Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-26
c.,,,.,ht. ro,1, The Bobbs. Merrill Compsa,
CHAPTER Y. (Continued).

C.wr,sht, 1871, The Bobbs'M Me
CHAPTER Y. (Continued).
81 reckon his next move will be to
send a posse OF gun-toters up from
Fayetteville, said the squire.
That's Just what he'll do" agreed
Crenshaw, and looked disturbed.
"They certainly air an unpeaceable
lot-them Fayetteville folks! It's al
ways seemed to me they had posi-
tive spite agin this end Of the county
said the squire, and he pocketed his
spectacles and refreshed himself with
a chew Of tobacco. "Bladen amt actin
right, Bob. It's q year and upwards
since the old general died. He let you
go on thinking the boy was to stay
with you and now he takes notion to
have HIM"
"No. sir, it amt right nor reason
able. And what's more, he shan't have
him!' said Yancy, and his tone was
final.
81 don't know what kind Of a mess
you're getting yourself into, Bob. de-
clare I DON'T" cried CrenshaW. who
felt that he was largely responsible
for the whole situation.
Looks like your neighbors would
stand by you" suggested the squire.
81 don't want them to stand by me-
It'll only get them into trouble, and !
amt going to do that rejoined
Yancy, and lapsed into momentary
silence. Then he resumed meditatively
There was old Badly Ebersole who
shot the sheriff when they tried to
arrest him for getting drunk down in
Fayetteville and licking the tavern
keeper
"sho'. there want no harm in
Baldy!" said the squire, with heat.
when that sheriff come along here
looking for him, told him p'inted that
Badly said he wouldn't be arrested. A
more truthful man never knowed,
and If the damn fool had taken my
word he'd be living YETI
"But .you-all know what trouble kill
ing that sheriff made TO- Baldy!" said
Yancy. "He told me often he regretted
it mo- than anything he'd ever done.
He said it was most aggravatin' hav-
ing to always lug gun wherever he
went. And what with being suspicious
of strangers when he want suspicious
would just naturally wear him out.
HE stood it until he was risin'
eighty said Crenshaw.
Ellis father lived to be ninety, John,
and as spry an old gentleman as a
body'd wish to see. don't uphold no
man for committing murder, but do
consider the sheriff should have
waited on Badly to get mo- reasonable,
like he'd done In time II they'd just let
him alone-but no, sir, he reckoned
the law want no respecter OF persons.
He was fine-appearin' man. that
sheriff. and just elected to office re-
member we had to leave off the tail
gate to my cart to accommodate him.
Yes SIR they pretty near pestered
Badly into his grave-and seem that
pore old fellow pottering around year
after year always totin' gun was the
patheticest sight most ever seen, and
1 made up my mind then If it ever
seemed necessary for me to kill a man,
I'd leave the county, or maybe the
state" concluded the squire.
Don't you reckon it would be some
better to leave the state afo' you done
the killing?' suggested Yancy.
'.Well, man might. l don't know
but what he'd be justified in getting
shut OF his troubles like that
When Betty Malroy rode away from
Squire Balaam's Murrell galloped after
her. Presently she heard the beat OF
his horses hoofs as he came pounding
along the sandy road and glanced back
ever her shoulder. With an exclama-
ton of displeasure she reined In her
horse. She had not wished to ride to
the Barony with him, vet she had no
desire to treat him with discourtesy,
especially rs the Ferrises were dis
posed to like him. MurreH quickly
gained place at her side.
81 suppose Ferris is at the Barony?'
he said, drawing his horse down to a
walk.
II believe he is" said Betty with a
curt little air.
"Mav | ride with your he gave her
a swift glance.
She nodded indifferently and would
have urged her horse into gallop
again. but he made gesture Of pro-
test. ''Don't---or / shall think you are
still! running away from me- he said
with short laugh.
We're you at the trial?" she asked.
q am glad they didn't get Hannibal
away from Yancy."
"Oh. Yancy will have his hands full
with that later-so will Baden he
added significantly. He studied her
out OF those deeply sunken eyes of his
in which no shadow Of youth fingered,
for men such as he reached their
prime early, and it was swiftly pass
ing splendor. Ferris tells me you are
going to West TENNESSEE" he said at
length.
Eyes"
II know your half brother, Tom
Ware--I know him very we'll" There
was another brief silence.
So You know Tom?' she presently
observed, and frowned slightly. Tom
was her guardian, and her memories
of him were not satisfactory. A burly.
unshaven man with a queer streak OF
meanness through his character. She
had not aoap him since eh0 had been