Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-01-30

pue ms arm round me jest as MT. Fea
come In the door. And then 1t all hap
pened so quick that you could hardly
tell what was goin' on. Mr.. Fear we
found afterward, had promised Mr..
there. but he took too much-you could
see that by the look of him-and fer
got his promse-fergot everything but
me and Cory, guess.
"He come right up to us, where was
tryin' to git away from Cory's arm-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.
but he can hit awful hard, and Mr..
Cory let out a screech, and | 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 dive and
managed to knock the gun to one side
jest barely in time. Then Mike and
three or four others that come out
from behind things separated EN-. both
of 'em fghtin' to git at each other.
They locked Mr.. Cory up in Mikes
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
him when he's like that-but before
Mr.. Louden could git there Mr.. Fear
broke loose and run through cornfeld
and got away-at least they couldn't
find him. And Mr. Cory jumped through
window and slid down into one of
Mikes boats. SO they'd both gone.
When Mr.. Louden come he only stayed
long enough to hear what had happen
ed 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.
s'Why should your husband hide?' sh,
asked in a low voice
'Waitin' fer his chance at Cory" the
woman answered huskily. II expect
he's afraid the cops are after him, too.
on 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
they'd of run Cory in. He's around
town today, drinkin' heavy, and
guess he's lookin' fer Mr.. Fear about
as hard as Mr.. Louden is" She rose
to her feet, lifted her coarse hands and
dropped them despairingly. "Oh, I'm
scaredp' she said. "Mr. Fears ben
mighty good to me-"
A slow and tired footstep was heard
upon the stairs, and Joes dog ran into
the room droopingly. wagged his tail
with no energy and crept under the
desk Mrs Fear wheeled toward the
door and stood, rigid, her hands clinch-
ed tight, her whole body still except
her breast, which rose and fell with
her tumultuous breathing. She could
not wait till the laggard step reached
the landing
'Mr Loudonr' she called suddenly.
Joe's voice came from the stairway.
Its all right. Claudine. It's all fixed
up. Don't worry"
Mrs. Fear gave a thick cry of relief
and sank back in her chair as Joe en-
tered the room. He came in sham
blingly, with his hand over his eyes
as if they were very tired and the
light hurt them. so that for a moment
or two he did not perceive the second
visitor. Then he let his hand fall, re
vealing face white and worn.
tits all right, Claudine," he repeated.
Its all right"
He was moving to lay his hat on the
desk when his eye caught first the
roses, then fell upon Ariel, and he stop
ped stock still with one arm out
stretched, remaining for perhaps ten
seconds in that attitude, while she. her
lips parted, her eyes lustrous, returned
his gaze with look that was as in
scrutable as it was kind.
yes she said, as if in answer to a
question, 81 have come here twice to-
day" She nodded slightly toward Mrs.
Fear. 81 can wait. ] am very glad
you bring good news"
Joe turned dazedly toward the other.
"Claudine,'' he said, you've been tell
ing Miss Tabor
81 cert'nly haver' Mrs. Fears ex-
preston had cleared, and her tone was
cheerful II don't see no harm in
that Pm s1ra she's good friend of
yours, Mr.. Louden."
Joe glanced at Ariel with faint,
troubled smile and turned again to
Mrs. Fear. 1--WE had long talk with
Happy"
''I'm awful glad. Is he ready to lis
ten to reasonf p she asked with litter.
Hes waiting for you."
"Where?" She rose quickly.
"Stop," said Joe sharply. "You must
be very careful with him
Don't you s'pose I'm goin' to beT'
f06 IN hn