The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-05-16
proved to be from Fentress. Ware
read and tossed it aside.
Ware

proved to be from Fentress. Ware
read and tossed it aside.
IF he wants to see me why don'e
he come here?" he growled.
Il reckon that old fellow they cali
Judge Price has sprung something
sudden on the colonel" said Hicks.
HE was out here the first thing this
morning; you'd have thought he
owned Belle Plain. There was .
couple of strangers with him, and he
had me. in and fired questions at mo
for half an hour; then he hiked on
up to The Oaks"
"Murrell's been arrested" said Ware
in dull level voice. Hicks gave him
a glance OF unmixed establishment.
MOI"
Eyes, by Cod"
| Who'd risk it,"
!! Risk it? Man, he almost tainted
dead away-a damned coward. HE'LL"
How do you know this?" asked
Hicks, appalled,.
Il was with him when he was TAX
emit was Hues-the man he trusted
more than any other" Ware gave
the overseer a CHASTITY grin and was
silent, but in that silence he hear0
the drumming Of his own heart. He
went on. Il tell you, to save hi~
self, John Murrell will implicate the
rest of us; we've got to get him Free
; and then, by hell-we ought to knock
him in the head he isn't fit to live!"
The jail amt built that'll hold
him." muttered Hicks.
"Of course, he can't be held.
agreed Ware. And hell never be-
brought to trial; no lawyer will dare
appear against him, no jury will dare
to find him guilty; but there's Hues,3
what about him." He paused. The
two men looked at each other for Q
long moment.
where did they carry the cap
tain?"
| II don't know"
1T looks like the Clan was in @
hellfred hole-but shucks! What
| will be easier than to fix Hues?-and
while they're fixing folks they'd bot
ter not overlook that old fellow Price,
He's got some notion about Fentress
and the boy" Mr.. Hicks did not con-
slider it necessary to explain that he
was himself largely responsible for
this.
How do you know that?" demand
ed Ware
He as good as said So" Hicks
| looked uneasily at the planter. Ho}
knew himself to be compromised. mo!
stranger named Cavendish had forced
an admission from him that Murrell
would not condone If it came to his
knowledge. He had also acquired a.
very proper and wholesome fear OF
! Judge Slocum Price. He stepped close
to Wares SIDE "What'u come of the
girl, Tom? Can you figure that out!''
ne questioned, sinking his voice al
most to whisper. But Ware was In
capable of speech, again his terrorSi
completely overwhelmed him. II
reckon you'll have to find another
overseer. I'm going to strike out Tor
Texas" said Hicks.
Wares eyes met his for an instant.
He had thought of flight, too; was
still thinking of 1t, but greed was as
much a part of his nature as fear:
Belle Plain was prize not to be light
" cast aside, and it was almost his
He lurched across the room to tho
window. If he were going to act, tho
sooner he did so the better, and gain
respite from his fears. The road
down the coast slid away before his
/ heavy eyes; he marked each turns
then a'palsy of fear shook him, MS
heart beat against his ribs, and he
stood gnawing his lips while he gaze6
up at the sun. !
! 'Do you get what I say, Tom? 4
am going to OUT these parts" SAID
Hicks. Ware turned slowly from the
window. (
"All right, Hicks. You mean you
want me to settle with you, Is that
it," he asked.
Eyes, I'm going to leave while (
can; maybe 1 can't later on" said
Hicks stolidly. He added: Il am 60
ing to start down the coast as soon
! as it turns dark, and before it's day
again I'll have put the good miles De"
tween me and these parts s
: You're going down the coast?'l
and Ware was again conscious of the
uuickened beating of his heart. Hicks
nodded. "See you don't meet up with
John Murrell," said Ware.
! I'll take that chance. 1t seems 4
heap better to me than staying here.
! Ware looked from the window. The
shadows were frightening across the
lawn.
I Better start now, Hicks he adj
vised.
iii wait until it turns dark.
You'll need horse"
81 was going to help myself to one.
This amt no time to stand on cere-
mony," said Hicks shortly.
! "Slosson shouldn't be left in tho
lurch like this-or your brothers