Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1913-08-28

ow of the building for an opportunity
While l hid there a cavalry soldier
from the fort rode up, swung. down
from his saddle, and ran up the steps.
l heard him ask for Major Mcdonald.
Almost Immediately he came out again
ard I passed him on the porch. Just
inside the door met my father. He
was leaving the hotel with Dupont,
and the latter swore savagely when
caught my fathers arm, asking what
message the orderly had brought. He
answered strangely, saying he had
received orders to go at once to Ripley
on the stage; that he might be gone
several days. There was nothing
about all that to startle a soldiers
daughter, but Dupont kept his hand
on my fathers arm, urging him to
hurry. The actions OF the man aroused
my suspicious. knew my father was
acting paymaster, and could perceive
the outlines of leather bag bullying
beneath his overcoat II this contained
money, then grasped Dupont's pur-
pose. My plan of action occurred to
me In a flash-I would accompany
him untll-until he was safely in the
stage, and find opportunity to whisper
warning. | remember asking him to
wait moment for me, and rushing to
the cloak room after my coat. But
when returned they were gone. |
ran out into the street, but they were
not to be seen; they had not gone
toward the stage Office, for the lights
revealed that distance clearly, and
they had had no time In which to
disappear within. With the one
thought that Dupont had lured my
father out Of sight for purposes Of
robbery, / started to run down the
little alley-way next the hotel. l know
now how foolish l was, but then
was reckless. 1t was dark and ! saw
and heard nothing to warn me of dan
ger 1t was in my mind that my
father had been lured on to the open
prairie behind the hotel Suddenly
was seized roughly, and a cloth
whipped over my face before ! could
even scream. I heard a voice say:
Damned If 1t amt the girl! What
will we do with her% and then Du-
points voice answered gruffly: Hell.
there amt anything to do, but take
the little hussy along. Shed queer
the whole game, an we've got an extra
horse They jerked me forward SO
roughly and was so frightened that
that must have tainted. At any
rate remembered nothing more dis
tinctly until we had crossed the river.
and was on horseback wrapped in
blanket, and tied to the saddle. Some
one was holding me erect; l could not
move my arms, but could see and
hear. 1t was dark, and we were NOV
ing slowly; there were two Indians
ahead, and a white man riding each
side Of me. They thought me uncon-
scious still, and spoke occasionally;
little by little / recognized their voices
and understood their words"
Her voice broke into a sob, but the
Sergeant's eyes were still gazing vigil
lartly out over the snow-clad hills.
1T Is hard to tell the rest" she
said finally, "but learned that 1t was
not robbery, but the betrayal Of trust.
My father was guilty, and yet at the
same time a victim. only got the
truth in snatches. which had to piece
together, although later learned 9th
er details. Mrs. Dupont had bled my
father through some knowledge she
had gained Of his sisters family.
cannot even imagine what this could
have been, but it was sufficient for
hUr purpose. He gave her all he
had, and tEen-then she heard of this
government money being sent to Rip
ley. She had known about that for
several days through the Lieutenant,
and had ample time to arrange the
plot, My father must have been crazy
to have entered into the scheme, but
he did, he did. The woman compelled
him to It,"
81 understand, Molly" broke in
Hamlin, anxious to spare her the de-
tails. They were to pretend robbery.
but with the Majors connivance. An
officer impersonating him was des-
patched to Ripley by stage. This
would prevent any immediate pursuit.
Later the Major was to be released,
to return to Dodge with his story.
The projection of yourself into the
affair dlsarranged the entire plot, and
then a quarrel occurred, and your
father was killed"
Yes; it was over what should be
done with me; although believe now
they intended to kill him, so as to re-
tain all the money. The older Indian
fred the shot treacherously."
And Connors?"
Dupont killed him; they were both
drunk, and the soldier fred first, but
missed"
And after that?"
She covered her face with her
hands.
1T was all dream Of continuous
horror, yet through it all, do not
recall consciousness Of physical tor.
4 ture. l seemed to be mentally numbed
my brain blank. 1t was a realization
Of my fathers guilt more than my own
danger which affected me-that and
his death. They were not unkind mol