Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-16

risking all now.
what do you want?" asked a surly
voice. N tl- 4s
"You want slosson!'' quickly
prompted the girl In q whisper.
II want to see Slosson!' said Car
rington glibly and with confidence,
and once more he checked the skiff.
who be your"
'"Murrell sent YOU" prompted the
girl again, in hurried whisper.
"Murrell---" And In his establishment
Darlington spoke aloud.
"Murrell?" cried the voice sharply.
sent mel" said Darlington quick
Iy, as though completing an unfinished
sentence. The girl laughed nervously
under her breath.
Row closter!" came the sullen com
mand, and the Kentuckian did az he
was hidden. Four men stood in the
bow Of the keel boat, lantern was
raised aloft and by its light they
looked him over. There, was mo-
ment's silence broken by Darlington.
who asked: 5lt
(which one Of you is Slosson?" And
he sprang lightly. aboard the keel boat.
I'm Slosson. answered the man
with the? lantern. The, previous night
Mr.. Slosson had been somewhat under
the enlivening and elevating Influence
of corn whisky, but now he was his
own cheerless self, and rather faded
by the passing Of the hours which he
had sacrificed to an irksome RESPONSE
bility. what word do you fetch from
the captain, brother?" he demanded.
miss Malroy is to be taken down
river" responded Darlington. 8
Slosson swore with SURPRISING
fluency.
"say, we're five able-bodied men
risking our necks to oblige him. You
can get married a damn sight easier
than this If you go about 1t right-Ive
don't it lots Of times" Not understand
ing the Significance Of Slosson's allu-
sion to his own matrimonial career,
Darlington held his peace. The tavern
keeper swore again with unimpaired
vigor, you'll find mighty few men
with more experience than me-" he as
serted, shaking his head. "But II you
say the word 81
"I'm for getting shut Of this!"
answered Darlington promptly. with q
sweep Of his arm. II call these pretty
close quarters"
Still shaking his head and muttering
the tavern-keeper sprang ashore and
mounted the bank, where his slouching
figure quickly lost itself in the night.
Darlington took up his station on the
flat roof of the cabin which tilled the
stern of the boat. He was remembering
that day in the sandy Barony road
and during all the weeks and months
that had interviewed, Murrell, working
in secret, had moved steadily toward
the fulfillment of his desires! Unques-
tionably he had been back OF the at
tack on Norton, had inspired his sub
seduent murder, and the mans sinister
and mysterious power had never been
suspected Darlington knew that the
horse-thieves and slave stealers were
supposed to maintain loosely knit
association; he wondered II Murrell
were not the moving spirit in some
such organizations.
IT I'd only pushed my quarrel with
him!" he thought bitterly.
He heard Slosson's shuffling step In
the distance, a word or two when he
spoke gruffly to some one, and mo.
ment later he saw Betty and the boy,
the lighter sky as they moved along
the top of the bank. Slosson. without
any superfluous gallantry, helped his
captives down the slope and aboard
the keel boat, where he, locked them In
the cabin, the door of which fastened
with a hasp and wooden peg.
You're boss now, pardner!" he said,
joining Darlington at the steering oar.
We'll cast off, then" answered Car
rington. rs
Thus far nothing had occurred to
marShis plans If they could but quit
the bayou before the arrival of the
man whose place he had taken, the
rest would be If not easy Of accomplish
ment, at least within the realm Of the
possible.
II reckon you're river man." OBJ
server Slosson.
"All my life"
The line had been cast off, and the
crew with their setting poles were
forcing the boat away from the bank.
All was quietly done; except Cor an oc-
casional order from Darlington no
word was spoken, and soon the. UNI
wieldy craft glided into the sluggish.
current and gathered way. Mr. Slosson,
who clearly regarded his relation to
the adventure as being of an official
character, continued to stand at Car
rington's elbow.
what have we between here and
the river?" inquired the latter. It was
best. he felt, not to give Slosson an
opportunity to ask questions.
at narrows considerably, pardner.
but it's straight course" said Slos-
son. BLACK in yonder, amt it?" he
added, nodding ahead
The shores drew rapidly together;
they were leaving the lake.like expanse
behind. In the silence above the
rustling Of the trees, Darlington heard
the first fret of the river against its
bank. Slosson yawned prodigiously.
81 reckon you amt needing me?' he
said.
Better go up in the bow and get
some sleep" advised Darlington, and
slosson, nothing loath, clambered
down from the roof of the cabin and
stumbled forward.
The ceaseless murmur OF the rush
ing waters grew in the stiffness as the
keel boat drew nearer the hurrying