The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-05-01
CHAPTER XVI.
The Man With the scvthe-

ne man with the Scythe.
It was late in June before was able
to disengage myself from the work of
the judges office. Meanwhile there
had been blood shed back in the hills.
One Of the sheriffs posse had been Sc
verely wounded by a bullet and had
failed to serve the wrfts. The Judge
lad appealed to the governor. People
were talking of "the rent war"
What joy entered my heart when
was aboard the steamboat, at last,
and on my way to all most dear to me-
AS I entered Lake Champlafn I con-
suited the map and decided to leave
the boat at Chimney Point to find Kate
Fullerton, who had written to the
schOOlmaster from Canterbury. AIy
aunt had said in a letter that old Kate
was living there and that a great
change had come over her. So I went
ashore and hired a horse of the ferry
man.
I passed through Middlebury and
rode into the grounds of the college,
where the senator had been educated,
and on out TO Weybridge to see where
he had lived as a boy. 1 found the
d comfortable
white house at the head of q beautiful
valley with wooded hills behind it
and rode up to the door. A white
haired old lady in a black lace cap
was sitting on its porch looking out
at the sunlit fields
rs this where Senator Wright lived
when he was a boy?" I asked.
Eyes, sir" the old lady answered.
81 am from Canton
She rose from her chair.
''You from Canton!" she exclaimed.
'FWhy. of all thingsI That's where my
boys home is. I'm glad to see you. Go
an put your horse in the barn.
/ diSmOunted and she came near me.
''Silas Wright is my boy" she said.
''What is your name?"
Barton Baynes," I answered as I
hitched my horse.
Barton BaynesI Why, Silas has
told me all about you in his letters.
He writes to me every week. Come
and sit down"
We sat down together on the porch.
''SilaS wrote in his last letter that
you were going to leave your place in
Cobleskill," she continued to my sur
prise. ''He said that he was glad you
had decided not to stay"
1t was joyful news to me, for the
senator's silence had worried me and I
had begun to think with alarm of nv
future.
81 wish that he would take you to
Washington to help him. The poor
man has too much to do"
81 should think it a great privilege
to CO." I answered.
my boy likes you" she went on.
''You have been brought up just as he
was. 1 used to read to him every eve
ming when the candles were lit How
hard he worked to make man of him
self I have known the mothers joy.
can truly say, Now let thy servant
depart in peace"
"sFor mine eyes have seen thy sal
vation,' quoted.
''You see I know much about You
and much about your aunt and uncle"
said Mrs. Wright.
She left me for a moment and soon
the whole household was gathered
about me on the porch. the men hav-
ing come up from the fields. They put
my horse in the barn and pressed me
to stay for dinner. which 1 did As 1
was going the gentle old lady gave
me pair Of mfitens which her 1istin-
guished son had worn during mis- last
winter in college. I remember well
how tenderly she handled themi
81 hope that Silas will get you to
help him"-thOse were the last words
she said to me when 1 babe her good
by.
The shadows were long when I got
to Canterbury. At the head of its
main street looked down upon a vii
lage green and some fine old elms. It
was singuiarly quiet place. stopped
in front of 4 big white meeting house.
An old man vas moving il its grave
Fard near the highway. Slowly he
swung his scyJhe