Show i err s irv I 1 Z C L T tva TAP TA P n GE 1 ii B RA Z ra arza Ys gr P 1 CZ L the tha scene at SYNOPSIS the opening of the etory story I 1 to laid in the library of an old worn ou out southern ou then plantation known as a th the s bar ony the place I 1 Is to be old sold and a n d itu its history and that of the owner th the Quin tarda tards Is I 1 the subject of decu q si by by jonathan crenshaw a business buit man m a n a tranger stranger known as a bladen and dob bob taly tal y a farmer when hannibal N wayne vayne lazard a mysterious child of th the e 0 old 1 d ou bouthern out thern family makes his appearance an c e lancy tells how he adopted the apgear boy oy 14 thanial I ierra buy buys the barony b but ut th Quin tarda tards deny any knowledge 0 ot f the boy yancy to keep ke e hannibal its ee captain c pt 1 16 murrell turrell a friend c of the Quin tarde rdo ap fear rears and ask asks questions about the liar bar ony 1 rouble at scratch fill 1 when ilan gibal Is I 1 by dave blount cap tain blu murrell rrell a agent yancy overtake overtakes blount elves gives him a thrashing and secures the boy yancy appears before squire balaam and ts Is discharged ed with coat costs for the plaintiff hetty betty il 31 alroy a friend of the ker kereizes err laes haa has an encounter with cap tain murrell who force forces hl his atten loni on her and la Is rescued by druce bruce carrington betty sets out tor for her tennessee home carrington Carri naton taken th the same stage yancy yane y anil and hannibal disappear with marrell 0 on n their trail hannibal arrives at the home of judge trice the judge rec alifa in the trio bo boy the grandson Kran deon of an 09 old time friend murrell furrell arrive arrives at jude a home borne Cavend leh lh family on raft rescue 1 ancy who Is I 1 apparently dead I 1 rice break b ail hetty ile ty and an carrington Carrl neton arrive at belle plain CHAPTER X delle belle plain now tom torn eald said detty betty with a little air ot of excitement as ebe she rose from the breakfast table that first morn ing at belle plain 1 I want you to 4 enow show me 1 I reckon you it notice some charges chac gea remarked tom he ile went from the room and down tho the hall a stop or two in advance or of her on the wide porch detty betty paused breathing deep the bouse house stood on an em eminence irence directly before it at the bottom at or the alight slight descent was a email small bayou beyond this the forest stretched away tn in one unbroken mass to the mississippi what la Is it you want to tee see anyhow betty Tom demanded Lvery everything thing the tho place tom belle plaint oh isn t it beautiful full I 1 had no idea how lovely tt it was cried betty aa as with her ebes still fixed on the distant panorama of woodi and sater eho she went down tho step him at her heels beets he bet shed get lck ack ot of it all soon enough that thit was one fine corn com fort aby total why does the lawn look like this like what inquired ton tom why this all weeds and briers and ad the paths overgrown mr ware bla him ly IY with the back of his hand that eort sort of thing looked all right bet ho he aid said but it kept tive or elx six of the best hands nat of the elds right at the busiest tine 1 of the year yea alavon t I 1 salavea enough she alikes the dull color crept into wares cheeks lie hated her for that 11 II it so she was wax going to come that on him was she dont you want to see the crops bet beef the girl shook her bead head and noved moved swiftly down the path that led d from terrace to terrace to the margin of the bayou at the first terrace she the paused ita its po T f squall dl cried bet ty wath A little stamp of her foot toot aare are glanced about with dull eyes hi ill tell you betty I 1 im m busy this morning zou ou poke about and see hat you want done and we well it do it be he said and made a hasty retreat to Ms his office petty betty returned to the porch and eating testing herself on the top step with br elbows on ott her knees and her chin gunk in the palms of her hitt handi ids gazed aalt her miserably enough she was still there when halt half an hour later charlay norton galloped ap up the drive the highroad catchy T sight eight of br on the porch ho fia sprang frow the idle e and throwing cli his reins to a alack boy hurried to her side your domain hetty betty asked aa as bo be took his place near on the step why you tell me charley 0 at 4 least prepare me for thier she liked til almot tearfully how flow was as I 1 to know betty I t nt been here tince eltice you went ay dear what was tre tubre to brin me old tom would make a cow latture sture out clit of the garden carden of eden be hea best st beautiful practical sordid soul he let Is norton spent the day at belle plain I 1 ind d hough though to 9 was there on his bl good behavior aa no the he r result sult of an agree MOM they hai on board the balad d bo be proposed twice TOBI TOM waa was mistaken in fil his ht betty would soon tire ol 01 wie belle plain 8 HAs demanded men and team aad rod acm on an the lawns lawus this interested teresica teresi cd and fascinate her she was out at burt sunup up to direct her labor er r she slid had the advantage edran tage of charier top ex ence and advice tor for the ff pan par of each day in the week attl 1 I sunday he came to look over bd been teen accomplished d as tom amly bell eTed eved to put th that 1 11 little 00 oo up to fresh nonsense mense nc 11 tie cou t oe have tooted looted himl bluit As the ground grounds took her shape before delighted eye eyes betty found lets ure to institute a thorough reforma tion on indoors A number ot of house servants were rescued from tee the quarter quarters and she began to instruct them in their new duties bettys sphere ot of influence extend cd ed itself soon began to have her doubt doubts concerning tho the treatment accorded in the slaves and was notions not long discovering that kicks the he over seer ran things with a X heavy hand matters reached a crisis one day when happening to rido ride through the quarters she found him disciplining a refractory black she turned sick at fit the eight here wae was a slave actual ly bac being I 1 whipped by another slave while hicka hicks stood looking on with nil his hands in III his pockets and with a brutal satisfied air stop com commanded mandod betty her eydi blazing sho she strove to keep her voice steady you ball shall not remain at belle plain another hour hicke flicks said ro nothing illing lie ile knew it would take more than her saying so to get him off the place betty turned her horse and galloped back to toe the bouse house she felt that the was in no condition to see tom just at that and dismounting at the door ran upstairs to her roani meantime the overseer sought out ware in his office hia ilia manner ot of stating tating his ince anco was singular lie began by swearing at bis his employer lie bad had been insulted before all the quarter his rage fairly choked him he could not speak tom seized the opportunity to swear back sent you oft ale DO place did she he well you 11 have to at crow III do all bit I 1 can I 1 don dont t know what girls were ever made for anyhow damned if I 1 dot he added hicka hicks consented to eat crow only after mr ware had cursed and cajoled him into a better and more forgiving frame of mind later after nicks hicks had made hia his apology apolo apol opT gj ue tie two tuo men smoked a friendly pipe and discussed the situa tion tom pointed out thit opposition wae wall a losing game you could get your way by less direct means mean s she wouldn t stay long at belle plain but while whits she did remain they must avoid any wore busei of the tort through which they had jual just passed and presently hed shed bo be sick of the place in be inglut or of her activities hetty betty occasionally found time to c cf druce bruce carrington she was sure ehe she did not wish to see him but when hen three weeks had bad passed she a ho began to feel incensed that be he bad had not appeared she thought of him with hot cheeks and a quickening of the heart it lt as anger then one day hen ben bue wo iad lad eald elcid ed forever to banish bit memory of or him from her mind bo he presented hita self sell at ilelle velle plain she wae was in her room just putting the finishing touches to an especially satisfying toilet when her maid tapped on the door and told her there was a gentleman in the parlor who wished to see her la to it mr air cortor asked hetty betty no miss bliss be he dl dunt n t give no name miss when betty entered ho the parlor a moment later ehe she aw saw her ut od anding with his back turned toward her as a he sated from one of the win oava tut hut she instantly recognized these mesa br arsad jad shoulders and the tine nn polo poise of the shapely head bead that cur ur mounted them oli ob sir carrington and hetty betty stopped short while her face grew grow rather pale and then crimsoned then ahe she advanced boldly and held out a frigid hand 1 I 1 know so you are alave you disappeared so suddenly that night yes im alive 11 ne tie said and tt tel with a mile but I 1 fear ear bore before you get through with me well acl both wun WWI I 1 vere wore not detty betty do you still date bate me deity mile fanroy roy le la there anything I 1 can eay say or do tit will make you forgive me lie ile looker looke at her penitently nut but bet Y hardened her heart against alv and prepared to keep him film in 10 pi ice will yam a sit it down she he indicated a chair he lie seated himself and hetty put a lafo safe distance between them are you staying la in the neighborhood sir she be asked rather unkindly 0 I im in not staying la to tte the boyhood fco when I 1 left you I 1 made up lay my mind id wall wait at new midred tto tia til I 1 could come on down fiere tere and say I 1 ra ras sorry and lie its taken you all uila this timer carrington regarded her seriously cr 1 I 1 reckon I 1 roust must bare have come for more petty betty Al malroy alroy la in of herself deity betty glowed under ot 01 his hi ilea the caressing ca burner on most have choca poorly then when hen you elected selected new madrid it hare have been beta a good ca tv your purpose I 1 think it I 1 could bare have made up my mind to stay there long enough it U would have answered aid said carrington arington rington but B ut when D 1 down ra river T er boat beat tied up there yesterday it waa was more than I 1 could stand you eee see there a danger la in a it town like new madrid of getting too sorry I 1 thought wed bet ter discuss this point alayat t I 1 show you belle delta Pl plaat alt asked betty quickly A out but carrington shook hie his head 1 I dont don t care anything about abo thal t he said 1 I come berut here t to oti ae delia belle plain S then you expect to remain in tty neighborhood A 1 I ive ve given up the river and 1 m going to get lold of come some land I 1 landt land bald said cetty jetty with a rising inflection ya yes land 1 I thought yau were a river maur I 1 M river man no longer I 1 am going tu lo 10 a planter now but dut I 1 ill ii tell ou hy by and all about it some other day then be he held out tola his band hand goadby Goc good dby by he added are you going good by mr car rington arington ring ton and betty bettys fingers tingled with bis his masterful clasp long otter after ho bad had gone CHAPTER XI the shooting match at boggi boggs the judge judges e faith la in the reasonableness or of matilt mankind rid having received a staggering blow there began a some what furtive existence exist erce for himself for solomon and for th boy they kept to little frequented byways and usually it was the early hour hours of or the morning or the cool of late alter after when they took the road A certain aut afternoon brought them into the shaded main street of A 4 straggling tillage nea the door of the principal buil building dinga a frame tavern I 1 a mr was as stated with his feet on the horse rack thera was wa oo 00 other elal of human occupancy how flow do yuu d do air 1 aid said the judge halting before taij solitary toll tarr in alvid jai whom be he conjectured to be the landlord ebato the name or of this bustling 1111 continued the judge cocking his bead on one ilde side As be poke spoke druce carrinton appeared in taft I 1 tavern door pausing there I 1 curiously curlo at thi th i shabby wayfarer wayfarers thi this Is 1 nale Rale in cholby county tennessee mid maid the landlord are you the kotc 1 iron from the inquired the judge fa in a tone ot of playful sarcasm carrington amused amu ed cd toward olm him that one for you air sir be aid said 1 ara am charmed to meet a gentleman abose spirit of appreciation shows oil his farall larit tah th a literary allu ion olon aid said tr tl aide judge boeltz bow ln tz 11 we ain t ideal t deal airee ar we loov look A just yam kp on to bow racetrack race track straight down don the road and you 11 find that out anere to the bos boss racing and shooting match I 1 reckon you ve MIS missed the bobb hoss but be ba in time tor for the shooting NN h by 7 aint you abere mr carrington im going now air an carrington aa as ho he followed the th judge who with mahaffy and tho the boy had bad moved off netter better top stop at boggsi Bogg DOgg sl lel called after them out but the judge bad had already tomel formed bis his decision dec lilon clorse racing and shoot ing Ingi matches natches were suggestive of that progressive spirit the absence of which ho be had so much Is lamented men tod at the jal jail raising at aills alem able wai was their objective point but boggs became a ride ado lisue issue or of importance they atad gained the edie 0 of f the tillage village when carrington over took them he ile topped stepped to hannibale bide side billere here let me carry that thit long rifle sent ua be he bald said hannibal looked up into his hl face and yielded the piece 1 without a word carrington balanced balance 4 it on bis his big palm 1 I reckon it e can 11 shoot hoot these old guns are bard a to beat be he observed ashes the closest shooting title I 1 ever sighted said hannibal annibal 11 promptly carrington laughed there was a runty rusty nameplate name plate on tho the stock of the old sporting title this carrington ons s eye the name here oh lur berville the judge a step or two in advance wheeled in bis his tracks with a startling suddenness what hat he faltered and bis his face was ashen nothing I 1 was reading the nam t i I 1 PTA 0 r il ls 0 I 1 0 0 0 I 1 I 1 5 0 I 1 V I 1 11 she recognized the broad shoulder dem here bore it it 1 your ours air lr I 1 suppose up gall said carrington no sir lr no my name it is price pace slocum gricol villo he muttered thickly staring at carrington ite its not a common name you eni to bare have beard heard it before eald said the tat for 4 besim of pain posed over tb the jod gei see ce 11 II 11 1 ve beard it the niame t Is ca the rifle you nsf a tj flerl on an the lock tock yes the jude took the gun and edans ined it in silence abere did you get got aple tm itle ilan albair be at length asked brokenly 1 I fetched kiwy 1 leway fron from the barony air mr wr crenshaw eald said I 1 might ba bar va if ITO TO BE CONTINUED |