The Washington herald., 1911-11-12

he looked back over his shoulder; he saw
that Darlington had not moved from the
spot where they had met.
At Belle Plain, Ware found his neigh
bors in possession of the place. They
greeted him quietly and spoke in sub
dued tones Of their sympathy. The plan
ter listened with an air of such abject
misery that those who had neither liked
nor respected him were reused to a sud
den generous feeling where he was con-
cerned; they could not question but that
he was deeply affected. After all the
man might have a side to his nature with
which they had never come in contact.
When he could he shut himself in his
room. He had experienced a day of
maddening anxiety; he had not slept at
all the previous night: in mind and body
he was worn. out; and now he was
plunged into the thick of this sensation.
He must keep control Of himself, for
every word he said would be remem-
bered. In the present there was sympa-
thy for him. but sooner or later people
would return to their sordid International
judgments.
He sought to forecast the happenings
of the next few hours. Murrelrs friends
would break jail for him; that was a
foregone conclusion; but the insurrection
he had planned was at an end. Hues
had dealt its death blow. Moreover.
though the law might be impotent to
deal with Murrell, he could not hope To
escape the vengeance of the powerful
class he had plotted to destroy; he would
have to quit the country. Ware gloated
in this idea of craven fight. Thank God,
he had seen the 4ast of him!
But, as always, his thoughts came
back to Betty. Slosson would wait at
f4H h.
promised him, and, failing the messen-
ger, for the signal fire, but there would
be neither; and SlossQp would be left
to determine his owr Course of action.
Ware felt certain that he would wait
through the right, but as sure as the
morning broke, if no word had reached
him, he would send one of his men
across the bayou, who must learn or
MurrelTs arrest escape, f1ight-for In
Wares mind these three events were
associated. The planter
teeth knocked together. He was having
a terrible acquaintance with fear, its
very deDths had swallowed him up; it
was a black pit in which he sank from
horror to horror He had lost all faith
in the Clan which had terrorized half
dozen States, which had robbed and muir
dered with apparent impunity, which mad
marketed its hundreds of stolen slaves.
He had utterly collapsed at the first
blow dealt the organization. but he was
still seeing Murrell, pallid and shaken.
A step sounded in the hall and an IN
slant later Hicks entered the room
without the formality of knocking. ware
recognized his presence with glance
Of Indifference, but did not speak. Hicks
slouched to his employers side and
handed him a note, which proved to be
from Fentress Ware read and tossed
il aside.
IF he wants to see me, why don't he
come here?' he growled. =
Il reckon that old fellow they call
Judge Price has sprung something sud
den on the colonel" said Hicks. He
was out here the first thing this morn
ing: you'd have thought he owned Belle
Plain. There was a couple of strangers
with him. and he had me in and fired
questions at me for half an hour; then
he hiked off up to The Oaks"
''MurrelTs been arrested said Ware
IN a dull level voice Hicks gave him
4 glance OF unmixed astonishment.
Nor
Yes; by God"'
Who'd risk it?''
Risk it? Man, he almost tainted
lead away-a damned coward. He'll"
How do you know this?' asked
Hicks, appalled,.
Il was with him when he was taken
it was Hues-the man he trusted more
han any other Ware gave the over
seer a ghastly grin and was silent, but
n that silence he heard the drumming
IF his own heart. He went on. Il
tell you, to save himself, John Murren
will implicate the rest of US; we've got
to get him free. and then, by hell
we ought to knock him in the head;
le isn't At to live!'
THE jail amt built that'll hold him.
Hicks.
"Of course, he can't be held" agreed
Ware And he'll never be brought to
rial; no lawyer will dare appear against
him, no jury will dare to find him guilty;
0ut there's Hues, what about him.? He
paused. The two men looked at each
other for a long moment
Where did they carry the captain?'
Il don't know"
1T looks like the Clan was in a hell
ired hole-but shucks! What will be
easier than to fix Hues, and while
.hey're fixing folks they'd better not over
o0lx that old fellow Price. He's got some
notion about Fentress and the boy Mr..
Hicks did not consider it necessary to eX-
plain that he was himself largely re-
Sponsible for this.
How do you know that?" demanded
Ware.
He as good as said So" Hicks looked
at the planter. He knew him
elf to be compromised. The stranger
lamed Cavendish had forced an admis-
,ion from him that Murrell would not
:ondone If it came to his knowledge. He
lad also acq Tired a very proper and
wholesome fear of Judge Slocum Price
lie stepped close to Wares side. 'What'Il
.ome Of the girl, Tom? Can you figure
hat out?' he questioned, sinking his
'oice almost to a whisper. But Ware
vas incapRble of speech; again his ter
ors comt letely overwhelmed him. II
eckon you'll have to find another over
eer. I'm going to strike out for Texas"
aid Hicks.
Wares eyes met his for an instant. He
lad thought of flight, too; was still think
ng of 1t, but greed was as much a part
# his nature as fear; Belle Plain was a
'rize not to be lightly cast aside, and 1t
vas almost his. He lurched across the
DOM to the window. If he were going
o act, the sooner he did so the better,
nd gain respite from his fears. The
DAD down the coast slid away before his
leavy eyes; he marked each turn; then
palsy of fear shook him, his heart beat
galnst his ribs, and he stood gnawing
lis lips while he gazed up at the sun.
DO you get what / say Tom? am
Ioing to quit these parts" said Hicks,
Ware turned slowly from the window.
'All right, Hicks. You mean you want
ne to settle with you, is that it?" he
sked.
Yes; I'm going to leave while I can;
maybe can't later on" said Hucks
tolidly. He added: IT am going to start
own the coast as soon as 1t turns dark,
nd before it's day again I'll have put
he good miles between me and these
ARTS"