The Detroit times., 1911-11-15
CHAPTER xxxIv.
The Keel Boat


The Keel Boat.
A few minutes later they had sep
arated. George TO hurry away in
search OF the horse. and Darlington tC
pass back along the shore until he
gained a point opposite the clearing
He whispered shrilly three times. and
after an interval OF waiting heard the
splash OF oars and presently saw 4
skiff steal out OF the gloom.
Who's there?" II was Bess who
asked the question.
Darlington" he answered.
Lucky you amt met the other
man" she said as she swept her skin
alongside the bank.
Lucky for him. you mean. I'll take
the oars" added Darlington as he en-
tered the skin.
Slowly the clearing lifted out of the
darkness, then the keel boat became
distinguishable. and Darlington
checked the skin by a backward
stroke OF the oars.
Hello" he called.
There was no immediate answer TO
his hail, and he called again as he
sent the skim forward. He felt that
he was risking all now.
What do you want?" asked sur
~ voice.
You want Slosson." quickly
prompted the girl in a whisper.
II want TO see Slossoni" said Car
rington glibly and with confidence,
and once more he checked the skin.
who be you?"
NJ ad
girl again, in hurried whisper
"Murrell--" And in his astonish-
ment Darlington spoke aloud.
"Murrell?" cried the voice sharply.
sent mel" said Darlington quick
Is, as though completing an unfinished
sentence. The girl laughed nervous
" under her breath.
Row closter," came the sullen
command. and the Kentuckian did as
he was hidden. Four men stood in the
bow OF the keel boat. lantern was
raised aloft and by its light they
looked him over. There was a mo
ment's silence broken by Darlington
who asked:
(Which one of you is Slosson?'
And he sprang lightly aboard the keel
boat.
I'm Slosson.' answered the man
with the lantern. The previous night
Mr.. Slosson had been somewhat I'M
der the enlivening and elevating In
fiuence OF corn whisky, but now he
was his own cherries self, and rather
iaded by the passing OF the hours
which he had sacrificed 70 an irksome
responsibility, What word do you
fetch from the Captain. brother? he
demanded.
Miss Malroy is TO be taken down
river" responded Darlington.
SlaSson- SWnra With -surpassinl
| fuency
Say, we're FIVE able-bodied mer
risking our necks 10 oblige him! You
can get married a damn sight easier
than this IL you go about II right
! I've done. IL lots OF times" Not un
Outstanding the significance OF Slos
sons allusion TO his own matrimonial
career, Darlington. held his peace
4 The tavern-keeper swore again with
unimpaired vigor. You'll find mighty
L few men with more experience thar
me-" he asserted, shaking his head
But II you say the word"
I'm all for getting shut Of this
answered Darlington promptly, with
a sweep of his arm. 81 call these pref
/ ty close quarters
Still shaking his head and mutter
ing the tavern-keeper sprang ashore
Land mounted the bank, where his
slouching figure quickly lost itself In
the night
Darlington took up his station or
the fiat roof OF the cabin which filled
the stern OF the boat. He was re
imembering that day in the sandy
| Barony road-and during all the
weeks and months that had inter
vened. Murrell, working in secret, had
moved steadily toward the fulilment
of his desires! Unquestionabfy he
had been back of the attack on Nor
ton. had inspired his subsequent muir
der and the mans sinister and mys
FERROUS power had never been suspect
ed Darlington knew that the horse
thieves and slave stealers were sup
posed TO maintain loosely knit as
sociation he wondered II Murrell
were not the moving spirit in some
such organization
IF I'd only pushed my quarrel with
HIM" he thought bitterly.
He heard Slosson's shutting ster
in the distance, word or two when
he spoke gruffly to some one, and a
moment later he saw Betty and the
boy, their forms darkly silhouetted
against the lighter sky as they moved
along the top of the bank. Sosson
without any superfuous gallantFy
helped his captives down the slope
and aboard the keel boat, where he
locked them In the cabin the door oil