Show CHILD OF EY EVIL 0 OCTAVUS SERVICE ROY COHEN by OCTAVUS ROY COHEN HEN CHAPTER XV continued 15 seven men in all seven men with leathern skins calloused overlarge hands stolid faces unkempt hair and more or less tattered clothes men who had been born in the swamp and raised there who tilled tiny tracts of clayey earth when the spirit moved who had ruined their digestions with too much fresh pork who fished indifferently for porgie and mullet and eel and sucker and sunfish who shot in season deer possum coon rabbit squirrel duck quail and turkey who accepted the gray drabness of big moccasin swamp as the only thing they knew whose private lives were sodden and on occasion un esthetically immoral but who prayed loudly and frequently and considered themselves very virtuous men indeed the assembled crusaders appeared to be startlingly indifferent to the fact that they were about to take human life all except one little man a man smaller even than clem ross who had been quaffing quaff ing sparingly from the jug and whose beady eyes moved furtively from face to face as though to find an ally in his contemplated desertion he said whiningly you reckon there aint no danger jeff chos a goin to know we done it lible to aint they kaaa whole county will say thank you when we finish but jeff I 1 aint gittin are you noo no o but if anything went wrong bothin No thin aint goin wrong Sp osin sp osin theres trouble aint a goin to be no trouble we got guns an a rope we take him out an string him up oh if things look mean a gun can go off kind of accidental an barney hamilton will be just as dead dont the good book say A life fo a life it sho do aint we been commanded to do this by the preachers yeh but they say bothin bout no lanchin lyn chin 11 an besides stated jeff if the sheff was to git set on making trouble fo somebody hed arrest these city folks not us 11 you reckon im sure we got votes mob spirit courage of numbers colossal ignorance and stupid piety class hatred sense of security stimulus of raw whiskey righteousness false logic herd instinct leadership grim hysteria thus mobs have always been created thus they are aroused to peaks of insensate homicidal fury thus they justify the unjustifiable and dusk closing down over big moccasin swamp cast sinister shadows and evil invitation just before dark an automobile appeared bumping nervously over the corduroy road dan creedon and babe henkel stepped out babe was dressed in unobtrusive brown her lips were tight and there was high unnatural color in her cheeks babe stared at the s swamp angels but she said nothing gave no sign of approval or disapproval it was dan creedon who talked he asked everything ready butler 1 I reckon 8 when do we go not yit awhile got to wait antil they have a chance to finish supper why whyel give the darkies a chance to git away we dont crave to be seen by nobody how do we get there walk taint fur 0 K dan creedon joined babe and spoke in a whisper what a lousy gang babe said briefly do yen yeh do anything then youre not changing your mind babe her eyes were like ice barney hamilton give kirk a chance to change his mind they seated themselves on the top step of the dogtrot dog trot near yet not too near the swamp angels they refused the proffered jug they sat and stared into the pines into the impenetrable darkness of the swamp felt the night close in on them like something tangible like black velvet heard the voice of the swamp hoarse croaking of frogs chirping of crickets oth other er sounds vague scarcely discernible symphony of death the swamp angels drank steadily drank until their brains were cloudel clouded and their emotions aroused the they y talked among themselves in low voices fanning their courage to tc white heat at nine jeff butlers elongated figure lifted from a chair ile he said time to git goin they moved slowly at fi first arst adjusting their progress to babe and dan creedon who were unaccustomed to the woods at night dans face aiace was stony babe clung to his arm but whatever of faltering there may have been in her step was due to the uncertain footing ile he was sure of that he did not argue it was a crazy reckless enterprise ile he had warned her time and again but she had blazed with determination to carry arouch hr ouch ough and dan creedon adhered to his own peculiar code he was sticking it out whatever the cost not so much because of any desire to avenge the death ot of his friend as because it seemed the proper thing to do it was an oddly sinister procession which trudged through the blackness of big moccasin swamp A man from the th city and a vividly beautiful woman seven alcohol fogged swamp angels exalted by false righteousness they moved slowly they moved toward cathedral gardens they moved upon barney hamilton to lynch him 0 0 0 margaret hamilton entered the big kitchen and smiled at the huge ebony who presided there company for supper flagrant cassum Yas sum miss margaret they mos usually is then ownby owenby e margaret shook her head not tonight how come not hes busy lawsy miss margaret was I 1 a man id have to be awful busy not to come see a gal like you well hes just that busy miss kay is coming though cassum Yas sum Fla grants black eyes twinkled reckon it aint so long off when miss kay will be remaining rema inin heah pum manent maybe margaret looked around the immaculate kitchen this zeros night off cassum Yas sum then ill help with supper nom the most thing you aint gwine do so git you gone flagrant made clucking noises noises and margaret fled she passed through the hall and thence onto the veranda kay was with barney and their faces face s were turned toward the sunset they walked down doan to the lagoon unconscious of the striking picture they afforded a picture of healthy youth of youth oblivious to everyone and everything save themselves barney tall and broad and blond kay looking infinitesimal beside him they disappeared behind a screen of radiant azalea they seated themselves on a bench of hewn cypress logs and for a few moments neither spoke night was closing upon them barneys barneis Bar first words were light his lips smiled but his gray eyes were serious rious behold he said the figure of a young man about to do something kay sensed that there was something deeper than badinage in bar words she knew that he was more serious than she had seen him for days and so she asked to do what barney laughed awkwardly As though in apology for his embarrassment want to hear all about it honey yes well he took a deep breath it sounds screwy coming from me but then ive never deceived ce ived you about being the undisputed worlds champion neer do well she said you used to be proud of that title used to be is right maybe it was my fault maybe the fault of the way id been raised so much of everything I 1 wanted when I 1 i wanted it that I 1 nev never er could see an awful lot of sense in minor things like jobs and ambition I 1 well I 1 dont even know how to describe what I 1 mean 1 I understand sure you do anyway and he motioned toward the great aisle under the archway of cypress anyway this gives me courage to continue it seems as though a certain young man is beginning to see the light ile he yearns to go forth and make history he desires to lay the world at the tiny feet of his lady fair which reminds me do you happen to like worlds kay tried to answer lightly but could not she said 1 I like you barney then after a moment of silence what are you planning 1 I dont know exactly and im not kidding myself either I 1 well im wanting to start something which will allow me to support a wife provided I 1 can find one with black hair and hazel eyes who answers to the name of kay she put her warm little hand over his go ahead barney ive been thinking a rare thing for me ive been talking to mother and im not foolish enough to believe that beverly offers any particular opportunity to an ambitious young man seriously honey im planning to check out she was startled leaving eventually yes naturally im not going until this well until this kirk reynolds affair is all cleared up sooner or later rind find out who did it she faced him squarely 1 I thought you did at first so did everybody else the laughter had died from his lips but I 1 dont play that way im trying to believe you you have my word her lips were tight 1 I d do 0 believe e you iou now 1 yes he said you must its been a rotten mess from the begin ning and as I 1 was saying when it clears up im going why he laughed 1 I know what youre thinking that mother has done a swell job that ashes not only y caused something beautiful to be created but that ashes made a commercial success of it well listen honey mother was doing a bigger job than that she was trying to make something out of her moderately virtuous but highly indifferent son and she think she had succeeded if she found me willing to spend the rest of my life here collecting dollars from tourists nope im commencing to suspect that life can be grimmer and pleas anter than that be new york doing what learning something and working at it starting seven rungs below the bottom and casting impatience out of the office window I 1 can get a job dad had lots of friends and while at first they wont believe I 1 m serious find out soon enough he shrugged his broad s shoulders hould ers 1 I feel like a sap talking i ng this way little rollo but I 1 happen to mean it she said 1 I know you do this time and ill keep on meaning it its funny that beverly could have taught me what new york never babe stared at the swamp angels could I 1 suppose what mother really had in mind they were silent for a long time close mentally and physically the day slipped away beyond the cypress trees and azalea bushes the hush of night en folded them there was an incredible serenity her voice was very tiny there in the soft blackness she said make the grade barney you really think so 1 I know it banter had gone from his manner mander the arms that went about her were strong arms the lips that she turned up to his were wide and eager and frank and if his face was lost to her through a mist of happiness it if for the first time in weeks she felt a sense of fulfillment and security that was only natural she said Every things all right now it dear and he answered by drawing her closer and closer until it seemed that there had been no trouble no agony of soul no stark reality they rose then and walked walk ed hand in hand toward the house their young faces were grave mrs hamilton saw and made no comment she was wise in her generation a tolerant and understanding mother the supper was served late it was simple and tasty the conversation about the table was light and pleasant and subdued occasionally barneys barneis Bar eyes would meet kays as though to say you see everything is right and tranquil now they finished the meal and strolled out onto the veranda the heavens were sprinkled with stars and the light from the big hallway sent a faint yellow glow out upon the lawn barney and kay sat together in the porch swing hands clasped frankly and unashamedly happy there was little conversation it was too beautiful too peaceful and then the serenity of the night was shattered by the slamming of the front door and the descent of a huge frightened flagrant was babbling oh my bawd mis IMs tuh barney oh my bawd I 1 kay caught her breath sharply all the old terror came to the surface again she scarcely heard mrs hamiltons tense question 1 the matter mailer flagrant oh lawsy mis hamilton theys a comin who barney had risen he moved closer to flagrant and put a firm hand on her shoulder he said wrone the negro woman was babbling theys a comin barney they got guns I 1 seen em cm you saw who them white trash from the swamp you run barney run quick barneys barneis Bar voice was brittle he said harshly snap out of it flagrant happening the woman was sobbing theys c omin comin the back way barney white trash with guns I 1 hearn ern em they was sayin they was sayin that they was gwine hang you barney pushed her away his young face was grim get inside all of you he walked inside with them he gave no evidence of fear he went to the hall closet under the stairway and took a double shotgun shot gun he produced a box of shells ard and slipped two into the chambers he put a halt half dozen more in his coat pocket barnebl Bar neyl it was kay talking breathless frightened what are you doing ile he moved toward the veranda there were sounds outside the angry guttural voice of a mob barney said in a voice which was cold and flat im going outside to see what they want kay followed splendidly unafraid she said simply im going with you barney CHAPTER XVI they were grim shadows in the night seven men from big moccasin occa swamp plus dan creedon and the woman who wa as babe the light from t fuse cw cascaded down the steps of t the e veranda and marked a faint yellow path across the emerald lawn limning liening their sinister figures shining upon the dark ugly barrels of shotguns shot guns and upon the coiled rope which one man carried kay stood beside barney her hand was on his arm and she knew that his muscles were taut he did not move his cheeks were white but his eyes were level and cold his feet firmly planted he held his dou ble shotgun shot gun as a bird hunt er holds it right hand caressing the trigger guard left hand on the bar rel ready kay heard the front door open and close mrs hamilton and margaret joined them barney spoke without moving his eyes from the tableau near the azalea bushes he said you all get back in the house kays answer came quietly im staying right here 1 I can handle this kay said nothing more neither did mrs hamilton nor margaret but they remained inwardly terrified outwardly unafraid thoughts raced through kays mind 1 I did this ive heard of lynching lunching lyn ching mobs never saw one before 1 I wonder why I 1 feel so cold disconnected thoughts angry thoughts she he bar voice hard and ma what do you want A tall gangling figure detached itself from the shadowy group jeff butler said hoarsely we come fo you barney hamilton yes A suspended query agrim A grim pause yeh we come fo you dahy dW why hy dam soon find out why barney whispered wont you please get back into the house the women beside him did not move another voice came from the mob an unpleasant nasal voice we dont aim to leave no murderers go free jeff butler again youre a goin to git strung up for what murdering Mur derin kirk reynolds what hat an fo lots mo things A womans comans voice babe henkels voice bit into the night quit wasting time go get himl kay thought its that henkel woman she must have loved kirk a lot barney raised his voice he spoke directly to babe 1 I suppose this was your idea yes why because the law wont touch you because they told me to get out of 0 town because you killed kirk 1 I kill him her voice cut sharply at jeff butler well what are you waiting for jeff said better come with us we aint to be tooled fooled with another voice we got guns barney said ive got a gun too and the first man who takes a step in this direction gets a load of buckshot the mob hesitated it milled about and murmured it had not anticipated armed resistance kay heard someone say he shoot and somebody else answered youre crazy any man mabll shoot if he has to jeff butler said git them ladies inside we dont crave to hurt them another pause the lyn chers were uncertain hanging a man was one thing firing into three women was something entirely different kay knew what they were thinking and she was glad and she afraid any more that is not very barney was so quiet so steady babe asked sharply what is il 11 1 is a debating society 7 TO BE CONTINUED |