Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-08-01

and again sat down with ner FEARS.
Had Gideon been able to get a seat in
Uncle Billy's coach? She would go
and see. She opened the door and
peered out. The street was deserted.
Yet bright, unshaded windows gleam-
ing in all directions; extra lights in,
the saloon across the way; knots of
men at the doors; the rattle of chips.
the clink of ice and glass, and an oc-
casional voice raised above the sub
dued murmur that came from Sally
BIS barroom-aH told Stella that the
town waited awake for the nights
event.
She stole out, passed the hotel and
peeped guiltily into the stage office.
Only the clerk on duty was within,
and he was nodding. Cautiously she
approached and looked over the pas
senger list that lay open on the coun-
ter. Gideon had not booked.
Though half stunned by dread and
fear, she yet could not face Sally B.
| again and the busy kitchen. She paced
restlessly, stopped to reread her letter
and add a penciled word, and went
into the hall to listen for Uncle Billy.
Silence. No one was stirring in the
house outside of the cooks domain.
Back she turned to her nervous
ly. Her mind was painfully alert,
supersensitive. The half-hour struck.
THE clock is surely wrong!" Stella
| whispered. But the dining-room clock
| quickly rang a confirming chime; and
| the doomful tick, tick, went slowly on.
She crept out again to the stage Of
| fee, where the clerk no longer CO.
| quoted with duty in his chair, but
| lay full length on the counter, frankly
| seduced by Morpheus. The passenger
list still lay open, and Stella looked.
Gideon's name was not there.
She wondered why, since his looks
| even more than his words told her
| that he would seek Alfred at once.
| AS she walked back new fears beset
her. Why was Gideon not going on the
| stage? Could Alfred be already on his
way to Colfax? Near? Coming now,
and Gideon had learned it? A terrify
| ing vision of their meeting shook her;
| yet quick comfort came with the recol-
lection of Alfreds promised telegram.
He would surely keep his word.
Ten minutes of two, Ten minutes
| paSt-ffteeni
A light step came down the stair,
and Stella flew into the hall.
| Uncle Billy." she called softly, and
letter in his hand, told him of Gideon,
breathlessly describing Alfred's dan
ger, though concea1ing its cause. She
did not dream that Uncle Billy guessed
it well.
| He promised to mount guard over
Alfred. though he scoffed at her fear,
and declared that Gideon, son of the
night, was doubtless alone somewhere
| fighting out his anger
"Oh, Uncle Billy, you're such dear,
good father to me-" she cried impetu-
ously; and, needless, did not see the
| light die in his eyes, rocked not of a
| missed heartbeat.
His back was toward the lamp, his
| face downcast; yet when he lifted it
| again, he was calm, his voice steady,
| though Stella caught a vibrant sad
| ness in it she could not understand.
Honey, there's something I've been
wishing to speak to you about for a
month O. Sundays, but 1 couldn't raise
the pluck He stopped, and Stella,
SO overweight, grew suddenly ap-
prehensive, though she did not speak.
tYo Uncle Billy's stake in Nam
mons mighty small; but such as it is,
it is decided to you, child. 1 haven
any kin of my own, that is, none that S
as neah to me as you are, honey.
fixed the papehs in Auburn yesterday"
For an instant Stella did not COM
prehend. She looked questioningly
into his face and he smiled back at
her, waiting for her to speak. Then it
broke suddenly will, All a young
hearts dread of death came into her
eyes Uncle Billy dead! And she
profting by it? 1t could not be. He
surely would live long years still. She
could not spare him,
The precipient sorrow, the generous
| deed, broke down Stellas defenses.
and tears flowed uncontrolled while
she haltingly told her gratitude. Uncle
Billy had barely dried her eyes when
Sally BIS step sounded in the hall
I'm in heah, Sally B. he called
| "and all ready Before she could turn
back from the stairs and enter he
drew Stella to him and kissed her
Don't forget my luck posy, honey" he
whispered, as Sally B. opened the
door. And in that instant SteIla's eyes
were opened
Ten minutes later the coaches
Uncle Billy's leading, lined up beside
the thronged sidewalk. Some passen
: gers stood near the second coach
Only a privileged few coming on the
train would go with Uncle Billy.
: Stella, a rose in her hand, stood
with others near the stage office
door rs Mr.. Ingram going with
Uncle Billy or in the other coach p
| he rofr cd