Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-08-02

MAJOR wasn't very original In his
views9 He would have shed his last
drop Of blood for. his native, land, but
he. was honest in acknowledging her
faults. -
Conversation. idled In various chan
.nelS and finally became anchored at
jewels. Here the Major was at home.
and he 'loSed emeralds above all 9th.
er stones. He proved to be an engag-
Ing old fellow, had circled the globe
three or four times, and had had an
adventure or two worth recounting.
And when he incidentally mentioned
his niece, George wanted to shake his
hand.
Would Mr.. Jones join him with a
peg to sleep on? Mr.. Jones certainly
would. And after a mutual health,
George automatically excused himself,
retired, buoyant and happy. How sim
pie the affair had been! A fellow
could do anything IL only he set his
mind to 1t. Tomorrow he would meet
Fortune Chedsoye, and may Beelzebub
shrive him II he could not manage to
control his recalcitrant tongue.
AS he passed out Of sight, Major
Callahan smiled. 1t was that old IA.
miliar smile which, charged with gen.
tie mockery, We send after departing
fools. 1t was plain that he needed
another peg to keep company with the
first, for he rose and gracefully wend.
ed his way downstairs to the bar. Two
men were already leaning against the
friendly, inviting mahogany. There
was a magnum Of champagne stand.
ing between their glasses. The Major
ordered temperate whisky and soda
drank 1t, frowned at the magnum, paid
the reckoning, and went back upstairs
again.
Don't remember old friends, ehr
said the shorter Of the two men
caressing his incarnadined proboscis
"A smile wouldn't have hurt him any
do you Think"
Shut up!" admonished Ryanne
you know the orders; no recognition
on the public floors"
why, ! meant no HARM" the Other
protested. He took a swallow Of wine
But, dash 1t! here | am, more'n -four
thousand miles from old Broadway
and still walking blind. When is the
show to start?"
mot so loud, old boy. You've got ia
have patience. You've had some good
pickings for the past three months
in the smoke-rooms. That ought to
soothe YOU"
We'll, it doesn't. Here l come from
New York, three months ago, with a
wad Of money for you and a great
game in sight. 1t takes week to find
you, and when | do Well, you
know. No sooner are you awake, than
what? OFF you go to Bagdad, on the
widest goose-chase man ever heard
OF. And that leaves me with nothing
to do and nobody to talk to. / could
have cried yesterday when | got your
letter saying you'd be in today"
well, ! got it."
THE rug?"
Yes. 1t was wild; but after what
I'd been through | needed something
wild to steady my nerves; some bic
danger, where I'd simply have to get
together"
And you got it?" There was frank
wonder and admiration in the pursy
gentleman's eyes. "All alone, and you
got 1t? Honest?"
Honest. They nearly had my hide
though"
Where is it,"
Sold"
"Who%
"Percival."
Horace, you're a wonder, IL there
ever was one. Sold 1t to Perciyal!
You couldn't beat that in a thousand
years. You're a great man."
Praise from Sir Hubert"
Who's he?"
AN authority on several matters"
"IIow much did he give you for it,"
Tut, tut! 1t was all my own little
jaunt, Wallace. | should hate to lie
to you about It."
What about the stake gave YOU %
Ryanne made sign of dealing
cards.
Threw 1t away on a lot Of dubs
after all I've taught you!"
Cards aren't my forte"
There's a yellow streak in your
hide, somewhere, Horace"
There is, but 1t Is the tigers stripe
my friend. What | did with my money
Is my own business"
viii she allow for that?"
Would 1t matter one way or the
other?"
NO, l don't suppose 1t would. Some.
times think you're with us as a huge
joke. You don't take the game seri.
Gus enough Wallace emptied his
glass and tipped the bottle carefully.
You're out Of your class, somehow"
"So?"
"Yes. You have always struck me
as a man who was hunting trouble for
one end"
And that?" Ryanne seemed inter-
ested.
| Wallace drew his finger across his
| throat. Ryanne looked him snuarelv