The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1912-03-06


Let's liquor" said the captain over
his shoulder. moving on in the direc-
ton of the bar.
Come on, Nevvyl" said Yancy fol-
lowing, and they all entered the tav-
ern.
well, here's to the best of good
luckl" said Murrell, as he raised his
glass to his lips.
Same here" responded Yancy.
Murrell pulled out a roll of bills, one
OF which he tossed on the bar. Then
after a moments hesitation he de-
tached a second bill from the roll and
turned to Hannibal.
Here, youngster-a present for
you," he said good-naturedly. Hanni-
bal. embarrassed by the unexpected
gift, edged to his Uncle Bob's side.
Thank you, sir" said the boy.
Lets have another drink" sug-
gested MurreIl.
Presently Hannibal stole out into
the yard. He still held the bill in his
to dispose of his great wealth. After
debating this matter for a moment he
knotted it carefully in one corner Of
his handkerchief.
In the tavern the three men were
drinking-Murrell with the idea that
the more Yancy came under the in
fiuence of Slosson's corn whisky the
easier his speculation would be man.
aged. Mr. Yancy on his part believed
that if 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 yo' get to feelin' like sleep,
young boss, Mas'r Slosson he says 1
show yo' to yo' chamber" 1t was
Slosson's boy Eph.
Yes, you can show me my cham
ber," Hannibal said.
Eph secured a tin candle-stick with
half-burnt candle in it and led the
way into the passage back OF the bar.
They mounted a 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 his right.
This heah's yo' chamber" he
said, and preceding his companion in
to the room, placed the candle on a
chair.
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 rife to the
foot of the bed, where they would be
out of his way, kicked OF his trousers,
blew out the candle and lay down.
Yaucy had become more and more
convinced as the evening passed that
Murrell was bent on getting him
drunk, and suspicion mounted darkly
to his brain.
Have a drink with mel" cried Slos-
son, giving way to drunken laughter.
The captains dropped out, and 1
low it's about time TO these here
festivities to come to an end. I'm
thinking some Of going to bed my
SELF" said Yancy. He kept his eyes
fixed on Murrell He realized that If
the latter could prevent it he was
not to leave the bar. He never shift
ed his glance from MurrelTs face.
Scowling now, the captains eyes
blazed back their challenge as he
thrust his right hand under his coat.
Fair play don't know who you
are, but know what you want" said
Yancy, the light in his frank gray
eyes deepening. Murrell laughed and
took forward step. At the same mo-
ment Slosson snatched up a heavy
club from the back of the bar and
dealt Yancy a murderous blow. A
single startled cry escaped the
Scratch Hitler; he struck out wildly
as he lurched toward MurreIl, 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 a start and
a 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.
Where was his Uncle Bob? Why
didn't he 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 rife, letting the
muzzle fall lightly against the side of
the shed as 1t left his hand, then he
lay fat on 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.
AS he recovered himself he was
sure he heard a door open and close,
and threw himself prone on the
ground, where the black shadow cast
by the tavern hid him. At the same
moment two dark figures came from
about a corner of the building. He
could just distinguish that they car
ried some heavy burden between them
and that they staggered as they
moved.
They passed out OF sight, and
breathless and palsied, Hannibal crept
about a corner of the tavern. He
must be sure!
Presently he heard a distant sound
"a spiash-surely it was a splash
A little later the men came up the |
lane, to disappear in the direction OF
the tavern. Hannibal peered after |
them. His very terrors, while they |
wrenched and tortured him. gave him |
desperate kind OF courage. As the !
gloom hid the two men, he started |
forward again. He reached the end !
of the cornfield, climbed fence, and |
entered a deadening Of timber. In
the long wet grass he found where |