News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1912-03-13


way into the passage back OF the bar
They mounted fight OF stairs and
passed down 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 rifle to the
foot of the bed, where they would be
out of his way, kicked off his trousers,
blew out the candle and lay down.
Yancy 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 drink with mel" cried Slos-
son, giving way to drunken laughter.
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 N.Y.
SELF" said Yancy. He kept his eyes
fixed on Murrell. He realized that IL
the latter could prevent it he was
not to leave the bar. He never shift
ed his glance from MurrelIs 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 murderous blow. A
single startled cry escaped the
Scratch Hitler; he struck out wildly
as he lurched toward Murrell, who
drew his knife and drove 1t into his
shoulder. Yancy dropped heavily to
the floor.
How long the boy slept he never
knew, but he awoke with 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 |
MS way down the slant of the roof to
he caves. He tossed his bundle to |
he ground and going down on his |
znees lowered his rifle, letting the |
nuzzle fall lightly against the side of |
he shed as it left his hand, then he |
ay fiat on his stomach and, feet first,
out into space. When he
,ould no longer preserve his balance,
,e gave himself q shove away from
be caves and dropped clear of the
AS he recovered himself he was
ure he heard a door open and close,
nd threw himself prone on the
round, where the black shadow cast
y the tavern hid him. At the same
loment two dark figures came from
bout a corner of the building. He
ould just distinguish that they car
led some heavy burden between them
nd that they staggered as they
loved.
They passed out of sight, and
reathless and palsied, Hannibal crept
bout corner OF the tavern. He
lust be sure!
Presently he heard distant sound
"a splash-surely it was splash
A little later the men came up the
lne, to disappear in the direction OF
he tavern. Hannibal peered after
hem. His very terrors, while they
and tortured him, gave him
desperate kind of courage. AS the
loom hid the two men, he started
onward again. He reached the end
f the cornfield, climbed fence, and
ntered deadening of timber. In
he long wet grass he found where
he men had dragged their burden.
lie reached down and swept his hand
D and fro-once-twice-th third
me his little palm came away red
nd discolored.
There was the first pale Fremont
ion of dawn in the sky, and as he
urried on the light grew, and the
lack trunks of trees detached them
elves from the white mist that filled
he woods and which the dawn made
isible. There was light enough for
i'm to see that he was following the
rail left by the men. He emerged
pom the bank of the Elk river, white
Ike the woods with its ghostly night