The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-09-27
The Manager Of
the B. { A.
BY VAUGHAN KEsTER
Copyright. 1901. by Harper 6 Brothers

they Will do With you"
"That amt the question, Dannie;
that amt at all the question. It's
not what they'll do to me-" And he
softly patted the hand that rested on
his arm.
Dan saw that his clothes hung loose
ly to his mighty frame They were
torn and stained. He had the appear
ance of man who had endured hard
ship, privation and toll. His glance
was fugitive and anxious. where
have you been all this while?" he ask
ed. Not here?"
No; have been living in the woods.
trying to escape from the country, and
the fires wouldn't let me. Wherever
went they We're there ahead of me,
driving me back"
"Why did you kill him? How did it
happen?" Dan added. "Or is it all a
mistake? Did you do it?''
The smile faded from the old con-
vict's lips.
cit was a sort of accident, and it
was sort of carelessness, Dannie," he
explained with touch of sullenness.
IL hit him-not hard, mind you. 1
know l shouldn't have done it, but he
was in the wrong and he wouldn't
listen to reason. l don't know when
ever seen man so set in his wick
edness.''
And now YOU want to go back. Do
you know what it means if you are
arrested? Have you thought of that?"
Roger Oakley waved the query aside
as though it concerned him not at ALL
II want to be with you," he said
wistfully. You may not get through
alive, and want to be with YOU.
You'll need me. There's no one YOU
can trust as you can me, for l won't
fail you no matter what the danger is.
And there's the girl, Danuie. Have
you thought of her?'
Dan set his lips. my God, l can't
think of anything else"
There was moments silence
Here" said Dan, thrusting his
hands into his pockets. II am going to
give you what money l have. 1t isn't
much"
"What for, Daimler"
You are sure to be seen and recog-
nized if you stay about here. Your de-
scription has been telegraphed all over
the state. For that reason I'll take you
with me part way. Then I'll slow up,
and you can hide again. It's your only
chance. am sorry can't do more for
you. wish could. But perhaps we
can arrange to meet afterward."
His father smiled with the uncon-
scious superiority of the man who
firmly believes he is controlled by an
intelligence infinitely wise and beyond
all human conception. No amount of
argument could have convinced him
that Providence was not burning mil
lions of feet of standing timber and an
occasional town solely for his guild
ance. In his simple seriousness he saw
nothing absurd or preposterous in the
idea. He said:
1--WE wanted to escape, Dannie, for
your sake, not for mine. But when
seen you tonight knew the Lord in
tended we should keep together. He
didn't bring US here for nothing. That
amt his way. There's no one to go
with you but me, and you can't go
alone.''
Il can-I willw And Dan swore I'M
der his breath. He realized that no
word of his could move his father. He
would carry his point, just as he al
ways had
Durks came running along the plat
form from the depot.
Its no use" shaking his head. "The
wires down. Say, you want to keep
your eyes open for the freight. 1t may
be on the siding at Parker's Run, and
it may he on the main track"
Dan made last appeal to his father.
won't you listen to what l say?''
sinking his voice to hoarse whisper.
They'll hang you-do you hear? If
ever they lay hands on you they will!
show no mercyw 1t did not occur to
him that his father would be returning
under circumstances so exceptional
that public sentiment might we'll I'M
dergo radical change in his favor.
Roger Oakley merely smiled as he
answered, with gentle composure: 81
don't think we need to worry about
that. We are in his hands, Dannie."
And he raised his face to the heavens.
Dan groaned.
II ONE, then" he said aloud.
"I'll throw the switch for you" And
the operator ran down the track He
was quite positive he should never see
Oakley again, and he felt something
akin to enthusiasm at the willing sac
rifice of his life which he conceived
him to be making.
Father and son stepped to the en-
CINE. The old convict mounted heavily
to his post, and Dan sprang after him,
his hand cropping for the throttle lever.
There was the hiss of steam, and Joe
cried from the darkness:
"All right, come ahead" And the en-
CINE, with its tender and two cars, be-
gan its hazardous Journey.
AS they slipped past him the opera
tor yelled his goodby and Dan pushed
open the cab window and waved his
hand.
Roger Oakley on the narrow iron
shelf between the engine and the tend