Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1911-12-14
gnawing his lips while he gazed up at

gnawing his lips while he gazed up at
the sun.
EDO YOU get what | say, Tom? I am
going to quit these parts" salu Hicks.
Ware turned slowly from the window.
? "All right, Hicks. You mean you
want me to settle with you, is that it,"
he asked. .aA n
eyes. I'm going to leave while can,
mavbe can't later on said Hicks
stolidly. He added: 81 am going to
start down the coast as soon as It
turns dark, and before it's day again
ri have put the good miles between
me and these parts" .a.sg.,S
You're going down the coast?" and
Ware was again conscious OF the
quickened beating Of his heart. Hicks
nodded. "See you don't meet up with
John Murrell," said Ware.
I'll take that chance. 1t seems a
heap better to me than staying here
Ware looked from the window. The
shadows were lengthening across the
lawn %
Better start now, Hicks" he ad-
vised.
"I'll wait until 1t turns dark" &s
You'll need horse"
IT was going to help myself to one.
This amt no time to stand on cere-
mony," said Hicks shortly.
"Slosson shouldn't be left in the
lurch like this-or your brothers.
folks" g.. ..|e&
They'll have to figure it out for
h1v rnlx s-Sv \
Hicks.
"You can stop there as you go by"
NO said Hicks; 81 never did be.
lieve in this damn foolishness about
the girl, and won't go near
George IS" - esI
81 don't ask you to go there you can
give them the signal from the head of
the bayou. All want is for you to
stop and light fire on the shore.
They'll know what that means I'll
give you a horse and fifty dollars for
the jOb."s 81, - &.f 'Et
Hicks eyes sparkled, but he only
Make it twice that and maybe we can
deal" 5
Racked and tortured, Ware hesi-
tated; but the sun was slipping into
the west, his windows blazed with the
hot light.
"You swear you'll do your part?" he
said thickly. He took his purse from
his pocket and counted out the amount
due Hicks. He named the total, and
paused irresolutely.
Don't you want the fire lighted ?"
asked Hicks. He was familiar with
his employers vacillating moods.
"Yes," answered Ware, his lips
quivering; and slowly with shaking
fingers he added to the pile of bills in
Hicks hand.
well, take care of yourself" said
Hicks, when the count was completed.
He thrust the roll of bills into his
pocket and moved to the door.
Alone again, the planter collapsed
into his chair, breathing heavily, but
his terrOrs swept over him and left
him with savage sense Of triumph.
This passed, he sprang up, intending
to recall Hicks and unmake his bar.
gain. What had he been thinking of
safety lay only in flight! Before he
reached the door his greed was in the
ascendant He dropped down on the
ledge of hs bed, his eyes fixed on the
window The sun sank lower. From
where he sat he saw it through the
upper half of the sash, blood-red and
livid in mist Of feecy clouds.
1t was in the tops of the oaks now
which sent their shadow into his ROOM
Again maddened by his terrors he
started up and backed toward the
door; but again his greed, the one
dominating influence in his life, van.
quished him.
He watched the sun sink. He
watched the red splendor fade over
the river: he saw the first stars appear
He told himself that Hicks would soon
be gone--if the fire was not to be
lighted he must act at once! He stole
to the window. It was dusk now. yet
he could distinguish the distant wood
ed boundaries of the great fields
framed by the darkening sky. Then
in the silence he heard the thud OF
hoofs.
CHAPTER XXI
"Price-" began Mahaffy. They were
back in Raleigh in the room the judge
called his office and this was Ma
haffy's first opportunity to ease his