Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1913-03-06

rolling hills, bare and desolate,
stretched to the horizon, the grass al
ready burned brown by the sun. The
town itself consisted of but one
short, crooked street, fianked by
rough, ramshackle frame structures,
two-thirds of these apparently sa-
looms, with dirty. Tapping tents sand
WICKED between, and huge piles OF
tin cans and other rubbish stored
away behind The street was rutted
and dusty, and the ceaseless wind
swirled the dirt about in continuous,
suffocating clouds. The hotel ITSELF
little, squatty, two-storied affair,
groaned to the blast threatening to
collapse. Nothing moved except a
wagon down the long ribbon of road.
and dog digging for bone behind
a nearby tent. 1t was so squalid and
ugly she turned away in speechless
disgust.
The interior, however, offered even
smaller comfort. A rude bedstead. one
leg considerably short and propped up
by a half brick, stood against the
board wall; single wooden chair was
opposite, and a fiy-specked mirror
hung over tin basin and pitcher. The
floor sagged fearfully and the side
walls lacked several inches of reach
ing the ceiling. Even in the dim
candle light of the evening before, the
bed coverings had looked so forbid
ding that Molly had compromised, ly- Z
ing down, halfdressed on the outside;
now, in the garish glare of returning
day they appeared positively hlthy'
And this was the best to be had;
she realized that, her courage failing
at the thought of remaining alone
amid such surroundings AS she
washed, using a towel of her own after
a single glance at the hotel article,
and did up her rebellious hair, she
came to a prompt decision. She would
go directly on-.-would take the first
stage. Perhaps her father, or whom
ever he sent, would be met with along
the route. The coaches had regular
meeting stations, so there was small
danger Of their missing each other.
The question of possible danger was
dismissed almost without serious
thought. She had seen no papers
since leaving st. Louis, and the news
before that contained nothing more
definite than rumors of uneasiness
among the Plains Indians. Army OIL
GERS interviewed rather made light OF
the affair, as being merely the regular
outbreak of young warriors, easily
suppressed. On the train she had met
with no one who treated the situation
as really serious, and, IL 1t was, then
surely her father would send some
message Of restraint Satisfied upon
this point, and fully determined upon
departing at the earliest opportunity,
she ventured down the narrow, creak-
ing stairs In search of breakfast.
The dining-room was discovered at
the foot of the steps, square box OF
a place, the two narrow windows look
ing forth on the desolate prairie.
There were three tables, but only one
was in use, and, with no waiter to
guide her, the girl advanced hesitating-
ly and took a seat opposite the two
men already present. They glanced
up, curiously Interested, staring at her
q moment, and then resumed their in
terrupted meal. Miss McDonald's crit
ical eyes surveyed the unsavory-look-
ing food, her lips slightly curved. and
then glanced .nquiringly toward the
men. The one directly opposite was
large and burly, with iron-gray hair
and beard, about sixty years Of age,
but with red cheeks and bright eyes,
and face expressive Of hearty good
nature. His clothing was roughly
serviceable, but he looked clean and
wholesome. The other was an army
lieutenant, but Molly promptly
uuelched her first inclination to adj
dress him, as she noted his red, In
famed face and dissipated appearance.
AS she nibbled, half-heartedly, at the
miserable food brought by slovenly
waiter, the two men exchanged barely
dozen words, the lieutenant growing
out monosyllabic answers, finally push,
ing back his chair, and striding out.
Again the girl glanced across at the
Olu6T lluobCl ms SONANoS ~ NN
dress him. At the same moment he
looked up, with eyes full of good hui
NOR and kindly interest.
Looks rather tough, reckon,
MISS" waving a big hand over tho
table. But you'll have ter git used
to it in this kentry."
"Oh, / do not believe ever could"
disconsolately. 81 can scarcely choke
down mouthful."
so I was noticin'; from the East, I
reckon?"
Eyes; II came last night, and
and really l, am afraid am actually
homesick already. lit is even
more-more primitive than supposed.
Do-do you live here-at Ripley?"
Good Lord, mol" heartily, though
I reckon yer might not think my home
wuz much better. I'm the post-tradeF
down at Fort Marcy, jist out O. Santa
Fe. I'll be blame glad ter git back
thar too, I'm tellin' yer"
"That-that is what l wished to ask
you about" she stammered. "The
Santa Fe stage; when does it leave
| o1d ,,,baro do I IN ua