Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-04-24
and gazed' stupidity about Elm. in gre;

= -
and gazed. stupidly about Elm. in great
Replacement E.
=. Ellen was gone, actually gone. How
could she fora moment have believed
that. there. was anything between him
and that painted old coquette, Cecily
Darlington? How he ..loathed' that
woman! What had Ellen. said. that
one. or the other Of them must. leave
.the':'house? Why did she not wait
Until: Hiorningt- Why had she not
given. him an opportunity to show
that, after all, It was She he. loved,
and none othef7 He had treated her
aboniinabiy, his. : sweet, pure, lovely
wife. What if+she had lacked some
Of. the petty accomplishments. Of her
day? <.She:was woman nobly planned,
and. one Of whom any man should have
been. proud beyond measure. He had
been a fool. He would find her, tell
her the truth, bring her back and drive
out: the whole wretehed crew.. They
would be happy at Darlington again,
as they had been happy before. "
" But. 1t. was mo- time for useless re.
grets now. The need for action was
imperative. He started. to his. feet
and ran toward the door that opened
into his own room. He drew the bolts,
swearing that If he ever got his wife
back she should need no bolt to. pro-
teet her but bis love. e
AND then he heard his name called.
my lord, my lord!" =
Il was One aged butler coming up
the stairs, whitefaced. and painting.
What is It, Jepsonr'' cried Car
rinston, confronting the man. sspeak
out.' What hes. heppened?" -.
Zone Of the footmeL. Thomas. my
lord, has Just come in from the stables.
He says that he found the three stable
boys. who were there. last night bound
and gagged" -: -
: What" cried Lord Darlington:
That's not ALL SIR continued the
faithful Jepson, ;"the 'coachman;.- -
:. Has he gone?' queried the earl.
mo, my lord. He was bound and
gagged too, IN the coach house,. ,
Who did it," :.
HE says the earl Of Strathgate."
Good God" cried Darlington, turn.
ing pale. 1.-The earl of Strathgate!"
Yes, my lord. And the bay team
and light travelling carriage are gone
from the stable" e
'Tmpossible!" protested Darlington,
fighting against the awful suspicion
that entered his heart.
ITS quite true, my lord" =:
.:."Jepson," said Darlington, firmly
send the coachman to me, Have one
Of the footmen ask Admiral Kephard
to come to the library at once. Mount
some one on horse and bring
the lodgekeeper here, also. And,
stay he added as the butler turned
away-"ask one Of the women to sum
mon Mistress Slocum as well. Now,
say nothing about this to anyone else,
but hurry as II your life. depended
upon It." 49,
Darlington dashed back madly into
his wife's room. He. had known that
she had hanging in her closet the
sailors suit which she had worn on
! her cruises with him. A dark suspi.
cion. had come to him. He tore open
the door Of the closet and tore from
the hooks one after another the 'gor.
geous dresses which hung there. He
did not find what he sought. She
had evidently. worn 1t away. He
turned from the room, ran through the
hall and down the fight Of stairs to
the library. The coachman awaited
him.
Who was with Strathgate when be
bound you last night?"
"A young man, l take 1t; my lud,''
answered the coachman. THE room
was dark, with only the freight
and l couldn't see very well. Lord
strathgate threatened me with a PTS
toll, or I'd have made outcry and
resistance. He kept me covered with
my head turned away The young man
handed him straps to lash me-"
You coward" cried Darlington,