“I mind now I heard of your second wife's death, and that you'd married again,” said Roebuck, when he had finished. “It was once too often, John,” said Tucker sadly. “I know it now though I didn't think so then. She was a tidy-looking girl when I carried her home to the Red Brick.” “She's an uncommon fine looker yet,” Roebuck assured him. “She is,” agreed Tucker. “I seen her the first time at her father's farm, I'd gone there to buy grain. Only to buy grain, mind you; I had no more idea of marrying again than nothing at all; but being married once makes a man bold, and I allow being married twice makes him downright reckless; so while old Tom Gough, her father—” “I knowed him,” said Roebuck, interrupting him. “One eye missing,” he added, wishing to establish Mr. Gough's identity beyond peradventure. “Fourth of July,” said Tucker. “Breach of his rifle blowed out.” “That's him,” said Roebuck nodding. “Go on—old Tom Gough—” “Went down to the barn to hook up,” said Tucker, resuming his narrative, “you see he wanted to show me his crops, I was intending buying in the field, and he left me setting on his front porch where I could see her through the hall whisking about helping her mother at the back of the house. Watching her I got so lonely that presently I called to her to come out where I was, and she called back that there was more between us than the house. 'More than the house between us,' says I, 'perhaps you mean a man.' 'Not a man,' says she, 'but I don't know as I 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 I have well enough.' That,” added Mr. Tucker savagely, “was the beginning.” “And you married her,” said Roebuck. “Damn her, I did,” said Tucker. “Trouble from the start?” asked Roebuck. “No, we got along satisfactory, you might say, with now and then a spat as is to be expected, and which signifies little enough.” “Little enough surely,” agreed Roebuck. “And then along came this scalawag Gibbs.” “One man's 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 a pouring rain, which rendered the roads all but impassible. The runaways kept their lead of him, and again he dined where they had breakfasted and supped where they had dined. This brought him to Washington. He followed them to Leesburg, almost due south, and he feared they were directing their course to some river point. At Leesburg, however, they turned north again taking the Wilmington Pike. He was now convinced that Gibbs had in mind reaching some station on the Little Miama railroad, and felt that if he was to overtake them he must do so that day.