The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-02-28
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VAUGHAN HESTER QAMIARN
Cs,ynIht IL Comrany \MNEXNHxNW

! L Ill olOSSUll 6tlloNClSu lllC liAe%ii
with the lantern. The previous night
Mr.. SlOsson had been somewhat under
the enlivening and eleyating influence
of corn whisky, but now he was mis-
own cheerful self, and rather jaded by
the passing of the hours which he had
sacrificed to an irksome responsibility.
What word do you fetch from the
Captain, brother?" he demanded.
Miss Malroy is to be taken down
river" responded Darlington.
Slosson swore with surprising flu
ency.
Say, we're five able bodied men
risking our necks to oblige him! You
can get married damn sight easier
than this if you go about it right-I've
done it lots of times Not understand
ing the significance of Slosson's allus-
ion to his own matrimonial career, Car
rington held his peace. The tavern
keeper swore again with unimpaired
vigor. You'll find mighty few men
with more experience than me- he
asserted shaking his head. "But if you
| say the word
I'm all for getting shut OF this!"
answered Darlington promptly, with
a sweep OF his arm. Il call these pretty
close quarters."
Still shaking his head and mutter-
| ing the tavern keeper sprang ashore
and mounted the bank, where his
slouching figure lost itself in the night.
Darlington took up his station on the
fiat roof of the cabin which filled the
stern of the boat He was remember
ing that day in the sandy BarOny road
and during all the weeks and months
that had interviewed, Murrell, working
in secret, had moved steadily toward
the fulfillment of his desires! I'm
questionably he had been back OF the
attack on Norton, had inspired his sub
sequent murder and the mans sinis-
ter and mysterious power had never
been suspected. Darlington knew that
the horse thieves and slave stealers
were supposed to maintain a loosely
knit association; he wondered if Muir
rell were not the moving spirit in
some such organization.
IF I'd only pushed my quarrel with
him!" he thought bitterly.
He heard Slosson's shuffling step i'll
the distance, word or two when he
spoke gruffly to some one, and 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, without
any superfluous gallantry, helped his
captives down the slope and aboard
the keel boat, where he locked them
in the cabin, the door of which fas-
tened with hasp and wooden peg.
you're boss now, pardner!" he
said, joining Darlington at the steer
ing oar.
We'll cast off them" answered Car
rington.
Thus far nothing had occurred to
mar his plans. If 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.
81 reckon you're river man," Oh
served Slosson.
"All my life"
The line had been cast off and the
crew with their setting poles We're
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.. Slos-
son, who clearly regarded his relation
to the adventure as being OF an official
character, continued to stand at Car
ringtons elbow.
what have we between here and
the river?" inquired the latter 1t was
best, he felt, not to give Slosson an
opportunity to ask questions.
at narrows considerably, pardner,
but it's straight" said Slosson. BLACK
in yonder, amt it?' he added, nodding
ahead.
The shores drew rapidly together;
they were leaving the lake like eX-
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.
81 reckon you amt needing me?' he
said.
Better go up in the bow and get
some Sleep" advised Darlington, and
Slosson. nothing loath, clambered
down from the roof of the cabin and
stumbled forward.