The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-16
CHAPTER ".

ness.
 CHAPTER ",
 Two weeks passed. Fern and her father were happy .n love, as the old man expressed 1t, which neither of them had ever known before. The girl no longer shy, suffered the preacher 10 walk with her. Murray had not found peace, and all hope with regard to Gooatfec and k,nchloe had been gwen up. The night was beautiful the moon was full. Coos tree turned from the place oi worship and walked toward ravine through which a rivulet flowed in musical rhythm. He had not gone far when he came upon All
 "Hold on. you needn't run away. All l am goin away from this place an l want you to go with me-
 "k un' do it; DO. sah, kain'. i'se look,n arter grace, now "
 "Lookin' after the devil"
 "Ain't looking ar,er him inr l'se dun ioun' him."
 None of your d-d sass Come on"
 K .in' come"
 " If you don't TT kill you"
 K ain hep i,. rse ioun' peace wid de Lawd an l'sc CT bon ready ter go De preacher tells me my soul is CT white CT dc paixt mans an am goin ter take kere O hit. Good. bye"
 GoostTec did not follow the negro, but stealthily descended into the Tavine Some one glided from behind a rock and stood in front of him.
 Heiloa r
 Helloa, yourself"
 That you. klnch 2"
 Whats left uv me"
 "Whut you doin' ou, here z"
 "keepin' a eye on you"
 "On me 2"
 That's what said. 1 understand you, old chap. You wanter slip ou,en this place"
 "Who said so2"
 "I heard what you said to the nIgger."
 "Oh, wuz only lyin' to him"
 "No. you're lyin' 10 mo. You seem 10 forgit that l am a silent podner in stab lishment not fur from here"
 know all about that"
 "Then why air you tryin' to slip away with my shere uv the proh,sf"
 |" 1 ain't tryin' to dc no sich uv a thing. Git outen my way"
 Amt CT talkin' 10 me in perticular, air youf'
 "Gi, awayl"
 Mot til we have a settlement
 "Weii, we ken have it."
 Two knives gleamed in the moonlight. Two men grappled and struggled. Two men groaned. The next morning two lacerated bodies were found. A white frost lay thick on two bloody faces.
 The rough customers looked in hor- TOT upon the awful spectacle.
 "Shall we bury them together f' the preacher asked, .. he stood with uncev- cred head, looking at the ghastly and gory faces
 "No," replied Murray. ",hey wuI too fur apart in the eEfairs uv life to be put together in the eTfairs uv death. They never did git along well. Goose must've nsne on him. Come, teilers, ips bed time fur 'em an we'd better be ,urn,n' 'cm in."
 Moore's sermon at the graves was deeply impressive, and, at.iis conclusion, old Murray turned away and sosn disap. pesred in the woods. The next morning, while the preacher was ents Ttaining the Raney household, old Murray showed the door opened, entered the room, took of his hat and said
 "The Lord has sent peace to my soul He cent 1t while ~uz alone in the woods. Hold on, parson, don't say a word an don't git up outen your cheer till git through. A long time ago was 'cursd uv killin' a man in Kentucky, an wux sent to the penitentiasy for twenty-one years. l sarved out my time, bat didn't go home to my wife am chile. didnt think they'd want to sec me fur peveg would give my consent fur 'em to cosne into the prison to see me Wall, aTteF l got out, wandered away an want good man, nrther, but, pzrson, as shore as shaS's God ip heaven, l wuz innocent. Ssve. killed the man. No, l-what's the matter, parson1 What, my son John ' Great God r
 The two men had thrown their arms about each other. The RAneys looked on in speechless astonishment. The iaiher and son sat down. The preacher said: "I have searched the cosn,ry over and over for you. advertised in many news l papers, but could hear nothing. l trav- eied as reviyaiist, and few weeks ago | l heard that you were here and that you | were but little better than an outlaw--les | me get through-I was determined to bring the gospe! to you, to sec you re- ceive the great tidings, and then to take you home to mother who love- you, mother who prsys for you"
 The old man broke down.
 ~Oh, can't go back thar. They think kiiled Mat Lain"
 "Oh, no, for Andrew Patterson, some