Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-11-19

NAnh hhO" me- Odu yOu mdudSO
that? Really? Very good; you will
understand why in a minute. The
man that is stirring up all this trouble
with your Cousin Lance and in this
whole country is your kind and good
natured neighbor, Mr.. Sinclair. | am
prejudiced against him; let US admit
that on the start, and remember 1t in
estimating what | say. But Sinclair
is the man who has turned your cous-
ms head, as well as made things in
other ways unpleasant for several Of
us. Sinclair tell you so you will
understand everything, more than
your cousin, Mr.. McCloud, or Marion
Sinclair understand-Sinclair is a
train-wrecker and a murderer. That
makes you breathe hard, doesn't it?
but 1t Is so. Sinclair Is fairly edu-
Gated and highly intelligent, capable
In every way, daring to the limit, and,
in way, fascinating; 1t is no wonder
be has a following. But his following
Is divided into two classes: The
men that know all the secrets, and the
men that don't-men like Rebstock
and Du Sang, and men like your cous.
In and a hundred or so sports In Medi.
cine Bend, who see only the glamour
Of Sinclair's pace. Your cousin sym
pathizes with Sinclair when he doesn't
actually side with him. All this has
helped to turn Sinclair's head, and
this Is exactly the situation you and
McCloud and and lot Of others are
up against. They don't know all this
hut / know 1t, and now you know It
Let me tell you something that comes
close to home. You have a cowboy
on the ranch named Karg-he Is
called Flat Nose. Karg was a railroad
man. He is a cattle-thief, a train
robber, a murderer, and spy. / should
not tell you this If you were not game
to the last drop Of your blood. But
think / know you better than yor
know yourself, though you never saw
me until last night. Karg is Sinclair'l
spy at your ranch, and you must never
feel 1t or know 1t; but he is there t.
keep your cousins sympathy with Sin
clair, and to lure your cousin his way
And Karg will try to kill George Nc
Cloud every time he sets foot on this
ranch, remember that"
Then Mr.. McCloud ought not to BE-
here. l don't want him to stay II be
Is in danger!" exclaimed Dicksie.
But / do want him to come here
as If 1t mattered- nothing, and shall
try to take care Of him. have a mar
among your own men, a cowboy named
Wickwire, who will be watching Karg
and who Is just as quick, and Karg
not knowing he was watched, would
be taken unawares. II Wickwire goes
elsewhere to work some one else will
take his place here. Karg is not or
the ranch now; he is up north, hunt
Ing up some Of your steers that were
run OF last month by his own cronies
Now do you think / am giving vol
confdence?"
~
She looked at him steadily. III
can only deserve 1t ALL" In the dis
lance she heard the calling Of the mer
at the river borne on the wind. The
shock OF what had been told her, the
strangeness of the night and of the
scene, left her calm. Fear had given
way to responsibility and Dicksie
seemed to know herself.
You have nothing whatever to dc
to deserve 1t but keep your own coun.
sci. But listen a moment longer-for
this Is what have been leading ur
to-" he said. Marion will get a mes
sage tomorrow, a message from Sin
clair, asking her to come to see him
at his ranch-house before she goes
back. l don't know what he wants
but she y his wife. He has treated
her UNANIMOUSLY; that Is why she will
not live with him and does not speak
Of him. But you know how strange a
woman is-or perhaps you don't; she
doesn't always cease to care for a man
when she ceases to trust him. am
not In Marion's confidence, Miss Dick
sic. She is another mans wife.
cannot tell how she feels toward him
| know she has often tried to reclaim
him from his deviltry. She may try
again, that is, she may, for one reason
or another, go to him as he asks.
could not interfere, II l would.
have no right to II l could, and l will
not. Now this is what I'm trying to
get up the courage to ask you. Should
you dare to 60 with her to Sinclair's
ranch II sne decides to 60 to him?
Certainly l should dare"
AFTER all you know?"
AFTER all l know-why not?
Then In case she does 90 and YOU
60 with her, you will know nothint
whatever about anything, Of course
unless you get the story from her
What | fear is that which possibly
may come Of their interview. He MAY
try to kill her-don't be frightened
He will not succeed II you can only
make sure he doesn't lead her away
on horseback tom the ranch-house OF
get her alone b. room. She has few
friends. resi- ect and honor her be
cause she and I grew up as children
together In the same little town In