Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-10-03
Bettie'sPriso2Qr

grlSt-mill. run Dy an
wheel ON a mere spring runnius
among the mountains OF NortheAs'ein
Georgia. II was owned by an honest
har,i-worklng nan named Harvey
sapp. who was a wldower with put
one child, a daughter. fifteen years oiu.
one morning, early In june. Mr.. sapp
said TO his daughter: -.
Bette, I'm going a. me o,ons
Roads. 70 be gone all day. There y
bag OF corn to grind. We look ai'er
that. will YEP -,
Bette was quite accustomed TO beihs
left alone in the little mill, her IalhsI
having been frequently away attend
Ing 10 matters of business, ahd she
knew as well as he how 10 grind.
'.All right. Pap" she cheerfully salu,
giving the sunburnt little map
hearty kiss,
mi be back afore dark, little un.
he called, assuringly, from, the uusly
doorstep. Then he mounted his Drown
mule and rode away down the Winning
mountain trail
Bette felt rather lonesome. The NH
was a lone place, for from any otnef
rocky bluffs and darkly wooded "a
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 u STAR
ie her when, presently, she heard q
! voice and. turning, saw in the doorway
/ -bf0wed, halry-fseed nam wh2
carried a pack ON his back and gazed
| at her with viilairOts black eyes that
were oyerhung by shaggy eyebrows.
/ CO mornln' Miss" he said, smiling
atroclously. where's the Teddy o the
i houseT'
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
stool and offered II 10 him.
The man set his bundle on the noor.
took greasy red handkerchief out Of
his hat al mopred his face.
Thank ye," he said. when he Was
comfortably astrlde the stool. Il have
walked log ways. Hain't he'd no
brekfus'"
Bette felt sorry for him. lie looked
hungry and worn. She fetched some
bread and milk and cold bacon.
''Im most ashamed 10 offer Il; but III
the best we've got" She said.
Thank ye. Miss" lie leered
strangely. Yer kind. It's good
enough"
He ate like famIshed wolf.
Meantime Bette had 70 look aftei
the giIst that was grinding When sh'
returned the man began asking ques
lions. He seemed anxious TO know
how far away from the mill the near
est neighbors lived. and he inquiries
about how many customers usually
came each day for thslr grinding. an'
II the mill made her father mucl
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 eye
scanned things with a strange, greed.
look.
where does yer daddy keep hl
money!" he suddenly demanded.
For the first time Bette felt a chill
Of fear run up her back.
IL don't know" she stammeret
, The man gave her sharp, wicks
. glance, then went through the iron
doorway, and Bette saw him lookin
I
same time he appeared 10 be listening
With n futterink heart the frigh
ened girl stood for while. quite uni
BILE to think; she brnyely tried 10 shak
/, OF her weakness, vaguely aware this
everything now depended upon COO
ness and tnct. There was no mistaken
the mans desperate character and ~
purpose. He had stepped outsid
] merely to make sure that no one wa
Y likely TO come soon 10 the min. Peel
' ing at him through n little windOg
hole, Bette saw that his dark IN,
was drawn and bloodless. His liz
were twitcblng at intervals and b
: hands opened and shut ucryOusly.
i A firm, brave and hor est nature ma
!, be frightened: but II can be- relied ups
|, always 20 make the most Of Its oppo
!, tunities. especially in sudden emerge
= cy, Bette rallied quickly from her
Of confusion and flung out Of her bra
, every thought of beinx mastered by
brutal and half-craZed tramp. =
! might kill her. but not II she could pr
vent II. And when he came in aga
:, the cunning villain saw by the fir
~ glance the chnuQp I'm uaftla'a Fac