Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1912-04-24
VI (continued.)

In the tavern the three men were
Sdrfnking-Murrell with the idea that
the more Yancy came under the In
fausence 81 slosssoon's corn whisky the
easier his speculation would be man
aged. Mr.. Yancy on his part believed
that II Murrell went to bed reason
ably drunk he would sleep late and
give him the opportunity he coveted,
to quit the tavern unobserved at
break of day.
When 70 get to feelin' like sleep,
young boss, Mas'r Slosson he says !
show y 8 to yo,l chamber" It was
slosson.s boy Eph.
s res, you can show me my cham
ber,,"" Hannibal said. shS
Eph secured tin c~andle-stick with.
a halE-burnt candle IN 1t and led the
way into the passage backGo the bar,
They mounted q, flight of stairs and
passed down a narrow hall. This
brought them to the back Of the.
building, and Eph pushed open the
door on hts right. Iy y
ss This heah's yo' chamber" he
said, and preceding his companion in,
to the room, placed the candle onaa.
chair.
4 The moon was rising and Hannibal
went to the open window and glanced
out For a moment he :considered the
night, not UNAFFECTED BY Its beauty,
then. turning from the window, he
moved his bundle and rifle to the
foot OF the bed, where they would be
out OF his way, Kicked on his trousers,
blew ont the candle and lay down.
Yancya had become o and more
q convinced as the evening passed that
%4Murrell was bent on getting him
drunk. and suspicion mounted darkly
to his brain:
Have q drinkFwith me cried Slos-
son, giving way to drunken laughter.
.A.The captains dropped out, and l
low it's about time TO- these here
festivities to come to an end. I'm
thinking some of going to bed my
4 self,'' said Yancy. He kept his eyes
fixed on Murrell. He realized that II
the latter could prevent 1t he was
not to leave the bar. He shift
ed his glance from Murrelrs face.
Scowling now, the captains eyes
n blazed back their challenge q he
thrust his right hand under his coat.
Fair play--I don't know who you
are, but US know what you want" said
Yancy. the light in his frank gray
eyes deepening. Murrell laughed and
took a forward step. At the same mo-
sment Slosson snatched up a heavy
club from the back OF the bar and
deaItsSYancyg a murderous blow. a
single startled cry escaped he
II Scratch Hitler; he struck out wildly
a. he lurched toward 'Murrell, who
drew his knife and drove it into his
shoulder. Yancy dropped heavily to
the floor.
How long the boy slept he never
knew, but he aWoke with q start and
IA confused sense Of things. 1t was
evidently very late, probably long
after midnight--but where was his
Uncle Bob?
He sank. back on his pillow intent
and listening. "A chilling terror that
gripped him fast and would not let
him go. mounted to his brain. 4
Where was his Uncle Bob? Why
didn't ne come to bed! Memories OF
idle tales OF men foully dealt with in
these lonely taverns flashed through
his mind.
He slid from the bed, and for a
long moment stood cold and shaking,
his every sense on the alert. With
Infinite caution he got into his trous-
ers and again paused to- listen, since
he feared his least movement might
betray him. Next he secured his
pack, and was ready for flight.
Encountered by his belongings, but
with no mind to sacrifice them, he
stepped out upon the shed and made
his way down the slant OF the roof to
the caves. He tossed his bundle to
the ground and going down on his
knees lowered his rifle, letting the
muzzle fall lightly against the side OF
the shed as 1t left his hand, then he
lay fat Oh his stomach and, feet first,
wriggled out into space. When he
could no longer preserve his balance,
he gave himself a shove away from
the caves and dropped clear of the
building.
EEaEEE EaEg -. $500. t.t" '~s --'4Ear - Ertr