Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-03
Copyright, 1908, by J. B. Harris Burand.

into almost total darkness. The white,
stony path showed like dim thread in
the gloom, and the pattern OF the
branches overhead stood out against
the sky But John Shil could see lit
tie else, and the wood itself was
mere wall of branches on either side
of him.
In few minutes he reached large
open space in the center Of the plan
taton The path here ran by the side
of large quarry, from which in the
days gone by the Tankerlanes had
building purposes. It had not how
ever been worked for nearly fifty
years, and the wood had been planted
to conceal the ugly scar 1t had made
on the hill. On one side it sloped
gently up to the surface, but on the
other there was a sheer drop Of
eighty feet to the bottom and the edge
was protected by a wooden rail.
AS the young man emerged from the
darkness into the grey twilight, he
heard the sound Of footsteps, and
few moments later the tall figure of a
man came striding up the hill towards
him. The two men met almost in the
center OF the clearing.
| Evening Ben" said John Shil,
CURLY, as the huIking form of one Of
| the farmers on the estate came close
to him He did not like the man. for
Ben Holland had an evil reputation IN
the district, and the brutal ferocity OF
his temper had marked him out as a
dangerous and difficult fellow to deal
with The young agent was also
aware that the man hated him with
fierce and undying hatred, for the
farmer had been an unsuccessful suit
or for the hand Of Laura Vane.
The man did not reply to the salu.
Etation and John Shil would have pass
ed on without another word, but Ben
Holland stopped, and his huge body
blocked up the center of the pathway
On one side lay the thick under
growth: on the other side the rail al
the edge of the quarry. There was
scarcely room for two big men tc
: pass, save by each others courtesy
John Shil could have pushed by, but
as agent OF the Tankerlane property
; he had a certain dignity to preserve
He stopped, as though he had some
thing to say to the man who had bar
red his progress.
"I'd have a word with ZEE" said the
man hoarsely; "Td have a word will
zee, Mr.. Shil."
: about that arable?' replied thu
agent coldly. ITS no use, Ben; 81
Robert has decided not to turn an!
. more arabic into pasture"
, Hang the pasture" the man SAT-
roughly. 81 s'pose you thinks haven
4 mind above turnips and pasture ant
g sich like
t John Shil did not answer He ha
n never studied the state of Ben Ho
It lands mind, but he knew well enoug
Il what was in 1t at that moment.
/, This be a narrow track" the ma
l. continued. land there be no room 70
:. two big men like we. One of us mus
l. stand aside to let the other pas
e Which be it, Mr.. Shil, you or II"
The estate agent did not answe
a He understood the rude allegory in
& piled in the farmers words. 1t we
'e no question of precedence in ma
IL row path. 1t was the hand OF tn
v woman they both loved Yet he coul
10 not trust himself to speak His fae
IN was already white with fury and h
et great body trembled with the Violent
10 of this thoughts. A single word wou
as break through the control he he
AT placed upon himself. He could n
ID trust himself to speak.
"You be a great man in these parts
an continued Ben Holland with a snee
AS small wonder you're SIGH fav'ri
it with the gals There's lot of pow
of in those white hands o. yourn. |
cd just a farmer working for my brea