The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-30
THE EVENING STORY
The Conqueror of Cardigan.
(By ". Crawford Sherlock

ing but flowers, trees and rocks, ana
seems utterly Indifferent to everything
else in the world 1 hate such men,
He is not mine, Miss Edith" dis
claimed Jack Fenwick, stretching his
ample proportions on the grass at the
girls feet. 1--WE were at college to-
gether, but never in the same set
Larrimore was an awful cuffer on ath-
letics. I wonder why Mrs- Mervin in
vited him to her house-party-
Goodness knows!" returned Edith
languidly. Marian does some queer
things and this is one of them"
Il don't think Mr.. Larrimore is so
dull and uninterestin Edith" inter-
posed Helen Waters, glancing up from
her book HE has neve~ mingled
much in society but he is The best-edu-
Gated man I have ever met"
Everybody to his liking" laughed
Miss Brent, casting glance at Fem
wick that told plainly that he was
more to her taste than the subject Of
the conversation. Don't sing his
hear you. Here he comes"
Amos Larrimore had turned from
the long driveway and was striding
across the lawn towards the little
group. His tall, gaunt figure stopped
as he passed beneath the overhanging
gait, gave him a somewhat unprepos-
sessing appearance.
Several more of the hcuse-party had
Joined the little group on the lawn,
and Larrimore, stretching his great
length somewhat awkwardly on the
grass by the side of Helen Waters,
showed her the specimens he had
found that morning.
It am going away tomorrow, Miss
Helen" he observed as he stuffed his
prizes into his pocket again.
What is that?" she asked in sur
-
stay for a month. You have been here
scarcely two weeks"
Il think it best to CO." returned Lar
rin1Ore quietly. Mrs. Mervin insisted
upon my coming or I would not have
been here. find, however, that it S
not the place for me. I'm not accus-
toned to this sort of thing and the
people here, with some exceptions, are
not the kind to make fellow feel
comfortable.
Helen's- reply was checked by the
sudden appearance of Mrs. Merv1n,
hurrying towards the group on the
lawn and evidently in state of great
excitement.
What in the world is the matter,
Marian ?" inquired Miss Brent.
Matter enough" gasped Mrs. Mer-
win, sinking upon the chair Larrimore
had placed for her and tanning her
self vigorously. 'Cardigan's on an
other spree, and Is coming up the road
with his gun on his shoulder. He's
hunting for his wife. The poor Great
ure. after standing his abuse all last
night, came here this morning for
refuge. She's been beaten terribly and
believes her husband win kill her if
he finds her"
'sWho is Cardigan p asked Fenwick,
rising
Hes an old soldier. who lives down
the road in that little cabin near the
creek" replied Miss Brent When
sober, he's as mild as lamb, but when
he's in his cups, which occurs every
quarter when he receives his pension.
he's the most desperate character in
the country. According to report, he
has. shot two or three men. who at
tempted to stop him in his debauch. ="
what shall we do, Mr. Fenwick p
asked Mrs. Mervin. Neither she nor
any one else of the little party, unless
it was Helen Waters, thought of Larri-
more doing anything to relieve the sit
uation. MRS. Cardigan will be killed
If that brute gets her. The servants
are frightened and are hiding
Jack Fenwick was not q. coward in
the ordinary acceptance of the word.
Had his own life been in jeopardy, or
that of any one for whom he cared, it
is more than probable he would have
made a hard struggle. This was diff
ferent, however. The young man val
u6Q MS own lie lOO highly " A4Sh IL
under such circumstances and this
opinion was strengthened by an ap-
pealing glance from Edith Brent.
It'll ride down on my wheel and get
the constable" he declared. This
Cardigan will not be here for some
time. You'd better stay out here
though, in case he should get here
first He won't bother anybody but
his wife unless you interfere"
Fenwick had scarcely disapp eared
from view behind the tail hedge on the
roadside when Cardigan came up. The
ex-soldier stopped for moment to
survey the party on the lawn, grasping
the branch of tree to steady himself
while he made his inspection. Mrs
Mervin, Edith and Helen shrank back
in terror. Cardigan watched them
critically for a moment, then, satisfied
that the one he sought Was not in the
group, strobe to the house, mutterine
/ curses and brandishing his gun men
acingly.
Many longing eyes were directed to-
wards the road along " hich FenWick
had ridden, but there was no one to be
seen. Fenwick might return in about
an hour, but that would b too late
No one had noticed, except Helen
Waters that Larrimore had left the
group and was now running toward
the back of the house en- the same
path Cardigan had taken.
Cardigan, Dy TINS tune, having Deen
unable to gain admission through the
kitchen door, was engaged in the task
of breaking the door. He had partly
succeeded and had placed his hand
through a broken panel to draw the
\ bolt when ne felt himself hurled back
ward and his gun torn from his grasp
The gun was an old-fashioned fowl
ing piece, single-barreled, and Larri-
more, eIevating the nuzzle, pulled the
trigger and the bullet sped harmlessly
! into a neighboring tree. Casting the
now useless weapon away as far as he
could fling it, Larrimore prepared for
the attack of Cardigan who had re-
covered from the shock and was rush
/ ing at him like an angry bull
In appearance, the two men were i'll
matched. Larrimore, although averse
to athletics in general. was nimble and
avoided the others bull-like rushes
with wonderful agility. Each time
Cardigan passed him, Larrimore plant
cd a heavy blow on the ex-soldfer