The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-04-20
CHAPTER XXV.-CoNT1NuED.


the darkness might easily evade them,
but he sped away with the speed of the
wind, never for moment giving
thought to where he was going;
straight through the grove, over the
ridge. and down to the rice fields edge.
He struck the rice fields, where one of
the banks that divided them extended
from the upland to the main dyke On
the river front, and down this bank he
darted, straight for the river, but he
had not got more than 500 yards down
the bank before he ran into the arms of
a stalwart figure approaching from the
opposite direction.
Hey! What have we here?" said the
man who held Lathrop with a grip not
20 be shaken off; ''stand ON the other
side, Bill, and flash your light"
A man passed Lathrop and his cap
tors, and removed the cap from bulls
eye lantern, and threw the light on La
throp's face.
1t was the face of one whose features
were stamped with insanity. He was
bareheaded. the blood was trucking
from his forehead, lips and nose. which
showed that he had come in contact
with many trees in his flight. His Gle
gantwedding suitwas torn and splashed
with mud, but he was recognized.
envy God, Bill, it's Herbert Lathrop,
the man we're after. We will return.
Murderer. do you know who has you
now? Black Beard!''
Not word fell from the lips of Her
bert, as he was hurried along in the dl-
rection of the river. When they ar
rived there they tumbled him into
boat, in which already sat four men.
.'Now if Hendricks and Bullion We're
here, we'd be off, said Black Beard.
I'm sorry now I sent them up the other
bank 1 told them to 60 but half way,
halt at cross flood gate, and there re-
main until summoned. Throw high
your light, Bill, for minute; they eN-
pect the signal from the other way, but
they may see it.
Bill fastened the bull's-eye to the oar,
removed the cap and held it aloft.
There. that will do; they should
have seen that
While these events were transplrlng,
the two officers had by chance struck
the very bank on which Hendricks and
Bullion were stationed, ond as they
passed noiselessly Oh towards the river
suddenly they saw the light OF a mach
not thirty feet ahead of them.
Hendricks had struck It to light his
pipe
Easy. mate, easy whispered one Of
them.
They crawled down on the edge of the
bank, and got up opposite them, almost
within reach, and lay quiet.
This is our last adventure. Bullion,
said Hendricks. ''If Black Beard gets
that fellow Lathrop, as he's after, we
leave these diggins' forehever."
II amt sorry said Bullion; ''it's
time. To tell you the truth, Hendricks
this piratin' is mighty bad business
It's so risky, when we get our part OF
the dough- I'm in it for quits on pi
ratin' [ am"
Wen git that before we sail. Every
man will have his share. Black Beard:
square to his men,"
He is that. but | hope he'll quit the
life. He's too good d man to stretch
hemp. Who but him could have man
aged that Washington job?"
''Blest il it amt time we had signal
il we're goin' to have one. You bid'
here. Bullion. and I'll drop back 10 tn,
boat,and see if they haven't come back.
The officers heard Hendricks wall
away toward the river. They gave hin
fully five minutes, at the end Of whicl
time Bullion felt the cold muZZles o
two pistols pressed suddenly agains
his head.
"A move and you're dead man
\ moment more and he was disarmed
handcuffed and marched hurried:y tO
wards the uplands.
When Hendricks returned to tn
floodgate Bullion was not there.
What has become OF Bullion?" h
thought. He called his name severa
times. but no answer. He flashed hi
lantern in several directions, but coul
see no one He searched the ground.
1t appeared as though more than on
person had last been over it, and on tn
other side of the bank the long gras
looked as though some one had crawle
through it.
He waited until he saw the lgt
dashed from the lantern of Bill Gibb
which was suspended IN the air by tn
oar. ard returned to the boat, where h
found the captain with Gibbs and l.;
throp seated.
TN here, captain, but l can't lin
Bullion
Cant find Bullion? What's beconl
of him."
II left him at the fioodgate and cam
back ERE to see admit you returned, an
when | got back he was gone. From tn
walk and the grass there, 1T looks liz
others had been along there"
Hardly" said Black Beard, "if an.
one had, Bullion would have steppe
into the rice field"
That DE would" said flunkett. 1T
faint-hearted is Bullion.
I'VE will wait ten minute. Cor hir