The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-12-06

Judge Slocum Price. May be permit
ted to assume tat this is the Miss
Betty OF whom my young protege so
often speaks?"
Tom Ware gave him glance of I'M
disguised establishment, while Norton
regarded him with an expression Of
stunned and resolute gravity.
Betty looked at the judge rather in
quiringly.
81 am glad he has found friends"
she said slowly. She wanted to be-
lieve that judge Slocum Price was
somehow better than he looked, which
should have been easy, since it was
incredible that he could have been
worse. rs
HE has indeed found friends" said
the Judge with mellow JUNCTION, and
Swelling visibly.
Now Betty caught sight of Caring
ton and bowed. Occupied with Han
nibal and the Judge, she had been un-
aware of his presence Darlington
STEPPED forward
"t4ave you met Mr. Norton, and my
brother, Mr.. Carrington?" she asked.
| The two young men shook hands,
and Ware improved the opportunity
| to inspect the newcomer. But as his
glance wandered over him, it took in
more ,han Darlington, for it included
the fine figure and swarthy face of
Captain Murrell, who with his eyes
fixed on Betty, was thrusting his
eager way through the crowd.
Murrel had presented himself at
Belle Plain the day before. For up
ward of a year, Ware had enjoyed
great peace of mind as direct re-
suit of his absence from west Tennes-
see, and when he thought OF him at all
he had invariably put period to his
meditations with, II hope to hell he
catches it wherever he is"
More than this, Betty had spoken
of the captain in no uncertain terms.
He was not to repeat that visit.
AS Murrell approached, the hot col
or serged into Betty's face. AS for
Hannibal, he had gone white to the
|lips, and his small hand clutched hers
desperately
Murrel, with all his hardihood, real
lized that a too great confidence had
placed him in an awkward position,
for Betty turned her back on him and
began an animated conversation with
Harrington and Charley Norton.
Hicks, the Belle Plain overseer,
pushed his way to Murrells side.
Here, John Murrell, amt you going
to show us trick or two?" he inquir-
ed.
Murrell turned quickly with sense
of relief.
'If you can spare me your rifle" he
said, but his face wore bleak look
Don't you think you've seen about
enough, Bet?" demanded Tom. you
don't care for the shooting, do you?"
That's the very thing l DO care
for; think I'd rather see that than
the horse racing" said Betty perver-
sely
| Betty now seated herself in the car
riage, with Hannibal beside her, quiet
ly determined to miss nothing. The
Judge, feeling that he had come into
his own, leaned elegantly against the
wheel, and explained the merits of
each shot as it was made.
81 hope you gentleman are not going
to let me walk off with the prize?"
said Murrell, approaching the group
about Tie carriage. "Mr. Norton, am
told you are clever with the rifle"
81 am not shooting today" respond
ed Norton haughtily.
Murrell stalked back to the line
"At forty PAGES I'd risk it myself,
ma'am," said the Judge. But at a hun
dred, offhand like this, l should most
certainly fail"
at would be hard to beat that
lthey heard Murrell say.
"At least it would be quite possible
to equal" said Darlington, advancing
with Hannibal's rife in his hands.
1t was tossed to his shoulder, and
poured out it's contents in a bright
stream of flame. There was moment
of silence.
Center shot, ma'am!" cried the
Judge.
"I'll add twenty dollars to the
purse" Norton addressed himself to
Darlington. "And l shall hope, sir,
to see it go into your pocket"
"Our sentiments exactly, ma'am, are
they not?" said the judge.
Perhaps you'd like to bet little
of your money!" remarked Murrell..
'I'm ready to do that too, sir re-
sponded Norton quietly.
Give hundred dollars, them. that
this gentleman in whose success you
take so great an interest, can neither
equal nor better my next shot" Muir
rell had produced roll OF bills as he
spoke.
Norton colored with embarrassment
Darlington took in the situation.
"Wait minute" he said, and
passed his purse to Norton. Cover
his money, sir" he added briefly.
"Thank you, my horses have run
away with most of cash." explained
Norton.
"Your shot" said Darlington short
ly, to the outlaw.
Murrell, taking careful aim, fired,
clipping the center.
AS soon as the result was known,
Darlington raised his rife; his bullet,
truer than his opponents, drove out
the center. Murrell turned on him
with an oath.
"You shoot WE'LL but a board stuck
against a tree is no test for mans
nerve" ne said insolently.
Darlington was charging his piece.
81 only know of one other kind of