The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-15
CHAPTER III.
Trouble at Scratch HILL.

CHAPTER III.
Trouble at Scratch Hill.
Captain Murrell had established
himself at Belaam's Cross Roads.
He was supposed to be interested in
the purchase of plantation, and
in company with Crenshav visited
the numerous tracts Of land which
the merchant owned; but though he
tprofessed delight with the country,
he was plainly in no haste to be-
come committed to any one Of the
several propositions Crenshaw was
eager to submit.
The Barony would have suited
me-" be told Bladen one day. They
had Just returned from an excur-
sion into the country and were seat
! ed in the lawyers office.
You say your father was friend
Of the cd generaFs?" said Baden.
Years ago, in the north-yes, -
answered Murrell.
Murrell regarded the lawyer in
silence for a moment out of his
deeply sunk eyes.
''Too bad about the boy" he said
at length slowly.
How do you mean, Captain?'
asked Bladen.
Il mean it's . pity he has no one
except Yancy 10 look after him."
sair Murreli; /but Bladen showed
no interest and Murrell went on
Has Yancy any legal claim on the
boy"
! mo, certainly not: the boy was
merely left with Yancy because
Crenshaw didn't know what else tc
do with him"
/ Get possession of him, and il
don't buy land here I'll take him
west with me-" said Murrell quietly
Il am willing to spend five hundred
dollars on this If necessary"
I'll have to think your PROPOSE
ton over" said Bladen.
The immediate result of thi
conversation was that within TWEEN
ty-four hours a man driving tw,
i horses hitched to light buggy ar
, rived At Scratch Hill in quest o
/ Bob Yancy, whom he found at din
ner and to whom he delivered let
! ter. Mr.. Yancy was profoundly i'm
! pressed by the attention, for hold
I ing the letter at arms length, b
. said:
We'll, sir, I've lived nigh on I
Z forty years, but l never got a piec
4 OF writing befo-never, sir. Peopl,
. il they was close by, spoke to m,
/ il at distance they ho!lered, bu
. none of 'em ever wrote"
What's your answer" demande
|, the stranger.
4 You tell him I'll be monstrou
= glad to talk it over with him an
A time he fancies to come out here
: The next day Yancy had occasio
4 to visit Balaam's Cross Roads. Crel
i shaw gave him a disquieting opir
o ion as to the probable contents {
n his letter, for he himself had hear
from Bladen that he had decided I
q assume the care Of the boy.
III Il reckon Bladen will have tt
=. law on his side, Bob!"
THE law be damned-I a
Il what's fair on mine. l don't wish i
better than that" exclaimed YANG
d over his shoulder. He strobe fro
d the store and started down Il
h sandy road at a brick run. Mise
able forebodings of an impendir
" tragedy leaped up within him, al
the miles were many that lay b
IA tween him and the Hill.
AS he breasted the slope he can
e within sight of . little group in b
n own dooryard. Saving only Unc
Sammy Bellamy, the group +
n solved itself into the women al
children Of the Hill, but there VI
ct one small figure he missed. II
+. patriarch hurried toward him, lea
10 ing on his cane.
They've took your nevvy, Bob
A. he cried, in a high, thin voice.
v. who's took him." asked Yam
hoarsely.
I'd "Hit were Dave Blount. Get 70
at gun, Bob, and 90 after him-kili I
miserable sneaking cuss!" cri
Uncle Sammy. by the Fayet,
" Willie Road, Bob. not ten minutes a
ey you can cut him OF at OK Ro
I forks"
ar Yancy breathed a sigh Of reli
A rife was placed In Yancy's han,
,n Thank you-all kindly" So
Fancy, and turning away he stru
be Oh through the pine woods. A bri
IA walk Of 20 minutes brought him
N. the Or Road forks.
Is. He had not long to wait, 1
nd presently the buggy hove in sig
rs, As the buggy came nearer he r,
q. ognised his ancient enemy in I
rit person Of the man who sat at Hs
Eh nihal's side, and stepping into I
in road seized the horses by their bi
ng At sight Of him Hannibal shrek
W his name In delight.
ON "Uncle Bob-Uncle Bob"
he cried.
Yes. It's Uncle Bob. You {
m light down, Nevvy."
ne Lego them horses!" said
Blount.
Of Light down, Nevvy," O
ell fancy, still pleasantly.
al Hannibal instantly awaited hi
ris self Of the invitation. At the 50
M moment Blount struck ct Yar