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Show SiBm. I saSBj H sH fl J L". ' if ... . - I Nfe PR ODIGA L I wfflb JUDGE I WWM' Aivsnyams Br JXMelviu H SYNOP8I3. H ' Tho scono nt tho opening of the story la Ba laid In tlio library of an old worn-out BBa southern plantation, known ns the Bur- BBJ ony. Tho placo la to bo sold, and Its BB1 history and that of the ownors, tho Siulnturds, Is tho subject of discussion by onathan Cronshaw, a business man, a BBa stranger known as Uladon, and Dob BBJ Yancy, a farmor, when Hannibal Wayne BBJ Hazard, a mysterious child of tho old BBJ southern family, makes his appearance. BaB Yancy tells how ho adopted tho boy. Na- BJB thanlcl Ferris buys the Uarony. but tho BIB Qulntards deny any knowlodKO of tho BaB boy. Ynnoy to keop Hannibal. Captain BIB Murrcll, u frlond of the Qulntards, ap- BJf pears and asks questions nbout tho Bar- BJ7 ony, Troublo at Scratch-till), when Hnn- BJ sUbal Is kidnaped by Duvo Blount, Cap- fBfll tain Murroll's agont. Yancy overtakes Bj J Blount, gives htm a thrashing and socuros BB the boy. Yancy appears bofore Squire BM Balaam, and Is discharged with costs for ,4 the plaintiff. Betty Malroy, a friend of BBJ the Ferrlsos, has an encounter with Cap- BBJ tain Murroll, who forces hla attentions on BBJ her, and Is roscuod by liruco Carlngton. BW Betty sets out for her Tennessee homo. BBJ Carrlngton takes the same Rtago. Yancy BBJ And Hannibal disappear, with Murroll on BBJ their trail. Hannibal arrives at tho home Ms f Judge Blocum Prlco. The Judge rccog' BBJ i nlzes In the boy, the grandson of en old Bal' time friend. Murroll arrives at Judge's u home. Cavendish family on raft rescue BJ Yancy, who 1b apparently dead. Price BJ breaks Jail. Betty and Carrlngton arrive BB At Belle Plain. Hannibal's rllle dlsclosos BB some startling things to the Judgo. Han- iBa; nlbal and Betty moot again, Murrelt ar- BJ j rives In Bello Plain. Is playing for big BBJ I stakes. Ynnoy awakes from long dream- BBJ leas sleep on board the raft. Judgo Price BBJ makes startling discoveries in looking up Bj land titles. Charley Norton, a young BJ planter, who" assists tho Judgo, Is mys- BBj lerlously assaulted. Norton Informs Car- j - - rlugton that Betty has promised to marry BBj him. Norton Is mysteriously shot Moro j light on Murrell's plot. Ho plans tiprls- V Ing of negroes. Judge Prlco, with Hannl- Br tool, visits Botty, and nho koens tho boy BB as a companion. In a stroll Botty takes ll with Hannibal thoy moet Boss Hicks, BB daughter of tho overseer, who warns B? Betty of dangor and counsels her to H, leave Belle Plain at once. Betty, terrl- V d, acts on Bona advlco, and on their j way their carriage Is stoppod by Slosson. J ne tavern keeper, and a confederate, and 1Hm Betty and Hannibal are made prisoners. H The pair are taken to Hicks' cabin, In an almost Inaccessible spot, and there Mur- H rell visits Betty and roveals his part In fMMi -,,- jtnplot and his object. BcUy spurns 1bB' mi proffered"" love " a.Krtte' InteTVteWfs" iBB ended by the arrival of Ware, terrified jf at possible outcome of the crime. Judge j Price, hearing of the abduction, plans ac- Hon. The Judge takes charge ot the Hk situation, and search for the missing ones Hit Is Instituted. Carrlngton visits the Judgo - ' and alUes ars, discovered. .Judge Price Jf visits tjolonel' Fentress where no nfeets i Yancy and Cavendish. Becoming enraged, Price dashes a glass of whisky Into the fBjjJ colonel's face and a duel is arranged. Mur- Hi rell Is arrested for negro stealing and his bubble bursts. The Judgo and Mahaffy ? risousa tho coming duel. Carrlngton B. makes frantic search for Betty and tho Hm CHAPTER XXVIII. (Continued.) HJ i "What have wo botweon here tfnd H the river?' Inquired tho lattor. It was Hs, boat, be felt,- uot to give Blosson an H'. opportunity to ank quoationa. H "It narrows considerably, pardnor, -but it's it Btralg'ht courso," Bald BIoh- Pl H eon. "Black in yondor. ain't It?" be H ' added, nodding ahead. H , Tho shores drow rapidly together; H They were leaving tho lako-Uke ex- H'' K panso behind. In the sllenco, above H the rustling of tho trees, Carrlngton H heard the ilrst fret of tho river against H" ' Ub bank. Slosson yawned prodigious- ' ly. H ' , "I reckon you ain't needing mo?" H, be said. H' "Dettor go up In tho bow and get H some sloop," advised Carrlngton, and H ( , Slosson, nothing loath, clambered H down from the root of tho cabin and Hi etumbled forward. H' . i The ceaseless murmur of tho rush' ing wators grow (n tho stillness as tho keel boat drew nearer tho hurry- A Ing yellow flood, and tho bent of tho H Kentucklan's pulso quickoned. Would H he And tho raft thero? Ho glancod bnck over tho way thoy had come. Tho dark ranks of tho forest walled L off tho clearing, but across tho wator B n dim point or light was visible Ho m fixed Us position ns somowhero near m tho hond of tho bayou. Apparently It Hl os a lantern, but as ho looked a H ruddy glow cropt up against the sky- lino. Hjj From tho bow Bunker had boon ob- Hi serving this singular phenomenon. ! Suddenly ho bent and roused Slosson, Slos-son, who had fallen asloop, Tho tav orn-keepor Bprang to bis feot and Bunker poluted without speaking. . "Mobby you can toll mo what that light back yonder means?" cried Slos- son, addressing hlmsolf to Carrlng- ton; at ho spoke ho snatcaed up hlB rlllo. "That's what I'm trying to make H out," answered Carrlngton. H "Hell!" cried SloBson, and tossed bis gun to his shouldor. I, What soemed to bo a breath or Hi . wind lifted a stray lock or Carrlng- H '" ton's ruilr, but bis pistol answered H ' filodsort in the same second He fired II ,i at the huddle of men' In the bow of Wf the boat and one of thorn pitched for Mm WRT Kith nis arms outspread. ' B H-i. "Koop back, you J" ho said, and dropped off tho cabin roof. Ills promptness had bred a momentary momen-tary panic, then Slosson's bull-like voice began to roar commands; but in that brief instant of surprise and shock Carrlngton had found and withdrawn with-drawn the woodon peg that fastened tho cabin door. Ho had scarcoly done this whon Slosson came tramping aft supported by the three mon.. Calling to Botty and Hannibal to es-capo es-capo in tho skiff which was towing astern the Kontucklan rushed toward tho bow. At his back he heard the door creak on its hinges as it was pushed open by Betty and the boy, and again be called to them. to escape by tho skiff. The fret or tho current had grown steadily and from beneath tho wldo-flung branches of the trees which hero met abovo his head, Carrlngton Car-rlngton caught sight or tho star-specked star-specked arch or tho heavens beyond. Thoy wore issuing rrom the bayou. Ho relt the river snatch at tho koel boat, tho buffeting or some swirt eddy, and saw tho blunt bow swing off to tho south ub they woro plunged into tho black ahore shadows. v But what ho did not boo wbb a big muscular hand which had thrust Itself out of tho impenetrable gloom and clutched tho side of tho koel boat. Coincident Co-incident with this there arose a period per-iod babol or voices, high-pitched and shrill. "Sho' I bot It's him I Sho' It's Undo Un-do Bob's nevvy! Bho', you can bear 'oral Sho", they're shootln' guns I Sho'J" Carrlngton cast a hurried glance In the direction or these sounds. There between the boat and the shore the dim outline or a rart was taking shape. trwa8nov cauopted- by-tr-wealth 0t-pale 0t-pale gray smoke that faded from before be-fore his eyes as the darkness lifted. The light increased. From the flat stone hearth of the raft ascended a tall column" or flame' which ' rendered vlBlble six pigmy figures, tow-headed and wonderfully vocal, who were tolling toll-ing llko mad at the huge sweeps, The light showed moro than this. It showed a lady of plump and pleasing firesoncoBraoklng a cob-plno While sho ed tho flfo Trom a Tick stuffed with straw". It showed two bark shantlos, a lino between them decorated with tho novor-endlng Cavendish wash. It showed a roostor porchod on tbe laHBalBaMIMaBa'iaa"wamaaaHKBHMBaMaBBHamnam ridge-pole of one or these shanties In tho very act or crowing lustily. Hannibal, who had climbed to the roor of the cabin, trorfeked for help, and Botty added her voice to his. "All right, Newyl" came the cheer-r cheer-r rr' , as jfancy threw hlmsoir o ,.f u ., side or the boat and grappled grap-pled with Slosson. "Uncle Bobl Uncle Bob!" cried Hannibal. Slosson uttered a cry or terror. Ho had a simple but slncero faith in the supernatural, and oven with the Scratch Hitler's big bands gripping his throat, ho could not rid hlmsolf ot tho bellof. that this was tho ghost of a murdorod man. J'You'll take a dog's licking rrom mo, neighbor," said Yancy grimly. "I boon saving it ro' you!" Meanwhile Mr. Cavendish, whoso proud spirit never greatly lncllnod him to the prnctlce or pdaco, had pro-pared pro-pared for battlo. Springing aiort ho knocked his heels together. "Whoop 1 I'm a man ns can slide down a thorny' locust and never get scratched!" he shouted. This wbb equivalent to setting his triggers; then he launched himself nimbly and with enthusiasm into tho thick of tbe fight. It was Mr. Bunker's unfortu-nata unfortu-nata privilege to sustain the onslaught or the Earl or Lambeth. Tho light from the Cavendish hearth continued to brighten tho Bcone, for Polly was recklessly sacrificing sac-rificing her best straw tick, indeed her behavior was in every way worthy of the noble alliance sho had formed. Her cob-plpo was not suffered to go out and with Connio's help sho kept4 tho six small Cavendishes from risking risk-ing lire and limb In tho keel boat, toward to-ward which thoy woro powerfully drawn. Despite theso activities Bhe round tlmo to call to Botty and Hannibal Han-nibal on tho cabin roor. "Jump down here; that ain't no tit-tin' tit-tin' placo ror you-all to stop In with them gentlemen fightln'l" An Instant later Botty and Hannibal Hanni-bal stood on the raft with tho little Cavendlshos flocking about them. Mr. Yancy's quest of his novvy had takon an enduring hold on their imagination. imagina-tion. For weeks it had constituted their one vital topic, and tho tight be-camo be-camo merely a satisfying background ror this interesting restoration. "Sho', they'd got him! Sho' he wa'n't no bigger than Richard! Sho'!" "Oh!" cried Betty, with a fearful glance toward the keel boat. "Can't you stop them?" "What fo'?" asked Polly, opening her black eyes very wide. "Bless yo' tender heart! you don't need to worry wor-ry none,we got them strange gentle-'iaeTickedrnkTleyasnapaJiIdl gentle-'iaeTickedrnkTleyasnapaJiIdl bt children f Connie, you-all mind that Are I" She accurately Judged the outcome or the fight. The, boat was little bet; ' ter than a shamb'le'a' with" the havoc that had been wrought there when Yancy and Carrlngton dropped over its side to tho rart Cavendish followed fol-lowed them, whooping his triumph as, he came. .it jt CHAPTER XXIX. The Raft Again. Yancy and Cavendish threw themselves them-selves on tho sweeps' and worked tbe He Launched Himself Nimbly and With Enthusiasm Inte the Fight. t . wwfc, . in i m sum . I i rr - - - " - - . rart clear of the keel boat, then the turbulent current Belzed the smaller crart and whirled it away Into the night; as its black bulk receded from before his eyes tbe Earl of Lambeth spoke with tho volco of authority and exporlence. "It was a good light and them fellows fel-lows done well, but not near well enough." A conclusion that could not be gainsaid. He added, "No one ain't hurt but them that had ought to havo got hurt. Mr. Yancy's all right, and bo'b Mr. Carrlngton who's mighty welcome hero." "Mr. Carrlngton's kin to mo, Polly," Pol-ly," explained Taney to Mrs. Cavendish. Caven-dish. His volco was rar rrom steady, ror Hannibal had been gathered into his arms and had all but wrecked the stole calm with which tho Scratch Hiller was seeking to guard bis emotions. emo-tions. Polly smiled and dimpled at tho Kentucklan. Trained to a romantic point or viow sho had a frank liking for handsome, stalwart men. Cavendish Caven-dish was neither, but nono knew better bet-ter than Polly that whore he was most lacking in appearance he was richest in substance. He carried scars honorably hon-orably earned in thoso differences he had been prone to cultlvato with less gonerous natures; for his scheme of life did not embrace the millennium. "Thank God, you got here when you did!" snld Carrlngton. "Wo was some pushed f6' time, but we done it," rosponded the earl mod estly. Hoiadded, "What now? do we mako a landing?" "No unless it interferes with your plans not to. I want to get around the next bend before we tie up. Later we'll all go back. Can I count on you?" "You ahorely can. I consider this horo as sociable a neighborhood as J ever struck. It pleases me well. Folks are up and doing hereabout." Carrlngton looked eagerly around in search or Betty. She was sitting on an upturned tub, a pathetlo enougb figure as sho drooped against tbe wall ot 'one or tho shanties with all hei courago quite gone rrom her. He-made He-made his way quickly to her side. "La!" whispered Polly in Chills and Fever's oaf. "If that pore young thing yonder keeps a widow it won't be, because be-cause of any encouragement she gets from Mr. Carrlngton. If I ever seen marriage in a man's eye I seen It in his this minute!" "Bruce!" cried Betty, starting up as Carrlngton approached.- "Oh, Bruce, I am so glad you have come you are not hurt?" She accepted his presence without question. "We are none of us. hurt, Betty," he said gently, as he took her hand. ' He saw that the. suffering she bad undergone during the preceding twenty-four hours had left Its record on her tired face and in her'lieavy eyes. She retained a shuddering consciousness con-sciousness of the unchecked savagery of those last moments on thSMsel boat; she was Btlll hearing the oaths of tEe men as the struggled together, the sound of blows, and the dreadful silences" tha.t had followed flbeffi; She turned from him, and tberVcame the relief of tears. "There, Betty, the danger is over now and you were so brave while it lasted. I can't bear to have you cry!" "I was wild with fearall that time on the boat, Bruce " she faltered between be-tween her sobs. "I didn't know but they would find you out I could only wait and hope and pray!" "I was In no danger, dear. Didn't the girl tell you I was to take the place of a' man Slosson was oxpect-Ing?., oxpect-Ing?., He never doubted that I was that man until a light a signal it must have been on the shore at the head ot tho bayou betrayed me." "Where aro we going now, Bruce? Not the, way they, went " and Betty glanced out Into the black void wbere the keel boat bad merged into tho gloom. "No, no but wo can't got tho raft back up-Btream against tho current, so tho best thing is to land nt tho Batos plantation bolow he"ro; then as Boon as you are nblg wo can return to Bolle lfafn, Bald Carririgfon". Th.ero was an interval broken only by Jhe occasional sweep or tho groat steorW oar as Cavondlsh coaxed tho ratt out toward lh phamyji. Tho thought of Charley Notion's munfor reBted on Carrlngton ilko a pall. Scarcely'a weok had elapsed slnco ho quitted Thlckot Point, and in that week tho hand or death had dealt with them impartially, and to what end? "It's best we should land at Bates' place wo can got teams thero," he wont on to explain. "And, Betty, whorever wo go we'll go together, doar. Cavondlsh doesn't look as if he had any very urgent business of. his own, and I reckon the samo is true of Ynmcy, bo I am going to keep them with us. Thoro are somo points to be cleared up whon we reach Bello Plain somo folks who'll havo a lot to ex-plain ex-plain or else quit this part of the state! And I Intend to soe that you are not left alone until until I have the right to take care or you for good and all that's what you want me to do one of theso days, isn't it, darling?" dar-ling?" and his eyes, glowing and Infinitely In-finitely tender, dwelt on her upturned, face. JTO BH CONTINUED.) |