Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-12

now. This man Lakewood, who be-
tween ourselves was damned scoun-
dreI'-the colonel WINGED this man
Gatewood had friend who threw,
money and business in his way--a
planter he was, same as Gatewood. A
sort Of partnership existed between
the pair 1t proved an expensive en-
terprise for Gatewood's friend, since
he came to trust the damned scoundrel
more and more as time passed---even
large sums OF his money were in
Gatewood's hands-"the judge paused.
Feltress countenance was like stone,
as expressionless and as rigid. a
BY the door stood Mahaffy with
Yancy and Cavendish; they understood
that what was obscure and meaning
less to them held a tragic significance
to these two men The Judges heavy
face, ordinarily battered and debanch-
ed. but infinitely good-natured, bore
now the markings of deep passion. and
the voice that rumbled forth from his
capacious chest came to their ears like
distant thunder.
This friend of Gatewood's had a
wife" The judges voice broke, emo
ton shook him like leaf he was
tearing open his wounds. He reached
over and poured himself drink. suck
ing 1t down with greedy lips. There
was wife" he whirled about on his
heel and faced Fentress again. There
was wife, Fentress-" he fixed Fen
tress with his blazing eyes. "A wife
and child. Well, one day Gatewood
and the wife were missing. Under the
circumstances Gatewood's friend was
we'll rid of the pair-he should have
been grateful, but he wasn't, for his
wife took the child, a daughter; and
Gatewood a trifle of thirty thousand
dollars his friend had intrusted to
him!"
There was another silence.
"At later day met this man who
had been betrayed by his wife and
robbed by his friend. He had fallen
out of the race--drink had done for
him--there was just one thing he
seemed to care about and that was the
fate Of his child. but maybe he was
only curious there. He wondered ii
she had lived, and married. Once
more the Judge paused.
p whats all this to me?" asked Fen
tress
! Are you sure it's nothing to your"
demanded the Judge hoarsely. Under
stand this. Fentress. Gatewood's
treachery brought ruin to at least two
lives. It caused the woman.s father
to hide his face from the world, it
wasn't enough for h<Sn that his friends
believed his daughter dead; he knew
differently and the shame of that
knowledge ate into his soul. It cost
the husband his place in the world, too
lin the end it made of him vaga-
bond and penniless wanderer."
'This is nothing to me-" said Fen
tress.
"Wait!" cried the Judge. about six
years ago the woman was seen at her
fathers home in North Carolina.
reckon Gatewood had cast her off. She
didn't go back empty handed. She
had run away from her husband with a
child-a girl; after lapse Of twenty
years she returned to her father with
a boy of two or three. There are two
questions that must be answered when
/ And Gatewood: what became of the
woman and what became of the child !;
are they living or dead; did the daugh-
ter grow up, and marry and have a
son? When get my answer it will be
time enough to think Of Gatewood's
punishment" The Judge leaned for.
ward across the table, bringing his
face close to Fentress' face. Look at
me do you know me now?"
But Fentress' expression never al
tered. The Judge fell back q step.
"Fentress, 1 want the boy" he said
quietly. 8..,s
What boy?" 20
''My grandson
"You are mad! What do / know of
courage from the sound Of his own
voice.
"You know who he is and where he
Is. Your business relations with Gen.
eral Ware have put you on the track
of the Quintard lands in this state.
You intend to use the boy to gather
them In" i:
You're mad" repeated Fentress.
unless you bring him to me inside
of twenty-four hours I'll smash you!'
roared the Judge. ''Your name isn't
Fentress, it's Gatewood: you've stolen
the name Of Fentress, just as you have
stolen other things. What's come OF
Turberville's wife and child? What's
come of Tuberville's money? Damn
your soul! l want my grandson! I'll
pull you down and leave you stripped
and bare! Til tell the world the false
friend you've been-the thief you are!
I'll strip you and turn you out Of these
doors as. naked as when you entered
the world!'' The judge seemed to
tower above Fentress, the man had
shot up out Of his deep debasement.
Choose. Choose he Numbered, his
shaggy brows bent In menacing
frown. ~
II know nothing about the boy said
Fentress slowly. by God, you lie!''
stormed the Judge.
II know nothing about the boy" and
Fentress took step toward the door,
"Stay where you are!" commanded
tho Judge eff Won atten1nt to leave