Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-04-04
CHAPTER ",

met as lney were leaving their rooms. |
David caught Ronald by the arm and
turned his face towards the little glass
less window at the head of the stairs.
"own up" he said, with smile. you
didn't git wink o. sleep last night"
II confess it," was the answer. II
didn't know what was the matter with |
me-"
"But do" David touched his brow
significantly; at was hot blood in the
brain. know how you felt. You jest
rolled an tumbled. I heerd you git
up an look out O. the window 10 see
eff it was gittin' daylight five times eff
you did once. My Lord, couldn't rest
for two nights fore whipped Budd
Meyer fur reportin' me fur sellin' that
quart to the Calhoun boys, but you bet
after made his face look like buckle
berry custard l slept the sleep of the
righteous. Two o. my friends had to
perjure the'rse'ves to keep me out o.
the chain-gang, an was tryin' to wash
out .he'r sin with his blood; eff Their
conscience amt clear it amt because
thar wasn't enough O. the fluid fur
laundry purposes, fer he bled like
stuck pig. I reckon" Dave broke off
suddenly as they began to descend the
stairs, that breakfast is about ready,
| heerd the old man cussin' about thar
bein' too much ham fried..'
After breakfast our hero left the
houseandfook Observation-Disclosures
Carnleigh. He wore his best suit of
clothes, which fitted him perfectly.
In each of the pockets of his dark sack
coat there was revolver; he had
shaved himself by the first rays of the
sun and wore becoming necktie; his
boots shone with fresh backing, and
he had on stylish straw hat.
AS he left the house Mary Lou and
Ann Josephine, having shirked the
ldishwashing, stood arm in arm on the
porch. Their shoes were unlaced, their
dresses soiled and torn, their hair dis
heveled.
He walks mighty biggity," observed
Mary Lou; 81 reckon he is maxim
tracks fur town to see about bein' cx-
amined fur the law. Who do you reck-
on would hire i'm to speak fur emp"
"Thar's no tellin' the luck of lousy
calf" opined Ann Josephine. iron
amt nobody's fool; body couldn't
read as many papers an magazines an
study law as hard as he does without
l'arnin' something"
Hell take keer O. number one any
ways" commented Mary Lou. "Iheerd
pa say t'other day that Ron refused
to market his cotton when everybody
in the county was turnin' loose o. theirs
last fall an that he held onto it tell it
riz an he put cool two hundred dol
lars profit in the bank; on another
thing, he never goes in debt over head
an yeers like pa an Dave does; he's the
only farmer round heer that pays cash
fur labor an that's one reason he'gits
sc muchou O. his hands. Niggers don't
want to work fur orders on the store
at two prices when the cash planked
down will git SO much better bargains"
Meanwhile the subject of these re-
marks was walking swiftly down to-
wards Carnleigh. The great house was
now in full view, and that part of the
grounds through which hower-bor-
dered walk led in sinuous curves from
the veranda down the grassy slope
where there were spring, a summer
house and rustic seats. The spot was
only few hundred yards from the
main road, where, in corner of the
colonel's zigzag rail fence, Ronald
paused and waited, hoping that by
some chance Capt. Wrinkle would stroll
in that direction as Ronald in passing
had once or twice seen him do.
He had not long to wait. He saw
Wrinkle in fatigue uniform come out
on the veranda and receive cigar from
n man-servant. A few minutes after
wards. under banner of blue smoke,
the young officer took one or two turns
on the lawn among the flower beds,
and then, as if obeying Ronald's fierce
desire, conveyed to him telepathically
he turned into the walk leading down
to the spring. He moved easily, with a
lazy, swinging stride, ruthlessly cut
ting at the nearest flowers with cane
which he poised on his shoulder like
a sword or swung in front of him as il
fencing.
No sooner had Ronald seen the di.
rection he was taking than he vaulted
over the fence and made his way
through the dewy grass and weeds into
the wood which interviewed between
him and the spring.
He came upon Wrinkle as that worthy
stood on the fiat stones round the
spring. The officer wore his eye
glasses, and had his cigar between his
Iiups. The grass mutfled Ronald's
steps, and as Wrinkle was look
ing towards the. house as if expect
ing some one, he did not notice our
heros presence till he stood beside him
"Ah!" calculated Winkle, Az he
turned, and then through his glasses he
eyed Ronald coldly from head to foot
"Ah!" he repeated, and then he took a
puff at his cigar and blew the smoke
towards the house as he looked again
up the walk. One familiar with the
tricks of Wrinkles sallow face might
have found hint of uneasiness there
as Ronald caught his eye and held il
steadily for a second.
There is a matter that you and
must settle, sir" said our hero, calmly
For a moment Wrinkle gazed almost
detiantly at the speaker, then his glance
~avered just little.
"a matter that you and must set
tle?" he echoed, with q faint sheer
land what is that, my good fellow?"
you deliberately drove your horses
against me last night in the road and ]
have come to demand satisfaction"
| The officer sent another glance up the
walk towards the house; it was as il he
were hoping some one would arrive tc
prevent what seemed inevitable. lie
did not like the expression of the face
before him; he dreaded the awful
threatening tranquility of It,
| He removed his cigar from his lips
and held it in his fingers, that quivered
nervously.
II don't want to have trouble with
you," he said.
"Then you should not have driven
over NE" answered Ronald, ',tor moth,