The Washington herald., 1911-11-06
CHAPTER XVI.
Murren shows His Hand.
By VAUGHAN KESTER

At length points of light began to
show through chinks in the logs Han
nibal reused and sat up. rubbing his
eyes with the backs Of his hands.
Wasn't you able to sleep none?' he
inquired. Betty shook her head. He
looked at her with an expression Of
troubled concern. How soon do you
reckon the Judge will know" he asked
Very soon now, dear" Hannibal was
greatly consoled by this opinion.
Miss Betty. he viii love to find us?"
''Hark! What was that?' for Betty
had caught the distant splash of oars.
Hannibal found a chink in the logs
through which by dint of much squint-
bayou.
They're fetching up a keel boat to
the shore, Miss Betty-it's a whooperT'
he announced. Betty's heart sank; she
never doubted the purpose for which
that boat was brought into the bayou, or
that it nearly concerned herself.
Half an hour later Mrs. Hicks ap-
peared with their breakfast. It was in
vain that Betty attempted to engage her
in conversation. Either she cherished
some personal feeling of dislike for her
prisoners or else the situation in which
she herself was placed had little to rec
ommend 1t, even to her dull mind, and
her dissatisfaction was expressed in her
attitude toward the girl.
Betty passed the long hours OF morn
ing In dreary speculation concerning
what was happening at Belle Plain. In
the end she realized that the day could
go by and her absence occasion no
alarm. Steve might reasonably suppose
George had driven her into Raleigh or
to the Bowens' and that she had kept
the carriage. Finally all her hope CEN
tered on Judge Price. He would expect
Hannibal during the morning; perhaps
when the boy did not arrive he would
be tempted to go out to Belle Plain to
discover the reason of his nonappear-
ance. She wondered what theories would
offer themselves to his ingenious mind.
for she sensed something OF that in
domitable energy which in the face OF
rebuffs and laughter carried him into
the thick Of every sensation.
At noon Mrs. Hicks, as sullen as In
the morning, brought them their dinner.
she had scarcely quilted the loft when
a shrill whistle pierced the silence that
hung above the clearing. It was twice
repeated, and the two women were heard
hour elapsed, then a step became audible
on the packed earth Of the dooryard
Some one entered the room below and
began to ascend the narrow stairs, and
Betty's fingers closed convulsively about
Hannibars. This was neither Mrs. Hicks
nor her daughter, nor SIosson with his
clumsy shuttle. There was a brief pause
when the landing was reached, but ii
was only momentary; a hand lifted the
10 IlO- a.
space framed the figure of a man. It
was John MurrelL.
Standing there he regarded Betty in
silence, but a deep-seated fire glowed in
his sunken- eyes. The sense of possess
sion was raging through him. his temp
Piles throbbed. a fever stirred his blood.
Love, such as 1t was he undoubtedly
felt for her. and even his giant project,
with all its monstrous rami1cations, was
lost sight Of for the moment. She was
the inspiration for 1t all, the goal and
reward for which she struggled.
"Betty!" the single word fell softly
from his lips. He stepped into the room,
closing the door as he did So
The girls eyes were dilating with
mute horror, for by some swift, intuitive
process Of the mind, which asked moth
ing OF the logic Of events. but dealt only
with conclusions. Murrell stood revealed
her thoughts, but he had lived In his
ambitions until the common
judgments or the understanding of them
no longer existed for him. That Betty
had loved Norton seemed inconsequen-
tial. even; It was a memory to be swept
away by the force OF his greater passion.
So he watched her smilipgiy, but back
Of the smile was the menace Of un-
leashed impulse.
Can't you md some word Of welcome
for me BettyT' he asked at length. still
softly, still with something Of entreaty
In his tone.
Then II was you-not Tom-who had
me brought here!' She could have
thanked God had 1t been Tom, whose
hate was not to be feared as she feared
this mans love.
..rom-noi,' ana Murrell laughed. sYou
didn't think I'd glta you upR am stand