Show h f G S jM i Th The y Famous Novel by VAUGHAN K M t i tk S Copyright 1911 izi 5 The Merrill Bobbs-Merrill Company W CHAPTER Bess Bes Leads to Betty Bit J t hert lie had Iid parted from fion Ware ir o sat t li his s h horse hoise his his' br knit hili r rf f turned in the direction of i e He TIe was on his w wa to a plan- plan ton h below the owner ow-ner of which m a f t J I imported a par of blood- blood t id hut ll this lI ted encounter if fla tt ilni tta lely tiiU hiJa 1 Tom Totua A stammering sp speech ech It s-fl s lr t Silmar i me I with r nr-r startling rr J LI si I HP lie lad ea to look S t- t f enl i lil hiM d l' l and aid d wh when n h he nut there thore Im had hd l b ben n fn the tha planter ter iI S. S ji u ards bf Of f him 11 aW if far i ins tons ton's glance ceased eased n 0 illow 11 ih th wind of of the th p pith path th He TIe HeRIta Heui M rJ rIm ui n ii at al lie he ie gray dust t and saw h I ft ft bv by flues Hues alid Ms his p part For Forit ForI RIta I it ilp IP PS h he jf d if tb the do Q s w were re J L C e C H i s i I with th am anY I ho hope p t of or surf ess he hert rt no no tune to o IP and this was tAs C the sv tt l ln n III Illogical oi ca I conjecture g i a d on nothing beyo 4 his his distrust of ofAY AY Ire In the he end nr ho hi sprang from the IF ami t Uis hili horse into the theU U pod s tl td I If It f to a R. sapling r sr l M investigation p h tion told him that I n m idi n had in hi an and out of that Ii O O i t IP fire all coming from the thern r fOil fuin had turned tinned south again but nn in other worde l lad nad V V. MI 1 1 V H weighed the te alg- alg J of on t h e farts d JI an oil ins time h he con con- H e qa ij- ij tan an l was on on th the point Iff ft-av ft wh ii on th the very edge Jj f r l' l nad 1 a awl and 11 1 just where here the th dust alt rie t el To to r-i r tl til hard har Jav ay nf of the path his fJ 1 H on lh the print of a small mall mallId hot hod foot Th lh throbbing of I tart rt l Id I'd 1 tt Th Tb word 1 01 l leaped leaded 1 from from his hist at t nail foot fool had l lift left tint the one on oneK e K TItre were r Signs how how- f fl C that la lIum Tn d his hili Attention namely 4 boot IbS-boot bOOI crInt of SI and his men mn madr the hp bl discovery that 4 tracks to tn the one 7 V 81 aji i The ThO and AI s sud- sud pat el there was waR un no mystery thee he had tile the marks or of the ther In h hem ln him tO 10 t SiltS Silt'S tt r g had Iad turn turned jUt Just here her several everal 1 lm t 11 ri h they h v had with them a 1 ili J 01 nl i a oman man T th th v had reul re- re ul r- r r. r J the p. p anti ant driven hack back as sa ashad had P caine or 01 tIes hart ione one toward ll If IT felt j lie he hp o ll within him HIP path rutth t of nt fas III ever In I Ul I tho thoughts and th h r n of f hip hi fear fEln pe nd to flit 0 him en and J lur Jun him o on ugh hk hi glimpse of the th baynuM L M bia 11 lp 1 tho h I k lIn under lr him but tho the tho thoD into what Wha t mij deeper i still apan ap- ap jd n l. l an untouched u solitude liI I D f rt en n- n between Pt En un lb rt r tree a hl ba back k fro frol tH l shore horl with 1 il rs ning tangle tl of vIn vines n and I. I A n H H. H 11 annd Mils hi los lv BS at ashe hp he P Ced led rd gi ari l conscious that Be 88 pan hing for some nome trampled ta fi at t tI tb waters water s edge Idge but the verp ver- ver erf er- er f p m wall pr 11 It e unbroken ken t S fl l and l Inter t r he hP cam amp sight r or Jf r HI t II Clearing learIng and the then thel n J l boot Ire re it rested against the n I. I anc I lip i farther on oil 11 he be found the spot snot in hat haft Had launched d the skiff the I 1 if The keel keelor or nt his boat had l nto th rV clay lay more i e of tf th th niall shoe I Tip Up 1 here an and l J JUst It war Val ware r rS 1 S l' l bar font ert dof the ar arlt doubted th 1 t Dell y had u 0 the e c ctt Mi taken across the theM I rIg a allowed and and ran haCk UP week if nf mile mil and dS da on his on-his hll right his hili iti r 5 around n the L head J reek i Vr M 01 or m are a R r water a to a i for tor a l i trip of or rould brou later ap ap- or rf 11 trip of c tev i ur or 1 a i t h. h better deen deo de- de Oro oo thus thu en n ely as l ten days the task he o an t. t the u J tr f allowance e is almost Tf lp of days H UI or Jell Jis ICS 1 he hA U was hy by 20 for a I. I trip re his way ay itt r. r Officers vines In n or ot to the e natches lowed kt wed el 1 tl a dav day for tot mud At l lv is engulf him m In m is i until t tI the to v the tipping re regu u the southern by py by the department foot footing ng ThIS rha schedule 10 tock of f hi his cent a day da for 1 tt rs tip not to xe Wi d 2 HS re build build- stood midi mid mid- hours i car and a t sper very to mod mod- their 11 1 r- r Ut at hotels hotes of 30 It pursuit of o dy dv ly knows n wa l still that it is absolutely inv inn dor doot Ol swung ed forth u Tt n tan nn agent of the d depart Par fere tire ure to tn within l e t to a corr cor- cor lita tay thi t led r tipping fees of direction of tea so it must be nt later saw IlaW Continued Continued C o on pl page e 4 4 4 clamber Over o its side lid ide Tle tavern em ern keeper crossed to the tle cabin rbi n where he oe was as met b bv I Bes Bess who rho plated In his hands handa hat what to be he a R. wooden bowl With this he slouched off to one of the outbuildings which ha he entered Ten or fifteen minutes minutE's slipped by b then he came canle from the shed hed and after aute securing the door returned t tp t l the cabin lie Tie was met mt by b Bess who relieved eIl ved him of the bowl they the exchanged a a few words and nd walked away and afterward afterward after after- ward disappeared re over the side Ide of the I bo u J.- J. r This r uch was clear to the tha Kentuck lap food ix en taken to 0 some one S to in the shed shed to d to Betty Wy and the b bo bo m more likely t to George He waited now f for r the night to come toTne and the sun seemed fi ed Bd in the hea heavens hean ns At R le Plain Tom Ware was Wall watching it with a shuddering sense of the s swiftness M of its flight night But Bul at last the tops tops' s of the e tall trees obscured ur d it It db It ank anIf quickly t and blazed A b ball ball of fire beyond th tha Arkansas Arkanas coast while Its Ils d spread aslant the heavens turning the flanks of or the gray clouds to violet iolet and purple and gold With the first approach of f darkness Carrington made mad his way to the shed Hidden In the shadow he paused to usten lis lis- us- us ten and fancied landed he heard beard difficult breathIng breath breath- Ing lug from within The door creaked hideously hid hid- on its wooden hinges ee when whet he pushed it open but as It swung back hack the last remnant of the da days dav's 8 light showed him pubis nohie dark object lying prone on the dirt floor He fp reached down and his hand rested on a mans man's booted hooted foot toot George Gedrge Carrington spoke softly but hut the he man on the floor gave Irae no sign that he lie h heard ard and Carrington's QuestionIng question Question- ing lug touch stealing higher he found that Georg If George If it were George George was was UI lying hing on his hili EI side sHe e with his arms and legs securely hound bound Thinking h he slept the the Kentuckian Ken Ken- tucklan 1110 shook k lm genth gently to arouse him George lie hp repeated still bending above abote oh him hint This time an inarticulate tr answered him At the same In instant In- In i stant th the woolly head of the negro came under tinder his fla fingers ers and he dl discovered tho the i reason 1 of rg his silence lel e He ITe was a as se securely as- as M-I M d gagged 1 as he lie was a bound Listen risten Gop George r Its It's Carrington I J am I to t take oft off this gag but dont don't r speak peak shove above a they may hear us us' us And h hf he cut t the tho cords that held tI the gag in place How lIow yo o get JH here Ca' Ca asked the n negro ro guardedly as as' as the gag gas fell away Around the head of th the bayou Lad exclaimed George In Jn a tone lone of wonder onder Wh Where Wheres rea Mii Miss Mills s fi nett tty Shen In the cabin yonder yonder to fo th the th 10 love of God Cod cut three these here other rop ropes s with yo jo knife Im I'm with ew ev awl did as I h Rk asked d Rr groaning G sat eat I erect Im lm like e I 1 was gone to sleep all over 1 ho said J feel helter bettor In a iii moment Tell me about Miss Malroy Malro- They Jr done Y one fetched I us hero here Ja lastS t night t uli I was d Missy Into Raleigh ber h her an anor young Masl Hazard Hazard when fo to men stop us in the road Who were the they do do you ou know ask asket JJ t lIn La Lewd what's wd what's that Carrington in hand swung about on Ott his lila heel A lanterns lantern's light flashed suddenly t iu tu lils hl face fate and Bess RefiS Hicks with a low startled cry breaking from her lien lips paused In th the doorway SpringIng Spring Spring- Ing forward fOI Carrington seized her I b by the tue wrist Hush lush 1 ho lie grimly ly warned varned What are you doln dolo h here r demanded d the th girl as she en endeavored to shake oft olt his hili hand but bitt Carrington ton drew her Into the shed and clo closing the tho door set fet his hili hack agan t it There was wu a brief brier silence slI sl- sl I If lence nce during which Bess regarded the l with Uh a kind of stolid fear fear- She yell wes the first to speak I t reckon you all have Itay conic comp after l Malroy she he os observed quietly Then you rou reckon n right Tight Carrington The girl KIll studied I him from ben beneath l her level brows brow 0 0 II And you all think you u can ran take ke her away aWRY from here hert she shi I speculated I aint afraid of yo knife you knits you all might use 1188 use it fa fast t enough on a man but not on me Ill I'll help you she add added d. d Carrington Car Car- rington gave her an In Incredulous glance lance You Tou dont don't believe belle m me hat What's to binden hinder hin bin der den my calling for tor help ThU would fetch h our men up from the keel ked boat bOllt No No knife wouldn't stop top me mf met Pont Dont be too sure of that aid ald Carrington Car- Car rington sternly The girl gitl met the menace menace men men- ace ae of his words wOrd with soft full throated laughter Why yo yn o hands hand's now Mr Carrington You know me Yf Yes I 1 seen you ou once at Bog Bogg She he made iliad an eq impatient movement nt You cant can't do nothing against them fo men I 1 hip help you Miss MIs to go gu down nyse p tonight they're only waiting to Va a pilot you alls you alls trot ot to Act quick hesitated Why do you ou want ant Miss lIs Malroy to toI I escape he said The girls girl's mood changed abruptly She I scowled at himI him I reckon that's a private mattei Aint int It enough fo fa you all to know that 11 I 1 do Im I'm showing how it can be done Them four men on the keel boat are strangers In these pans parts they're waiting fo fa a pilot but they dont don't know who hell he'll be Ive I've heard you all was a rh-ennan rh what's to hinder I yo taking the pilots pilot's place Looks like yo was willing to risk yo 0 life fo to Miss Malroy or you wouldn't be here Im ready said Carrington his hand band handon bandon on t the he door Xo No you ou aint jest aint jest yet Interposed the girl hastily Listen to me first Theys They's a dugout tied up bout a hundred ah ards above the keel boat you must get that to cross in into to the other side Bide of or the h then when yore ready to come back i i yore re reto to to whistle three times tImes its its it's the signal were we're expecting expecting and and Ill IM low tow across fo you OU I in tn one of f the skiffs Can you see Miss llIs Malroy 1 in th the S meantime to hinder binder If ItI I want to theys they's me responded Bess sullenly Tell Ten her then then then- began Carrinton Carrington but hut B ss interrupted himI him I r know what yo io o w want nt She aint to cry out or when she sees iou you you- all aU I got sense enough fo to that Carrington looked at at her bet curiously be a-be- b serious t j for foi your our people lIe he said significantly watched her narrowly And you all may get et killed l I J. reckon if yo io 0 want to to- todo do a bad enough eito you vou dont don't mind much what comes after she abe he answered wl with 11 a hard hald little laugh as she went from the tha shed Conic Come said Mid Carrington to the negro when he lie had seen sen the cabin close dose on Bess and her lantern anc the they stole across th th clearing R Reaching the bayou side Fide they v began a a. noiseless I search arch forthe for for forthe forthe the dugout ut which they quickly found lound i and Carrington ton turned to Georg Can you vou swim he asked Yes Tea l Then go down don Into the water and drag the canoe along the shore shore- and for Gods God's sake no sound he cau cau- tinned They placed a second hundred yards yard between themselves and the keel boat in inthis inthis this manner then he lie had George bring the dugout to tb th bank and they em em- barked Keeping within the I shadow or of orthe orthe the tre trees B that fringed ed the shore hort ton paddled silently about the head of th the EO ba bayou oll George he lie at length lenth said a Id bending toward the negro ro mv my horse hore II is tied Inthe in the tho woods on the right hand side of the road Just above where you ou were taken from the carriage e last night you night you can be beat beat beat at Belle lelle Plain inside of an hour Look here those folks yonder onder is IF kin to Boss Bos Hicks flicks If he lie gets his hand on me mp first dont don't you von reckon 0 hell he'll ston mv y mouth I b been ort ft h here re heaps of times rn I letters rs fo to l Tom added George Who were the letters for fOI asked the Ken surprised They was fo to that Captain Murrell seems like IlkI him and Tom was mixed up in a sight Fight of bu business When was all this r this recently recently Inquired He lIe was WAI turning this astonishing aston uton- statement nt of the slave over In l Ms his s mindWell mind Well Vell no seems S like they aint aln so M hT thick here recently nW I S SI I reckon you'd oud better k keep ep away ay from th the th big house houlle yet awhile said ton Instead of going th there re stop at atthe th the Belle Relle Plain landing You'll find a a. raft tied lied up to the shore It belongs It to toa toa a It man named Cavendish Tell him what you Oll know that know that Ive I've Mind fund Miss Malroy l and the boy hoy tell him tn to cast oft off and drift down here liens Ill I'll run th the keel kepi boat blat aground as the tho first flut chance hanc T I get so tell him to keep kep a sharp lookout To be continued t |