The Princeton union., 1896-07-16
Bette ! 'sPrisoDQr

AS early as 1877 there was small
:grist-mi1l, run by an overshot water
wheel, On a mere spring running
among the mountains of Northeastern
Georgia. 1t was owned by an honest,
iiarI-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 to his daughter:
Bette, I'm going to- the Cross
Roads, to be gone all day. There's a
bag of corn to grind. Ye look after
That, will ye?'
y 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 we'll as he how to grind.
1'Ail right, Pap" she cheerfully said,
giving the sunburnt little man a
hearty kiss E..a. -.
III 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.
Bettfe's Visitor. III E.E.
Bettle felt rather lonesome The mill
was a lone place, for from any other
lhouSe. All around were mountains,
rocky bluffs and darkly-wooded ra-
vines. A girl might we'll be terror
sstiicken at thought of being left help
less and solitary at such an environ
fhcnt- But Bette sang and did not
think of being afraid. Nor did it start
lie her when, presently, she heard a
voice lnd turning, saw in the doorway
a low-broWed, hairy-faced man, who
carried a pack on his back and gazed
esat her with villairols black eyes that
were overhung by shaggy eyebrows.
T mornin Miss" he said, smiling
~atrociously. "Where's the Teddy O. the
@h0useW .
Bette returned his smile, and while
she was telling him that she had no
mother and that her father had gone
away to stay all day, she fetched a
stool and offered it to him.
The man set his bundle on the floor,
took Il greasy red handkerchief out Of
i.ls hat III d mOpred his face - -
THANK ye," he said, when he was
comfortably astride the stool. II have
walked lo:ig ways. Hain't he'd no
lbrekfus'"
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 naa3l. ye, ..2, Miss" , He He leered
enough" =
He ate like a famished wolf.
Meantime Bette had to look after
the glist that was grinding When she
returned the man began asking ques-
tions. He seemed anxious to 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
df the, mill made her father much
money.
Bette told him all that she knew,
not dreaming of impropriety or dan
ger. The man presently began walking
about the mill, and his furtive eyes
scanned things with a strange, greedy
JIcok - - - .. :
|'Where does yer daddy keep his
:1moIey?" he suddenly demanded.
For the first time Bette felt a chill
Of fear run up her back.
IL don't know" she stammered.
The man gave her a 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 futtering heart the fright
ened girl stood for a while, quite una
Die to think; she bravely tried to shake
off her weakness, vaguely aware that
everything now depended upon cool
ness and tact. There was no mistaking
the mans desperate character and evil
purpose. He had stepped outside
-Hnerely to make sure that no one was
likely to come soon to the mill. Peep
ing at 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 ncrvously.
A firm, brave and hoL est nature may
he frightened; but it can be relied upon
always 70 make the most of it's oppor-
sunities. especially in s,ldde1, >emergen-
ry. Bette rallied quickly from her tit
OF confusion and flung out of her brain
every thought of being mastered by
brutal and half-craZed tramp. He
might kill her, but not if she could pre-
vent it. And when he came in again
' the cunning villain saw by the first
glance the change in Bettie's face.