The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1906-10-25
DUKE OF
DEVIL
MAY-CARE
BY r DICKSON
kuthor Of
ns Slack Wolfs Breed. nc
9GsaN~se-~9Rsa~R
coeuyrishtIsa - n Appleton s. oo3
CHAPTER IV.-Continued.

CHAPTER IV.-Continued.
Duke consulted his watch and shut
Il With a vicious snap. He took one
look az the bottomless road which
led eastward through the swamp, and
tursed TO Chalky.
"Put a saddle on old Beck: she
knows that road at night I want 10
catch the south-bound train at Roll
ing Fork"
He ran a few yards down the levee
and crossed to the store by another
plank. I'm going TO town. Harper,
he @al'ed In at the door. Look after
thugs"
"0h. Mr. Duke" the manager ran
out and protested: that rise in the
river is due to hit here about to-
morrow. and the ieyeeS may break;
you ougHtn't to"
"Oamn it, Harper. I know I
oughtat to 90, out "a ss2as ary-
way"
But Mr.. Duke"
That's enough, Harper: you are
paid 70 DO what I tell you. and when
I want your internal advice III ask
for It. You and the whole place may
go % the devil for what I care"
He stamped angrily out OF the store.
Merritt. the clerk. hniehed rolling up
a bolt OF calico, and glanced sullenly
toward Harper. who was still stand
ing where Duke had left him, in the
middle Of the floor.
Dukes attack on him tad been so
vicious and so unexpected. that for a
moment or two Harper did not CON
prehsnd: he thought it must be some
stupid sort Of a Joke.
Bat as the other wheeled and left
the store. Harper's face flushed; then
It TUNED very white. He took two
impetuous steps toward the door. and
stopped. His color came back. and
his smile came back.
x dent see how you can take that
Mr.. Harper" Merritt said. ~resentful-
ly, leaning across the counter.
= couldn't-from any other man"
Toe two or three negroes who had
been drying their feet around the
stovs we're already slipping out Of the
hacF door-it was not wise for them
70 mix up in white mems quarrels.
"come back here. boys. Harper
called. peremptorily. His authority
on Ire plantation was az stake, for q
whfe man in the swamp must cover
eveIy inch Of ground be stands on.
or le cannot hope 20 control half q
thopsand negroes.
Tss negroes came hack reluctantly
keeying their eyes on the door
through which their angry master had
disappeared.
BOYS" Harper said 70 them
Something must be wrong with Mr.
Duhe: you know ne never talks thai
way 20 the meanest Niger on his
place-and you know that ! don'i
taxa ftolishness from anybody
"Yassuh. yassuh, Uncle Reggy as
sented. Regulus Jones was "Miste.
Meets pet niger. 30 the other dar.
kies said.
Il $40 asa think dat was mighty
curyus o. Mister R0ei-he mussel
been klader pestered IN rs mini
spec" Unrle ReEgy stopped; a SUD
den step or the gallery put a periot
in sho middle OF his sentence.
Noel Dul.e ]reappeared Ca che door
cordurryB. SLOUGH hat. i~egginga-hl
plunged or. head down. not Iookin.
where he went Tbe negroes madt
ready 10 run. Ho stopped. looked mp
Harper" he said. holding out hi
hand. Il made a fool OF myself ius
now; I'm sorry
That's an right Mr.. Duke. / didn'
think anything about g. knew yol
must be worried about something
Il ana / must go 90 V~icksburg fof
q few Gays, the plantation is e%ntirUly
in pour charge. II che levee SHOULD
break. "a whatever you think q neces
sary 70 save the stock ana take carr
or the tenants. GO0d-by, Harper.
good-by. Merritt. Give these boys
drink; they've been working hayd al
day. Ggad night. boys"
Fifteen ginutes later a man an,
mule tl'ned their backs upon th.
river ana disappeared through ttl
mlsts along a road that was NOR.
passabis for boat than beast
Through the darl; and the mud the
|noundcred on, the sure-footed mul.
pickltG her way uuerringly 10 IA.
hlghe5. ground.
"I1; SO TO that cock-hght Just q
show her that I don't care. Vance b
rich. ne iiyes m New York; he cai
give Ter" Then HIS cheek grew red
even Ia the ~hiackness OF the swamp
thai 40 should impute auch motlvr
10 Aaiia Cameron, lie had only q
think II her clear eyes and bF0al
fair cerehcad 10 be ashamed.
-Ttgt old woman Is at the bolton
Of tEgA ia break every bone 20 he
body = she were only a man
ne shnt ms lips very digit; an.
the % De stumbled on.
CHAPTER v