Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-11-11
CHAPTER XIV.-(Continued.)
Copyright. 1871,


CHAPTER XIV.-(Continued.)
Tom felt that he was being robbed.
Then he realized with sense of
shock that here was a fortune of over
half million in lands and slaves
which he had managed and manipu-
lated all these years, but which was
not his. 1t was true that under the
terms OF his step-mother's will he
would inherit it in the event Of Bettys
death-well, she looked like dying, a
whole lot-she was as strong as
mule, those soft rounded curves COW
cred plenty of vigorous muscle; Tom
hated the very sight Of her. A, pink
faced chit bubbling over with9life and
useless energy, perfect. curse she
was, with all sorts Of extravagant
tastes and he was powerless to check
her, for, although he was still her
guardian, there, were certain provis-
ions Of the will-he consulted the copy
he kept locked up in his desk in the
off1ce-that permitted her to do pref
ty much as she pleased with her in
come. 1t was a hell of will! She
could spend fifteen or twenty thou
sand dollars a year il she wanted to
and he couldn't prevent it. It was an
Ubiquitous document!
Well, the place could go straight off
to the devil, he wouldn't wear out his
life economizing for her to waste
he didn't get q thank-you-and he
knew that nobody took of the land
bigger crops than he did. while bale
for bale his cotton outsold all other
cotton raised in the county-that was
the kind of a manager he was. He
wagged his head in self-approval. And
what did he get out of it? A lump
sum each year with further lump
of twenty thousand dollars when
she came of age-soon now-or mar
RED. Toms eyes bulged from their
sockets-she'd be doing that next, to
spite him!
Betty's sphere of influence rapidly
extended itself. She soon began to-
have her doubts concerning the treat
ment accorded the slaves, and was not
long in discovering that Hicks. the
overseer, ran things with heavy
hand. Matters reached a crisis one
day when, happening to- ride through
the quarters, she found him disciplin-
ing a refractory: black. She turned
sick at the sight. Here was a slave
actually being whipped by another
slave while Hicks stood looking on
with his hands in his pockets, and
with a brutal satisfied air. When he
caught sight OF the girl, he sang out:
"That'n do; he's had enough, I reck-
on, to learn him!" He added sullen-
ly to Betty, Sorry you seen this,
miss"
How dare you order such a punish
ment without authority" cried Betty
furiously.
Hicks-gaye her a black scowl.
'T' don't need no authority to whip
q shirker," he, said insolenty, as he
turned away.
Stop" commanded Betty, her
eyes blazing. She strove to keep her
voice steady. "You shall not remain
at Belle Plain another hour
Hicks said nothing. He knew it
would take more than her saying so
to get him of the place. Betty turned
her horse and galloped back to the
house. She felt that she was in no
condition to see Tom just at that mo-
ment. and dismounti"g at the door ran
upstairs to her room.
MeanLlme the OVeTSeef sought OUT
Ware in his office. His manner OF
stating his grievance was singular. He
began by swearing at his employer.
He had been insulted before all the
qlelrter-his rage fairly choked him,
h. could not speak.
Tom seized the opportunity to swear
back. He wanted to know if he hadn't
troubles enough without the over
seer's help? If he'd got himself in
suited it was his affair and he could
lump it. generally speaking, and get
out of that Office! But Toms fury
quickly spent itself He wanted to
know what the matter was.
"Sent you eff the place, did she;
we'll, you'll have to eat crow. I'll do
all I can. | don't know what girls
were ever made for anyhow, damned
IL l do" he added plaintively, as a
realization of a stupendous mistake en-
the part of nature overwhelmed him.
Hicks consented to eat crow only al
ter Mr.. Ware had cursed and cajoled
him into better and more forgiving
frame of mind. Then Tom hurried
off to find Betty and put matters right,
a more difficult task than he had reck-
oned On. for Betty was obdurate and
joined their cause. DR.. WI declares
that 80 per cent of the people OF
China favor the overthrow of the