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

. Y !. a. 4 ;, f, "a J
the turning point in my career, Solo.
mon!". he went on. Tho beginning
Of great things! But I shall take no
chances with the future, ISshall pre-
pare for every possible contingency. !
am going to make you and JYancy my
grandson.s guardians. There's hun.
dred thousand acres of land hereabouts
that must come to him. I shall out
line in writing the legal steps to be
taken to substantiate his claims. Also
he will inherit largely from me at my
death"
Something very like laughter escap-
ed from Mahaffy's lips.
There you go, Solomon, with your
{ inopportune nirth! What in Gods
name have l If I haven't hope? Take
that from me and what would be-?
Why, the very fate have been fighting
on with tooth and nail would over
whelm me. I'd sink into unimport-
ance- my unparalleled misfortunes
would degrade me to a level with the
commonest! No. sir. I've never been
without hope, and though I've fallen
ives always got up. What Fentress
has is based on, money he stole from
me. BY God, the days Of his profit
taking are at an end! I am going to
strip him And even II don't live to
enjoy what's mine, my grandson shall!
He shall wear velvet and lace collar
and ride his pony yet, by God, as =
gentlemans grandson should"
ut sounds we'll, Price, but where's
the money coming from to push law.
suit 2" r ...
The Judge waved this aside.
THE means will be found, Solomon
! Our horizon is lifting-I can see it
lift! Don't drag me back from the
portal of hope! Well drink the stuff
that comes across the water; I'll warm
-, the cookies of your heart with i'm
ported brandy. carry twenty years
hunger and thirst under my wes-coat
and I'll feed and drink like gentle
man yeti" The Judge smacked his
lips in an ecstasy Of enjoyment, and
dropping down before the table which
served his as a desk, seized a pen.
"Its good enough to think about,
Price" admitted Mahatfy grudgingly.
'Its better to do; and II anything
happens to me the papers l am going
to leave will tell you how it's to be
done. Man, there's a million Of money
in sight, and we've got to get 1t and
spend it and enjoy It! None of your
swinish thrift for me, but life on big
scale-company. and feasting, and re-
fined surroundings" ..-.' H.
"And you are going to meet Fen.
tress In the morning." asked Mahaffy.
"I suppose there's no way of avoiding
that?" ......
"Avoiding it?' almost shouted the
judge. For what have been living?
shall meet him, let the consequences
be what they may. Tonight when
have reduced certain facts to writing
/ shall join you at Belle Plain. The
strange and melancholy history of my
life I shall place in your hands for
safe keeping. In the morning can be
driven back to Boggs'."
And you will 60 there without a
second?"
''If necessary; yes" @..
II declare. Price, you are hardly fit
ted to be at large! Why, you act az
il you were . tired of life. There
! Yancy--there's Cavendish!"" y. ,~ss. +,
The Judge gave him an indulgent but
superior smile. .1sh r.. s*E
1.-TWO very worthy men, but go to
Boggs' attended by gentleman or
go there alone. am aware of your
prejudices. Solomon; otherwise might
ask this favor Of you"
Mr. Mahaffy snorted loudly and
turned to the door. for Yancy and
Cavendish were now approaching the
house, the latter with meal sack
slung over his shoulder.
Here. Solomon. take one of my
pistols" urged the Judge hastily. "You
may need it at Belle Plain.S Goodby
and God bless you!' .s,.
Just where he had parted from Ware
Darlington sat his horse. his brows
knit and his eyes turned in the di
rection of the path. He was on his
way to a plantation below Girard, the
owner Of which had recently imported
pack of bloodhounds; but this un
expected encounter with Ware had af
fected him strangely. He still heard
Toms stammering speech, he was
still seeing his CHASTITY face, and he
had come upon him with startling sud
denness. He had CHANGED to look
back over his shoulder and when he
faced about there had been the plan
ter within hundred yards Of him. e.
7 Presently Carrington's glance ceased
to follow the windings of the path. He
stared down at the gray dust and saw
the trail left by Hues and his party
For a moment he hesitated; II the dogs
were to be used with any hope of sue
cess he had no time to spare, and this
was the merest suspicion, illogical con
lecture, based on nothing beyond his
distrust of Ware. In the end he
sprang from the saddle and leading
his horse into the woods, tied 1t to 8
|sapling. a -r & 81.
A hurried investigation told him tha,
five men had ridden in and out of thai
path. OF the five, all coming from the
south, four had turned south again, bu,
the fifth rman--Ware, in other words
had gone north. He weighed the pos
sible significance of these facts.
Il am only wasting time!" he con
fessed reluctantly, and was on the
point Of turning away, when, on the
very edge OF the road and just where
the dust yielded to the hard clay of the
path, his glance lighted on the print
of small and daintily shod foot. The