Morris tribune., 1895-03-06
CHAPTER xu

| O1CaGe blaL denur1CkS naQ In MS keep
ing two prisoners whose presence add
| ed perilous 'ement to the under
ground society. These men, employed
by the secret service of the govern
ment, were to Hendricks the first direct
| intimation that the forces Of society
had in some way put facts enough to-
gether to warrant an intelligent at
tempt to run him down. Whatever
theory these officers had been working
on had been summarily frustrated by
Hendricks taking them both prisoners.
He had, with his usual quiclkness of
decision, summed up the whole chain OF
consequences. Their mission was q
secret one and only the secret service
departmentknew of it, but their dis
appearance would speedily bring about
his place the whole enginery of the
government. He expected to be be-
sieged in the end, but as war on a
large scale had been part of his calcu-
lation from the start this did not deter
him. He calculated as usual with great
shrewdness on the element of time,
and he felt sure that if the under
ground rendezvous could be kept from
the knowledge of the public until all
his plans were matured he woul pre-
serve an enormous advantage even in
a fight with the government.
In order to narrate what occurred in
the Laran at this time it is necessary
to go back to Miss Laport.
Miss Laport was slender and pretty
girl of twenty, with serious gray eyes, o
great abundance of beautiful wavy
chestnut hair and rather pensive oval
face, in which there were indications
of strong character and much spiri
ity. She had received an excellent
education when her fathers means
were ample and she had suffered deeply
when his disgrace came. She was now
living life of expectancy and mystery,
waiting only for the release of her
father to redeem the promise early
made to go away with him and forget
in some distant place their wrongs and
their troubles. Placed under Fenning
in Memphis she proved valuable
and clerical assistant.
She worked patiently and u1complain-
ingly and got to know great deal of
the confidential business that was car
ried on between the Bayou house and
the office. She awakened Jennings
interest and respect and she was CRATE
full for his consideration and care of
her, and when he began to evince a
deeper interest she did not repulse
him, although he awakened in her
- 4 ,so1, <es1,1 -
her age is susceptible. She treated
Fenning with an undisguised kindness,
for he had shown a real solicitude in
her personal comfort and her future
and had secured for her
handsome salary which she scrupulous-
II put in the savings bank.
When they went to Laran Mrs. Hen
bricks treated her as an equal and a
guest. But if it had not been for Fen
ming, her life there would have been
enough. He secured for
her the latest books, took her out for
long rides and looked after her amuse-
nent and comfort in thousand ways.
But Jennings was evidently not the
nature to touch her deeply. His cool,
mind may have won her
when she saw it exercised
IN crisis or dilemma, but it did not
move her affections. She was under
heavy obligations to Fenning and she
would not hurt his feelings. The mo-
nent that Lieut.. Stocking became a
guest in the house. the whole aspect of
things changed. Here was passion
ste, heroic and emotional southerner,
who Immediately exercised over her
In influence that she could not resist.
His nature was the antithesis and the !
of hers. He was immedi-
stely attracted by her. They came to-
yether easily and often, and all the
which had been enjoyed
With Fenning now wore new ardor
# romance. brief, these young per-
sons fell instantly and deeply in love.
When, therefore, on that morning of |
he fight, she had seen him wounded |
Ind dragged fighting to the signal
ind her misery uncomfortable. She |
Knew enough of Hendricks affairs to |
suspect that he was in some way acting |
n opposition to the authorities, and |
he had gathered from Stocking some
hing of the peculiar nature of his
7isit. When, therefore, he disappeared |
Town the shaft, her heart sank within !
Ter. She believed that he would never
'eturn. In this wretchedness she took |
20 her room until Mrs. Hendricks en-
leavored to extricate her from her de-
pair. That lady found her in con-
lition of morbid melancholy from
which it was no easy matter to rescue
Ter, and it did not take her long to as
certain that contact with the lieuten-
Int had changed the girls views ma
erially. She wanted to go away and
'eminded Mrs. Hendricks that Hen
tricks had promised to release her |
ather at the expiration of a year. To
his Mrs. Hendricks replied that he
lad been at liberty to go for some time
)ut had become interested in the COM
,letion of gun and was Staying vol
lntarily to see it tested. She further
that Lieut.. Stocking would be
reated well, and probably was anxious
% communicate with her in the signal
DOM. This brought about a request
rom Mrs. Hendricks to Hendricks to
a Il I