The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-05-23

was raised aloft and by its light they
looked him over. There was mo-
ment's silence broken by Darlington,
who asked:
(Which one of you is Slosson7''
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 un-
der the enlivening and elevating In
fluence of corn whisky, but now he
was his own cherries self, and rath-
er jaded by the passing of the hours
which he had sacrificed to an irk-
some responsibility. What word do
you fetch from the captain, brotherr'
he demanded.
Miss Malroy Is to be taken down
river" responded Darlington.
Slosson swore with surprising tlu-
ency.
"Say, we're five able-bodied men
risk1ng our necks to oblige him! You
can get married damn sight easier
than this If you go about 1t right-l've
done 1t lots of times" Not under
standing the Significance of Slosson's
allusion to his own matrimonial ca
reer, Darlington held his peace. The
tavern-keeper swore again with I'M
impaired vtgor. You'll find mighty
few men with more experience than
me-" be asserted, shaking his head
But if you say the word"
I'm all for getting shut OF thisl"
answered Darlington promptly, with
a sweep Of his arm. Il call these
pretty close quarters!"
Still shaking his head and mutter-
| ing, the tavernkeeper sprang ashore
and mounted the bank, where his.
slouching figure quickly lost itself In
the night.
Darlington took up his >tation on
the fat roof Of the cabin which filled
the stern Of the boat. H was remem-
ber1ng that day In the sandy Barouy
road-and during all the weeks and
months that had int. ened, Murrell.
working in secret, had moved stead
~ toward the fultlment Of his d.
@U Unquestionably he had been
bhtk Of the attack on Norton, had In
spired his subsequent murder, and tho
mans sinister and mysterious power
had never been suspected. CARING
ton knew that the horse-thieves and
slave stealers were supposed to main
tain a loosely knit association; he
wondered if Murrell were not tho
moving spirit In some such organize
ton.
IF I'd only pushed my quarrel with
him!" he thought bitterly.
He heard Slosson's shu fi1ng step In
the distance, word or two when he
spoke gruffly to some one, and a mo-
ment later he saw Betty and the boy,
their forms darkly silhouetted against
the lighter sky as they moved along
the top of the bank. Slosson, with
out any supertluous 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 hasp and wooden peg.
you're boss now, pardner!" be-
said, joining Darlington at tho steer
Ing oar.
well cast OH then," a1swerea
Darlington.
Thus far nothing had occurred to
mar his plans. II 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 accom-
| plishment, at least within the realm.
Of the possible.
Il reckon you're river-man7'' OBJ
served Slosson.
All my life."
The line had been cast on, and the
crew with their setting poles were.
forcing the boat away from the bank.
All was quietly done; except for an
occasional order from Darlington no
word was spoken, and soon the un-
wieldy craft glided into the sluggish
current and gathered way. Mr.. Sloar
son, who clearly regarded his relation
to the adventure as being Of an on
cial character, continued to stand at
Carrington's elbow.
| " udt nave we UcIW ccu ucA0 3A4AA
the river?" inquired the latter. 1t was
best, he felt, not to give Slosson an
| opportunity to ask questions.
! 1T 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-l1ke e1-
| panse behind. In the silence, above
| the rustling of the trees, Darlington
heard the first fret of the river against
it's bank. Slosson yawned prodigious-
ly.
Il reckon you amt needing me]'
he said.
Better 60 up in the bow and get
some Sleep" advised Darlington, and
Slosson, nothing loath, clambered
down from the roof Of the cabin and