Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1911-12-14

of maddening anxiety, he had not slept
at all the previous night in mind and
body he was worn out; and now he was
plunged into the thick of this sensa.
tion. He must keep control of him
self, for every word he said would be
remembered. In the present there was
sympathy for him, but sooner or later
people would return to their sordid un-
| emotional judgments.
He sought to forecast the happenings
of the next few hours. Murrelrs friends
would break Jail for him, that was a
foregone conclusion, but the insur-
rection he had planned was at an end.
Hues had dealt it's death blow. More.
over, though the law might be i'm
potent to deal with Murrell, he could
not hope to escape the vengeance Of
the powerful class he had plotted to de.
stroy; he would have to quit the coun.
try. Ware gloated in this idea of
craven flight. Thank God, he had seen
the last of him! s.-.a...'.
, But as always his thoughts came
back to Betty. Slosson would wait
at the Hicks place for the man Muir
rell had promised him, and failing this
messenger, for the signal fire, but there
would be neither; and Siosson would
be left to determine his own course Of
action. Ware felt certain that he
would wait through the night, but as
sure as the morning broke, if no word
had reached him, he would send one Of
his men across the bayou, who must
learn of Murrells arrest, escape, flight
for in Wares mind these three events
were indissolubly associated. The
planters teeth knocked together. He
was having a terrible acquaintance
with fear, it's very depths had swal.
lowed him up; 1t was black pit in
which he sank from horror to horror.
He had lost all faith in the Clan which
had terrorized half a dozen states,
which had robbed and murdered with
apparent impunity, which had mark
eted it's hundreds of stolen slaves He
had utterly collapsed at the first blow
dealt the organization. but he was still
seeing Murrell, pallid and shaken.
step sounded in the hall and an
instant later Hicks entered the room
without the formality of knocking
Ware recognized his presence with a
glance of Indifference, but did not
speak. Hicks slouched to his EN-.
ployer's side and handed him note
which proved to be from Fentress.
Ware read and tossed it aside.
III he wants to see me why don't
he come here?' he growled. 4
II reckon that old fellow they cali
Judge Price, has sprung g#something sud.
den on the colonel said Hicks '.He
was out here the first thing this morn
ing; you'd have. thought he owned
Belle Plain; There was couple of
strangers with him, and he had me
in and fred questions at me for half
an hour, then he hiked off up to The
Oaks" ~. .ts- -, -."' ..
"Murrell's been arrested" said Ware
in a dull level voice. Hicks gave him
glance of unmixed astonishment.
Mo- he cried.
eyes, by God!"
Who'd risk it?"
Risk it?Man, he almost tainted dead
away-a damned coward. He'll"
How do you know this?' asked
Hicks, appalled,
Il was with him when he was taken
it was Hues-the man he trusted
more than any other" Ware gave the
overseer ghastly grin and was silent
but In that silence he heard the drum
ming OF his own heart. He went on
81 tell you to save himself John Muir
rell will implicate the rest of us; we've
got to get him free, and then, by hell
we ought to knock him in the head; he
isn't At to live!"
THE Jail amt built that'll hold him."
muttered Hicks.
| H0f oo,,rco ho oon'f ho ba17
agreed Ware. And he'll never be
brought to trial; no lawyer will dare
appear against him, no jury will dare
find him guilty: but there's Hues what
about him." He paused. The two
/ men looked at each other for a long
moment.
Where did they carry the captain %
inquired Hicks
II don't know"
''1t looks like the Clan was in a hell
fred hole-but shucks! What will be
easier than to fix Hues?--and while
they're fixing they'd better not over
look that old fellow Price. He's got
some notion about Fentress and the
boy" Mr.. Hicks did not consider it
necessary to explain that he was him.
self largely responsible for this.
"How do you know that?" demanded
are. .. ~ H.. 81.
"He as good as said So" Hicks
looked uneasily at the planter. He
! knew himself to be compromised. The
stranger named Cavendish had forced
an admission from him that Murrell
woult.. not condone If 1t came to his
knowledge. He had also acquired a
very proper and wholesome fear of
Judge Slocum Price. He stepped close
to Wares side. "Whatll come of the
girl, Tom? Can you figure that out?''
he questioned, sinking his voice almost
to whisper. But Ware was incapable
of speech, again his terrors complete
| ly overwhelmed him. II reckon you'll
have to find another overseer. I'm
going to strike out for Texas" said
Hicks. -,
! Wares eyes met his for an instant.
He had thought of flight, too, was still
thinking of it, but greed was as much
a part of his nature as fear; Belle
plain was prize not to be lightly
] ~, Ii