The Ordway new era., 1912-05-02

but ! wish Memphis could be wiped
like this for ever!"
You mustn't talk SOL am nothing
to you"
"Yes. you are. You're everything
to me-" said Darlington doggedIy.
You shall love me-" She was pow.
erless in his embrace. She felt his
breath on her cheek, then he kissed
her. Suddenly his arms fell at his
side: his face was white. Il was .
brute to do that-Betty. forgive mel
am sorry-no. l can't be sorry!"
They were alongside the New Mad
rid wharf now. and a certain young
man who had been impatiently watch
ing The Naiad's lights ever since they
became visible crossed the gang plank
with a bound.
"Betty-why in the name of good.
ness did you ever choose this tub!"
said the newcomer.
Charley"
Darlington stepped back. This
must be the brother who had come up
the river from Memphis to meet her
but her brothers name was Tom!
He looked this stranger-this Charley
over with a hostile eye. offended BY
his good looks. his confident manner.
In which he thought he detected an
air OF ownership. as if-certainly he
was holding her hands longer than
was necessary. An instant later. when
Betty. remembering. turned to speak
to him. his place by the rail was de-
serted.
All that day Hannibal was haunted
by the memory OF what he had heard
and seen at slosson's tavern. More
than this. there was his terrible sense
Of loss. and the grief he could not
master. Marking the course OF the
road westward. he chung to the woods.
where his movements were as stealthy
as the very shadows themselves.
Presently. as he stumbled forward.
he came to a small clearing in the
center OF which stood a log dwelling
The place seemed deserted.
Tilted back In a chair by the door
OF this house a man was sleeping.
The hoot OF an owl from q nearby
oak reused him. He yawhed and
stretched himself. thrusting out his
fat legs and extending his great
arms. Then becoming aware OF that
| path as he slept and now stood be-
fore him in the uncertain light. he
fell to rubbing his eyes with the
knuckles OF his plump hands
Who are you?" he demanded.
| I'm Hannibal Wayne Hazard"
said the boy. The man quilted his
chair
| WELL am glad to know you,
Hannibal Wayne Hazard. l am Slo-
cum Price-Judge Slocum Price,
sometime major-general OF militia and
ex-member OF congress. to mention a
few Of those honors my fellow coun.
trymen have thrust upon me-" He
made sweeping gesture with his two
hands outspread and bowed ponder
ously
The boy saw man of sixty, whose
gross and battered visage told its own
story. There was sparse white
frost about his ears: and his eyes,
pale blue and prominent, looked out
from under beetling brows. He wore
a shabby plum-colored coat and tight,
drab breeches. About his fat neck
was black stock, with just a sug-
gestion OF soiled linen showing above
it. His figure was corpulent and un-
weldy.
You don't belong In these parts,
do you?" asked the judge, when he
had completed his scrutiny.
NO, sir" answered the boy. He
glanced off down the road. where
lights were visible among the trees.
What town Is that?'
| "Pleasantville-whic Is a lie-but
| am neither sufficiently drunk nor
sufficiently sober to cope with the pos
sibilities your question offers. Have
| you so much as fifty cents about
you?" and the judges eyes narrowed
to slit above their folds OF puffy
flesh Hannibal. keeping his glance
fixed on the mans face, fell back a
step. II can't let you go II you are
pepniless-I can't do that" cried the
Judge, with sudden vehemence. You
shall be my guest for the night.
They're pack Of thieves at the tav-
ern." he lowered his voice. II know
'em, for they've plucked mel" He
rested a fat hand on the boys
shoulder and drew him gently but
firmly into the shanty. With flint and
steel he made a light. and presently
a candle was sputtering in his hands.
He fitted it into the neck of a tall
bottle. and as the light fiared up the
boy glanced about him.
The interior was mean enough,
with its rough walls, dirt floor and
black, cavernous fireplace. shake
down bed in one corner of the room
was tastefully screened from the pub
lie gaze by tattered quilt.