Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-28

4 SO the railroads are going to hurt
the steamboats," she presently said.
No, didn't say that. was think
ing Of the flatboats that have already
been hurt by the steamers" he replied.
Now to the western mind the river
men typified all that was reckless and
wild. 1t was their carousals that gave
an evil repute to such towns as
Natchez. But this particular river-man
name, Miss Malroy," he added.
No more was said just then, for
Betty became reserved and he did not
attempt to resume the conversation.
"A day later they rumbled into Wash
ington, and as Betty descended from
the coach, Darlington stepped to her
side.
81 suppose you'll stop here Miss
Malroy?" he said, indicating the
tavern before which the stage had
come to a stand.
Yes" said Betty briefly.
IF can be of any service to you"
he began, with just touch of
awkwardness in his manner.
"No, thank you, Mr.. Darlington"
said Betty quickly.
Good night I. good-by,' he turned
away, and Betty saw his tall form dis
appear in the twilight :.
(To Be Continued)
CHAPTER VII.
Murrell had ridden out of the hills
some hours back. He now faced the
flashing splendors of June sunset,
but along the eastern horizon the
mountains rose against a somber sky.
Night was creeping into their fast
nesses. Already there was twilight In
those cool valleys lying within the
shadow of mighty hills A month and
more had elapsed since Bob Yancy's
trial. Just two days later man and boy
disappeared from Scratch Hill. This
had served to rouse Murrell to the
need of immediate action, but he found
where Yancy was concerned. Scratch
Hill could keep a secret, while Cren-
shaws mouth was closed on any word
his friend.
IT'S plain to my mind. Captain that
Bladen will never get the boy. /
reckon Bob's gone into hiding with
him." said she merchant, with spacious
candor.
The fugitives had not gone into hid
ing however; they had traversed the
state from east to west, and Murrell
was soon on their trail and pressing
forward in pursuit. Reaching the
mountains, he heard of them first as
ten days ahead of him and bound for
West Tennessee the ten days
dwindled to a week, the week be-
came five days, the five days three:
and now as he emerged from the last
range of hills he caught sight of them.
They were half mile distant. per-
haps, but he was certain that the man
and boy he saw pass about a turn In
the road were the man and boy he had
been following for month.
He was not mistaken. The man was
Bob Yancy and the boy was Hannibal.
Yancy had acted with extraordinary
decision. He had sold his few acres at
Scratch Hill for lump sum to Cren-
shawl was to the latter's credit that
the transaction was one in which he
could feel no real pride as a man of
busin ess-and just day later Yancv
and the boy had quilted Scratch Hill
in the gray dawn, and turned their
faces westward. Tennessee had be-
come their objective point, since here
was region to which they could fix a
name, while the rest Of the world was
strange to them AS they passed the
turn in the road where Murrel1 had
caught his first sight of them Yancy
glanced back at the blue wall of the
mountains where it lay along the hori.
zen
We'll, Nevvy." he said. we've put
a heap of distance between Us and old
Scratch Hill: all can say IL if there's
as much the other side of the Hill as
there is this side. the worlds mon
strous big place fo' to ramble about
in" He carried his rifle and a heavy
pack Hannibal had much smaller
pack and his old soortir~ rifle bur-
dens of which, his Uncle Bob relieved
him at brief intervals
For the past ten days their journey
had been conducted in a leisureiy
fashion. As Yancy said, they were see
ing the world and it was well to take
good look at it while they had a
chance He was no longer fearful Of
pursuit and his temperament asserted
itself-the minimum of activity suf-
feed Usually they camped just where
the night overlook them: now and
of his appearance than in fr,rthering