The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-07-12
(Continued.)

Cory give a kind of yelling laugh an,
put his arm round me Jest as Mr.. Fea
come in the door And then 1t all hap
pened so quick that you could hardly
tell what was goin' on. Mr.. Fear, W.
found afterward i, had promised Mr.
| LOuden that he wouldn't come Ou
there. but he took too much--you could
see that by the look Of him-and fer
got his promise-fergot everything but
me and Cory, guess.
He come right up to us, where l was
tryin' to git away from OOry's srm-it
was the left one he had around me and
the other behind his back-and neither
Of em said word. Cory kept on
laughin' loud as he could. and Mr.. Fear
struck him in the mouth. He's little.
Cory let out a screech, and l see his
gun go off right in Mr. Fears face
thought, but it wasn't. 1t only scorch-
ed him. Most of the other gentlemen
had run, but Mike made a dive and
managed to knock the gun to one side
lest barely in time Then Mike and
three or four others that come out
from behind things separated em, both
Of 'em fightin' to git at each other.
They locked Mr.. Cory up in Mixes
room and took Mr.. Fear over to where
they hitch the horses Then Mike sent
fer Mr. Louden to come out to talk to
my husband and take care of him
he's the only one can do anything with
aim when he's like that-but before
Mr.. Louden could git there Mr. Fear
broke loose and run through corntleld
and got away-at least they couldn't
and him. And Mr.. Cory jumped through
a window and slid down into one Of
Mixes boats, so they'd both gone.
When Mr.. Louden come he only stayed
Iong enough to hear what had happen
I'd and started out to find Happy-that's
my husband. He's bound to keep them
apart. but he hasn't found Mr. Fear
yet or he'd be here.
Ariel had sunk back in her chair.
why should your husband hide?" she
asked in low voice.
Nv attn fer his chance at Cory" the
woman answered huskily. Il expect
he's afraid the cops are after him, too,
OH account of the trouble, and he
doesn't want to git locked up till he's
met Cory again. They amt after him,
but he may not know it. They haven't |
heard of the trouble, | reckon, or
.hey'd of run Cory in. He's around |
own today, drinkin' heavy, and |
guess he's lookin fer Mr.. Fear about |
o her feet, lifted her coarse hands and
lropped them despairingly. "Oh. In
caredW she said. Mr. Fears bA'U
mighty good to me-"
A slow and tired footstep was 1eFra
pOn the stairs, and Joe's dog ran i-t4
be room droopingly, wagged his TAI
With no energy and crept under III
esk. Mrs. Fear wheeled toward the
DOR and stood, rigid. her hands clinch-
d tight, her whole body still except Y
er breast, which rose and fell with
er tumultuous breathing. She could
OF wait till the laggard step reached
le landing
Mr. Loudonr' she called suddenly.
Joe's voice came from the stairway.
It's all right, Claudine It's all fixed
.. Don't worry"
Mrs. Fear gave thick cry of relief
nd sank back In her chair as Joe en-
red the room. He came in sham
ingly. with his hand over his eyes ! !
If they were very tired and the
yht hurt them 80 that for a moment Q
two he did not perceive the second
sitor. Then he let his hand fall, re-
Ealing a face white and worn. o
ITS all right. Claudine," he repeated. D
It's all right" o
He was moving to lay his hat on the
SIX when his eye caught first the u
ses, then fell upon Ariel. and he stop q
d stock still with one arm out
etched, remaining for perhaps ten y
conds In that attitude, while she, her u
s parted, her eyes lustrous, returned a
gaze with look that was as In II
.utable as 1t was kind. u
Yes" she said, as IL in answer to q q
estion, Il have come here twice to- "
y" She nodded slightly toward Mrs. q
ar. II can wait l am very glad @
. bring good news" u
oe turned dazedly toward the other. OF
audine," he said. you've been tell h
Mics Tabor - A
| cert'nly haver Mrs. Fears ex- lv
ssion had cleared, and her tone was dc
erful. II don't see no harm in ~
t. I'm sure she's q good friend Of 50
RS, MIR. Louden." ~
,e glanced at Ariel with a faint, -
1bled smile and turned again to
!. Fear. 1--WE had long talk with v,
ppy," ~,
I'm awful glad. Is he ready to lis ~
to reason? p she asked with litter. 'e'
Hes waiting for you" ao
Vhere7" She rose quickly.
top" said Joe sharply. you must
very careful with him
bout you s'pose I'm goin' to ber
i,,k 81 NTH "a aafnh IN hnr xvi