Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1910-11-26
CHAPTER 1
The Makers of Maps.

The Makers of Maps.
There is scarcely a single cause in which
a woman is not engaged in some way
fomenting the suit--JuvenaL
Then you offer me no hope, doc
tor?"
The gray name of DIR. Samuel Ward
waved like a fighting crest as he
made answer:
Not the sort of hope you ask" A
moment later he added: John, I am
ashamed of you"
The cynical smile of the man !
called my chief still remained upon
his lips, the same drawn look of suf-
fering still remained upon his gaunt
features; but in his blue eye 1 saw a
CLINT which proved that the answer of
his old friend had struck out some
unused spark of vitality from the
deep, cold flint of his heart
81 never knew you for a coward,
Calhoun" went on DR.. Ward; nor
any of your family. 1 give you now
the benefit of my personal acquain-
lance with this generation of the Cal
houns. ask something more of you
than faint-heartedness."
The keen eyes turned upon him
again with the old flame of flint which
ton, for the most part, of enemies.
Did not Saul fall upon his own
sword?" asked John Calhoun. Have
not devoted leaders from the start of
the world till now sometimes rid the
scene of the responsible figures in
lost fights, the men on whom blame
rested for failures?"
"Cowardsi'' rejoined DIR. Ward.
towards, every one of theml Were
there not other swords upon which
they might have fallen-those of their
enemies? ~
1T is not my own he nd-my own
sword, SAM said Calhoun. Not that
You know as well as l that 1 am
already marked and doomed, even as
I sit at my table tonight. A walk of
a wet night here in Washington-a
turn along the Heights out there when
the winter wind is keen-yes, Sam, 1
see my grave before me, close enough;
but how can rest easy in that grave?
Man, we have not yet dreamed how
great a country this may be. We
must have Texas. We must have also
Oregon. We must have
"Free?" The old doctor shrugged
his shoulders and smiled at the arch
proslavery exponent.
Then, since you mention it, yes!"
retorted Calhoun fretfully. But
shall not go into the old argument of
those who say that black is white,
that south is north. 1t is only for my
own race that plan wider America.
But then" Calhoun raised a long,
thin hand. Why he went on slow
ly, 81 have just told you that 1 have
failed And yet you, my old friend,
whom I ought to trust, condemn me
to live onl''
YES" he said, at length, ct condemn
you to fight on, john" and he smiled
grimly.
why, look at you, mani" he broke
out fiercely, after a moment. 1.-The
type and picture of combat Good
and bony; little eye, set deep; strong,
wiry muscles, not too big-fghting
muscles, not dough: clean limbs;
strong fingers; good arms, legs, neck;
wide chest"
Then you give me hopper" Calhoun
flashed a smile at him.
mo, sir, If you do your duty, there
Is no hope for you to live. If you do
not do your duty, there is no hope for
you to die, John Calhoun, for more
than two years to come-perhaps five
| years-six Keep up this work-as
you must, my friend-and you die as
surely as though 1 shot you through
as you sit there. Now, is this any
comfort to you?"
A gray pallor overspread my mas
ter's face. That truth is welcome to
no man, morbid-or sane, sound or ill /;
| but brave men meet it as this one did
Time to do much," he murmured
| to himself Time to mend many
broken vessels, in those two years
One more fight-yes, let us have it,
But Calhoun the man was lost once
more in Calhoun the visionary, the
| fanatic statesman He summed up, as
| though to himself, something of the
| situation which then existed at Wash
ington.
Yes, the coast is clearer, now that
| Webster is out of the cabinet, but Mr.
Upshur's death last month brings in
new complications. Had he remained
our secretary of state, much might
have been done. 1t was only last DC
| tober he proposed to Texas a treaty
| of annexation"
/ Yes, and found Texas none sc
eager" frowned DR.. Ward
No; and why not? You and / know
well enough Sir Richard Pakenham
the English plenipotentiary here, could
tell if he liked England is busy in
| Texas Texas owes large funds tc
England England want Texas as 6
colony. There is fire under this smoke
| talk of Texas dividing into two gov
ernments, one, at least, under Eng
| lands gentle and unselfish carei
4 @And now look vo11v Calhoun CON