Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-07-23
Bette PrisoDQr

AS early as 1877 there was a small
grist-mill. run by an oyershot water
wheel. on a mere spring running
among the mountains Of Northeastern
Georgia. 1t was owned by an honest,
nard-working nan named Harvey
Sapp, who was a widower with but
one child. a daughter. fifteen years old.
one morning. early in June. Mr.. Sapp
said 10 his daughter:
Bette. I'm going To- the Cross
Roads. to be gone all day. There's a
bag of corn 10 grind. Ye look after
that. will ye?"
Bette was quite accustomed to being
left alone in the little mill. her father
having been frequently away attend
ing TO matters of business. and she
knew as well as be how TO grind.
"All right. Pap" she cheerfully said,
giving the sunburnt little man a
hearty kiss.
Eli be back afore dark, little un,"
he called. assuringly, from, the dusty
doorstep. Then he mounted his brown
mule and rode away down the winding
mountain trail.
Bettie's visitor.
Bette felt rather lonesome. The mill
was a lon place, for from any other
house. All around were mountains.
rocky bluffs and darkly-wooded ra-
vines. A girl might well be terror
stricken at Thought of being left help
less and solitary at such an environ
ment. But Bette sang and did not
think of being afraid. Nor did it start
lie her when, presently. she heard a
voice and. turning. saw in the doorway
e low-browed. hairy-fsced man, who
carried a pack ON his back and gaZed
at her with villairols black eyes that
were o%verhung by shaggy eyebrows.
20 mornin' Miss he said. smiling
atrociously. Where's the Teddy o the
house,
Bette returned his smile. and while
she was telling him ttlat she bad no
mother and that her father had gone
away 10 stay all day, she fetched a
stool and offered it 70 him.
The man ser his bundle on the floor.
took Il greasy red handkerchief out of
l.is hat al a mopIed his face.
Thank ye," he said, when he was
comfortably astride the stool. Il have
walked a log ways. Hain't he'd no
brekfus'.'
Bette felt sorry for him. He looked
hungry and worn. She fetched some
bread and milk and cold bacon.
I'm most ashamed to offer it; but it's
the best we've got" she said.
Thank We. Miss" He leered
strangely. Yer kind. Its good
enough
He ate like "A famished Wolf.
Meantime Bette had TO look after
the gIist that was grinding When she
returned the man began asking ques-
tons. He seemed anxious 10 know
how far away from the mill the near
est neighbors lived, and he inquired
about how many customers usually
came each day for their grinding, and
If the mill made her father much
money.
Bette told him all that she knew,
not dreaming of improperly or dan
ger. The man presently began walking
about the mill, and his furtiye eyes
Sea aned things with a strange, greedy
look.
Where does yer daddy keep his
money!" he suddenly demanded.
For the first time Bette felt a chill
Of fear run up her back.
IL don't know" she stammered.
lle ma gave ner n SHARP. wicked
glance. then went through the front
doorway, and Bette saw him looking
down the road and all around. At the
same time he appeared TO be listening.
With n fiutterins heart the fright
ened girl stood for a while, quite una
BILE to think; she bravely tried to shake
off her weakness, vaguely aware that
everything now depended upon cool
ness and tact. There was no installing
the mans desperate character and evil
purpose. He had stepped outside
merely TO make sure that no one was
likely to come soon to the mill. Peep
ing ar him through a little window
hole, Bette saw that his dark face
was drawn and bloodless. HIS lips
were twitching at intervals and his
hands opened and shut ncryonsiy.
A firm, brave and hor est nature may
be frightened: but il can be relied upon
always 20 make the most of it's oppor-
tunities. especially in Sudden emergen-
cy. Bette rallied quickly from her nit
Of confusion and flung out of her brain
every thought of being mastered by a
brutal and half-cIazed tramp. He
might Kill her, but not if she could pre-
vent II. And when he came in again
the cunning villain saw by the first
glance the change in Bettie's face.