Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-11-03
DUKE OF
DEVIL
MAY=CARE
By HARRIS DICKSON
CHAPTER Iv.-Continued.
Author of
The Black VOLTS Breed" Etc.


Duke consulted his watch ana smut
1t With a vicious snap. He took one
look at the bottomless road which
led eastward through the swamp, and
turned to Chalky.
..Put a saddle on old Beck; she
knows that road at night 1 want to
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 vailed In at the door. Look after
things
"Oh, Mr.. Duke" the manager ran
out and protested; chat rise in the
river is due to hit here about to-
morrow, and the levees may break;
you oughtn't to"
Damn it, Harper. know L
oughtn't to go, but TIA gekos. any
way"
But, Mr.. Duke"
That's enough, Harper; you are
paid to do what tell you, and when
I want your Internal advice I'll ask
for It. You and the whole place may
go to the devil for what 1 care"
He stamped angrily out of the store.
Merritt, the clerk, finished rolling up
a bolt of calico, and glanced sullenly
ing where Duke had left him, in the
midele of the floor.
Dukes attack on him had been so
vicious and so unexpected, that for a
moment or two Harper did not com
prehend; he thought it must be some
stupid sort of a Joke.
But as the other wheeled and left
the store. Harper's face flushed; then
it turned very white. He took two
impetuous steps toward the door, and
stopped. His color came back, and
his smile came back.
t'I don't see how you can take that,
Mr.. Harper Merritt said, resentful-
1y, leaning across the counter.
81 couldn't-from any other man."
The two or three negroes who had
been drying their feet around the
stove were already slipping out of the
hack door-it was not wise for them
to mix up in white mems quarrels.
''Come back here. boys" Harper
called, peremptorily. His authority
on the plantation was at stake, for a
whfSe man in the swamp must cover
every inch of ground he stands on,
-or be cannot hope to control half a
dhousand negroes.
TSe negroes came back reluctantly
keeping their eyes on the door
through which their angry master had
disappeared.
Boys" Harper said to them
something must be wrong with Mr.
Duke; you know he never talks that
way to the meanest niger on his
place-and you know that 1 don't
taxa foolishness from anybody
'eYassuh, yassuh," Uncle Reggy as
scented. Regulus Jones was mister
Noel's pet niger so the other dar-
kies said.
q slo did think dat was mighty
curyus o. Mister Noel-he mussel
been kinder pestered in is min!
spec" Uncle Reggy stopped; sud
den step on the gallery put a period
in the middle of his sentence.
Noel DUKE reappeared in the door
cordurcys, SLOUGH hat, leggings-h'
plunged on, head down, not looking
where he went. The negroes mad,
ready TO run. He stopped. looked up
Harper" he said, holding out hi.
hand, ct made a fool of myself jus
now: I'm sorry"
That's all right, Mr.. Duke, 1 didn'
think anything about it 1 knew yol
must be worried about something"
st ana / must go to Vicksburg fcl
a few Gays; the plantation is entirel,
in your charge. If the lsvee shout,
break, d. whatever you think is neces
sary to save the stock and take car,
of the tenants. Good-by, Harper
good-by, Merritt Give these boys
drink; they've been working hard al
day. Good night, boys"
Fifteen ginutes later man ant
mule TUNED their backs upon tn
river ara disappeared through tn,
mists along road that was NOR
passable for boat than beast
Through the dark and the mud the,
fioundered on, the sure-footed null
picking her way unerringly to tn,
highest ground.
.'IlI go to that cock-fght just t.
show her that I don't care Vance il
rich, he lives in New York; he Cal
give her" Then his cheek grew red
even in the blackness of the swamp
that he should impute such motive
to Anita Cameron He had only Z
think of her clear eyes and broa,
fair forehead to be ashamed
'sThat old woman is at the bottom
of tfslA I'd break every bone in he
body il she were only q man."
He shut his lips very tight; an
the mule stumbled on
CHAPTER "
THE MAN THAT DID NOT CARE.
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