Omaha daily bee., 1922-04-30
The WANTED MAN by Harris Dickson


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they say your ship 10 . wai,in' for Mr Clay
tons orders To sail----"
"Ths ship car walt" was all that clAy'os
answered. like . man sropins for his mud.
died faculties and watching Barbara
All Of . sudden Barbara felt vacant sense
Of disappointment and failed In trying 10
laugh ~ she said:
-weii. l seem TO be out Of q job''
There stood the brave little car. ussleas
now. and her own competent hands that we're
no, needed. Blu, Clayton did not fully grasp
her feelings a. he also looked ., the car
and szid:
-Yes. There's no use OF my going 70
vicksburs."
-Then you don't need me any mofe'-
She was standing close to him. looking
down and drawing queer diagram With her
toe In the dust a. she repeated. Then you
don't need me-"
Again the perfume Of new mown hay came
TO him, definitely and disconcertinEiy. He
made no answer. OF course. she must 80
home. and he would return To Marmion.
k.i(
out her hand, which he took without word
and kept without thought And Clayton
did not know when It was that he put his
arm around her; nor was Barbara certain
how long It had been there when she b.
came conscious Of not interfering. Only
Bart scurry knew. According to Bart's best
euess, Clayton's arm had encircled Miss
Stark Just about three seconds prior to the
moment when Bart turned his back, mounted
the embarrassed sorrel. and gaIloped out OF
sight
Other uncounted intervals passed before
they missed him, then Barbara glanced
around and suggested, Stuart. Mr.. scurrys
gone"
20. has he7"
yes We can't stand here in the road
by ourselves. Get back in the car and let
me drive you home"
NO" he protested. II can walk. Its
better for YOU"
"Makes no difference to me-" the fri
hughed recklessly. Might as well take you
homo. I'm snake Bit and going to die any
how. I'll have terrible time with father.
When her car rolled on again. with Clay
ton also on the front seat. his disclosed
chauffeur headed her lights for Marmion.
but did not travel 50 rapidly. nor with such
precision. Her car moved ziszas. like the
wabbly experiments Of . novice At the wheel
Sometimes 1t crept; sometimes It scarcely
went At all The wheels veered craztly to
either side. when there was plenty OF road
way. What happened within their car was
lesibly written upon the dust. Presently the
moving tires, having writ, stopped writing.
The car halted and stood. and continued to
halt and stand
All Of Z sudden that little car seemed to
make up its mind. It backed. 1t turned with
decision. It ran firm and straight a. an ar.
row, speeding northward to Bennington.
"Now!" laughed Barbara, "weu hold
family conferences"
The Stark and Clayton feud broke out
afresh. Within the narrow limits Of Miss
Barbara's pantry two clansmen fought their
fight.
Aunt Calline claimed her privilege to serve
the champagne. Uncle Nat didn't do much
claiming against woman, but chung man
fully to his ice cream freezer. in which he
kept cooling quart bottle among the icy
slush.
"Git away rum here. ole nigger!" Aunt
callins tried to shove him asidA Majors
been savin' dis here champagne ever since d
war, an I'm twine to tote It tn
mo you amt Ia"
"Ain't nussed Miss Barbara from .
baby?"
~Mebbe so." old Nat admitted. but you's
likewise been lowratin' Mistah Stuart Clay.
ton. An dat sort o talk don't 80 no mo-.
not in dis house Huh! Better not let major
hear you neither. Gimme dat tray" With
out allowing Aunt Callines eliminated hands
to touch the glasses, Old Nat arranged his
tray for six
Now. den," he planned: sdess two
glasses. dey's fer Mister an Mra Razxls.
Bet dem two close togedder. cause dem
young folks Is not mighty lovin'. Lawd.
Lawd, Calline! Mister Raxzle done prom
sed Mrs. Razle q pearl necktte. an take
her to New Yawk, an give her . brand new
lutymobile. an-huh! atnt never SEED
Mister Raxzle act 50 nice.
An dis glass. dat'n's fer de doctor. he's
steppin' high. like a rooster in deep mud.
An dis here glass, dat's fer de major
aissef. to 'spose deir health.
"Now. desc two. dey's de main two. fer
Miss Barbara Stark an Onable Stuart
Clayton. Dat make six, one fer each O. dem
White folks in dc parior. Now den, Aunt
,alline. you kin foller benin wild de tray.
whilst travels ahead an totes dis bottle"
In the lead Of his proud procession. Uncle
Vat went marching through the hallway,