The Detroit times., 1913-05-08
CHAPTER NINE.
(Continued.l

aliEht, anu bore nlm INDOORS.
why. man. you're wet TO the skim
he cried. You'll be after having
something to eat, drop TO drink, and
pipe"
"A dish OF ticker right now. II you
please, John" said Tucker. turning his
eyes In the direction OF the bar; and
though he doubted II Roebuck would
have anything TO tell him, he made his
Inquiries concerning the runaways.
Roebuck nodded.
They stopped here for supper
Gibbs knowed by sight. but his lady
was u stranger to me.
Where are they now?" cried Tuck.
er fercely. ''Here?"
Nay, man, they only stopped for
supper. as l told you When they
we're leaving they asked me about the
road TO Washington In Fayette coun-
~: but they'll have to stop for the
night on the way: their team want
good for 10 miles more when they
drove away from here
Mr. Tucker groaned aloud. I'D
keep on after them. but | amt Mt,
John" he said
You do look beat" agreed his
friend
morning" said Tucker.
Your daughter maybe
MY Wife answered Tucker briefly.
You don't tell me-" cried Roebuck
Lets see, ii was your first wife
knowed, want it,"
My second" said Tucker. Sarah '
so IL was. mind now that was
her name"
"A good woman" said Tucker, and
said no more.
Presently, however. when he had
eaten. and his eating included much
drinking. they established themselves
for privacy's sake In the tavern par
lour near a small table, where as the
night wore on there was steady ac-
cumulation Of empty bottles, Dead
soldiers" Roebuck called them.
II was then that Tucker poured the
narrative OF his wrongs into the listen.
ing ear OF his ancient friend.
II mind now l heard OF your second
wife's death, and that you'd married
again" said Roebuck, when he had
finished
1T was once too often, John" said
Tucker sadly Il know II now though
| didn't think 80 then. She was
tidy-looking girl when | carried ner
home to the Red Brick.
Shes an uncommon fine locker
yet Roebuck assured him.
She is" agreed Tucker Il seen
her the first time at her fathers farm.
I'd gone there to buy grain. Only to
buy grain, mind you; ] had no more
idea OF marrying again than nothing
at ALL but being married once makes
a man bold. and l allow being married
twice makes him downright reckless:
SO while old Tom Cough, her father
IL knowed him." said Roebuck, in.
terrupting him. Zone eye missing"
he added, wishing to establish Mr..
Coughs identity beyond peradventure.
Fourth of July said Tucker.
Breach OF his rife blowed out"
That's him., said Roebuck nodding
Go on-old Tom Cough"
went down to the barn to hook
up" said Tucker. resuming his nara
i've. you see he wanted TO show me
his crops, | was intending buying In
the field. and he left me setting on
his front porch where ] could see her
through the hall whisking about help
Ing her mother at the back OF the
house. Watching her | got so lonely
that presently | called TO her to come
out where | was, and she called BACK
that there was more between us than
the house. More than the house be-
tween us says |. perhaps you mean
man. Not q man. says she. but
I don't know as | fancy your looks.
Mr.. Tucker The liking OF LOOKS
says I, is a matter Of habit GIVE
me time and perhaps you'll like such
looks as have we'll enough. That'
added Mr.. Tucker savagely was the
beginning"
"And you married her" said Roe'
buck.
'Damn her, did" said Tucker.
Trouble from the start? asked
Roebuck.
mo. we got along satisfactory. you
might say. with now and then spat
as is to be expected, and which signi-
fes little enough
81 little enough SUI ely" agreed Roe
buck.
And then along came this scala
wag Gibbs
One mans as good as another until
the other heaves into sight. I've
noticed that" observed Roebuck.
Exactly" said Tucker moodily.
Mr. Tucker left Columbus at dawn
the next day, and in pouring rain,
which rendered the roads all but i'm
passable.
The runaways kept their LEAD OF
him, and again he dined where they
hsd breakfasted and supped where
they had dined This brought him 10
Washington. He followed them TO
IAesburg, almost due south, and ne
feared they we're directing their
course to some river point. AT Lees
burg, however. they turned north
again, taking the Wilmington Pike. he
was now convinced that Gibbs had III
mind reaching some station 'on inc
Little Mama railroad. and felt at II
: he was to overtake them he must 90
SO that day.
Just beyond Wilmington where they
mad stopped at cross-road BLACK
smith shop, the runaways caught their
FIRST sight OF Mr.. Tucker who like a
catered fate, toiled into view. They
Lad scarcely reckoned on the old taV.
ernkeeper showing such tenacity OF
purpose: indeed, he was within hun
dred yards Of them. when Gibbs hap
pening toglance back up the road.
deserted the fractions mare, urged on
by the injured husband. charging
down upon them, and at speed.