, to peer under the seats Of
the vehicle. A moment later he ex-
tracted from a pile Of blankets and
laprobes, bundle Of white cloths
similar in appearance to those We had
discovered on the previous night, and
sxhaling the same odor.
Put them back" exclaimed sud-
denly, and cover them up again, too!
After we get the trunk we can take
them to the house and see what they
are"
Great ideal" muttered MacArdel,
only was on the point of suggesting
It myself. Get in here with me. The
airs better up front"
l clambered into the seat by his side
and we proceeded on our way to the
station.
Who is 1t that owns this turnout"
asked MacArdel. DO you know any
thing about him."
I Nothing more than that he makes
regular trips to and from the trains"
replied. Runs a sort of local express,
you know, between the station and
Hoskins' hotel. Carries the mail and
passengers, if there are any"
Did you ever see him and talk to
him. continued MacArdel.
: "0h, yes!" | said. HE was the first
to tell me about the ghosts at Carney.
Croft; all that story of the Bruce
! woman's prophecy that the place
would be haunted, you know"
"Humph!" said MacArdel, thought.
fully. And where's the Bruce woman
now"
She lievs on the place yet" re-
piled. Miss Carney gives her the use
of little house and about 20 acres
Of land rent free. and some man about
here works the property on shares for
her. It's that billy land about a mile
east Of the house, where the big elm
Is. You remember, told you the
new golf links would take in that tree
and the land around II"
Our return trip from the railway
station took US past Hoskins' again.
and that individual was summing him.
self in front Of the house as we drove
up.
by the way, Hoskins," said Mac.
Ardel, stopping his horse and beckon.
ing the man toward him, what's the
name Of the fellow that owns this out
IT.?
Jerks" said Hoskins, briefly.
Sam jerks, tn lazy cuss."
When is he going TO marry the
widow? asked MacArdel, in a most
matter-offact way.
That's jest it," replied Hoskins in
obvious disgust. you tell me an I'll
tell you. Goodness knows; he's ben
a'sparkin' her loag enough; ever sence
'baout a month after her boy got kill
ed. Spose he felt kinder sorry fer
her at first, an then, after a time, he
began teh git mushy over 1t. / wish
ten goodness he'd either marry her or
leave her alone! What with his gal.
hvantin' all over the country with her
every week or ten days, an not gittin'
his boss in tn stable till nigh onto
daylight there's no dependin' on him
teh meet tn trains or do anything
else, fur that matter! Here he Is now,
abed an asleep, an ef 1t hadn't ben
fur you gents a-drivin' up ten tn
deepo, We wouldn't ha' got no mail
till night, in all probability"
With this remark he fished out two
mail bags which the station master
must have tossed into the back Of
the wagon as We were driving away.
We thought 1t was he and Mrs.
Bruce that We saw last night" said
AacArdel, pleasantly. We were out
enjoying the moonlight when they
! drove down the road"