The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-05-30

Betty made no answer In words.
but q soft and eloquent little hand
was slipped into his and allowed to
rest there.
Presently light wind stirred the
dead dense atmosphere, the mist lift
ed and enveloped the shore, showing
them the river between piled-up
mass Of vapor. Apparently 1t ran
for their raft alone. It was just twen-
ty-four hours since Darlington had
looked upon such another night, but
this was a different world the gray
fog was unmasking-a world OF hopes,
and dreams, and rich content. Then
the thought OF Norton-poor Norton
who had had his world, too, OF hopes
and dreams and rich content
The calm of highly domestic ex-
istence had resumed its interrupted
sway on the raft. Mr.. Cavendish, as
ISOLATED in Betty's memory with GER
tain ear-splitting Manifestations Of
ferocious rage, became in the bosom
OF his family low-voiced and genial
and hopelessly 1mpotent to deal with
his five small sons; while Yancy was
again the Bob Yancy of Scratch Hill,
violence of any sort apparently had
no place in his nature. He was deep
ly absorbed in Hannibal's account Of
those vicissitudes which had befallen
him during their separation. They
were now seated before a cheerful IRE
that blazed on the hearth, the boy
very close to Yancy, with one hand
clasped In the Scratch Killers, while
about them were ranged the six small
Cavendishes sedately sharing In the
reunion of uncle and nevvy, toward
which they felt they had honorably
labored.
And you want dead. Uncle Bob1''
said Hannibal with q deep breath.
viewing Yancy unmistakably in the
flesh.
Never once. l been floating peace
fully along with these here titled
friends of mine; but l was some anx-
ious about you, son."
And Mr.. Slosson, Uncle Bob-did
you smack him like you smacked
Dave Blount that day when he tried
to steal me?" asked Hannibal, whose
childish sense of justice demanded
PREPARATION for the wrongs they had
suffered.
Mr.. Yancy extended a big right
hand, the knuckle Of which was
skinned and bruised.
Ike were the meanest man l ever
telt obliged TO- to hit with my list.
Nevvy; 1t appeared like he had teeth
all over his face"
"Sho'-where's his hide, Uncle
Bob?" cried the little Cavendishes in
an excited chorus. "Sho-did you for
get that?" They themselves had for
gotten the unique enterprise to which
Mr.. Yancy was committed, but the
allusion to Slosson had revived their
memory OF it.
well, he begged so piteous to be
allowed TO- to keep his hide, hadn't
the heart to strip it ofr," explained Mr..
Yancy pleasantly. And the winters
comm on-at this moment l can feel
a chill in the air-don't you-all reckon
he's going to need it TO- to keep the
cold out? sho', you mustn't be bloody
minded"
What was it about Mr.. Elosson's
hide. Uncle Bob?" demanded Hanni-
bal. what was you a-goin' to do
to that?"
why, Nevvy, after he beat me up
and throwed me In the river, l was
some peevish TO- spell in my feel
ings TO- him." said Yancy In q tone
Of gentle regret. He glanced at his
bruised hand. But I'm right pleased
to be able to say that I've got over
all them oncharitable thoughts OF
mine."
'And you seen the Judge. Uncle
Bob?" questioned Hannibal.
Eyes, I've seen the Judge. We was
together TO- part OF a day. Mo and
him gets on hne?"
Where is he now, Uncle Bob?"
II reckon he's back at Belle Plain
By this time. You see we LETT him in
Raleigh along after noon to tend to
some business he had on hand.
never seen a gentleman of his weight,
so truly spry on his legs-and all
about you, Nevvy; while as to mind!.
Sho'-why, words flowed out of him
as naturally as water out of branch"
OF Hannibal's relationship to the!
Judge he said nothing. He felt that
was secret to be revealed by the
Judge himself when he should see tit'
Uncle Bob, whom l going to live
with now" questioned Hannibal anx-
iously.
THAT p'int's already come up
and mes decided that
there won't be no friction. You-all,
will just 60 on living with him."
But wha about you, Uncle Bob?".
cried Hannibal, lifting wistful little
face to Yancy's.
"Oh, Newell, you-all will 60
right on living with me-"
And what will come OF Mr.. Ma:
ha6y?"
ssY ranknn vouoIl will o. viuh% m.