The Princeton union., 1900-04-05

9EysSs
5 Hl
conversation; "these things are SO dis
gnsting!'
Evelyn fixed the captain with a con-
temp:uous gaze.
but the man may be as Innocent as
You are" burst from her lips. 81
mean,' She added, spitefully, :as inno-
cent as you are of killing the old wom-
| an"
Wrinkle. bit his lower lip and twisted
his mustache. He gave her his eyes
threateningly for moment, and then
took another tack.
"Fanshaw certainly is making him
self conspicuous enough. He's running
around shouting like a ranting parson
at revival, but these sturdy men take
no notice of him whatever"
The shot told on Evelyn. In the pres
ence of her father, she dreaded the dis
| closure that Winkle, in his anger, might
make with regard to her int timacy with
Ronald; but the old gentleman paid no
heed to their innuendoes.
''He certainly is foolhardy," he joined
in; ''but to save me can but admire
the fellows courage. Why" the colonel
snapped his fat fingers, ':if he keeps
that sort of thing up, or tries to inter
fere when the man is caught, wouldn't
give pinch of snuff for his life. Some
chap like sgd Hart would draw bead
on him, and be proud of it till the end
of his days"
her arms round Evelyn's waist.
Don't act hastily, my DEAR" was her
whispered warning; and she drew the
girl to the other end of the veranda.
Don't you see what he wants?" she
asked; she is trying to rouse your ia
theirs suspicious"
About five o'clock the occasional
shouts in the swamp grew louder and
nearer, and into them was suddenly
blended the ominous baying of dogs.
"The hounds!" announced the
colonel, tragically.
"And they are out for business" glee-
fully added the captain; they are
headed this way"
| Evelyn and Mrs. Lancaster stood lean
ing against the balustrade, their faces
towards the swamp.
"Come inside, DEAR" said the latter
ut will do no good to witness it,
But our young lady only shook her
head.
After few minutes the shouting and
baying of the hounds died down. The
colonel gave it as his opinion that they
were off the track, but that it was only
a question of time before they would
catch the scent again.
Two hours passed. The sun sank be-
hind the distant mountain peaks. The
sky beyond was as red as blood. The
wisps of clouds lying against the noun
tain-sides looked like glaciers. The
landscape took on a delicate veil of
gray. Objects in the distance began to
assume vague shapes. The dark out
lines of the swamp were fast merging
into the night.
"They have been taking zig-zag
course" proclaimed Hasbrooke from
his end of the veranda. THE rascal
will be as Timber as a rag when he is
treed. There are no two ways about it;
it's all up with him; the darkness will
not be in his favor; nothing but blood
will satisfy the fury of that mob
DO you mean that the sheriff will
not be able TO control them?" queried
Mrs. Lancaster, who had begun to walk
about nervously.
He'd have to have lot of backbone
to even try it," answered her host.
"He'd be knocked out like straw in a
hurricane; murderers of old women
glo-Saxons."
Ithad grown dark, save for the light Of
the moon, which had just risen and
loomed up like a huge conflagration be-
yond the tree-tops. For|yet half an
hour only an intermittent shout or the
sudden outburst of barking was heard
from the swamp, but each time the
sounds were nearer. Old Ephraim, as if
anticipating his masters desires, drove
round the horses and trap.
"A good idea," approved the colonel;
"gentlemen, we might as well get near
er. I think l know where they will
come out. ~
"By all means!" cried the captain,
with enthusiasm. He was the first to
get seat in the vehicle, and was fol-
lowed by his host and Mr.. Hardy.
When the trap had gone, Miss Has
brooke retired to her room with some
complaining allusion to her nerves, and
Evelyn and Mrs. Lancaster remained on
theveranda, guarded only by the old ne
gro, who stood like a sentry on duty at
the foot of the steps
ooh, Mrs. Lancaster!" exclaimed Ev-
elyn, Il feel as if he is going into dan
ger-that they will kill him!"
For a moment the old woman made
no response, and when she did it was
with evident emotion.
Il pray God that he may not be
harmed" Her tone was almost a
prayer in itself.
The baying and shouting were now
very near. Half a mile away torch
| lights like firefiieS began TO fit a1ono