The Detroit times., 1911-11-01
CHAPTER XVI.
Murrell ShoWa His Hand.


At length points OF light began TO
show through chinks in the logs.
Hannibal 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 ar 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 will love to find
US"
''Hark, What was THAR" for Betty
had caught the distant splash OF oars.
Hannibal found chink in the logs
through which by dint OF much squint-
ing he secured partial view OF the
bayou.
They're fetching up keel boat to
the srore. Miss Betty-it's a whop-
per-" he announced. Betty's heart
sank; she never doubted the purpose
for which that boat was brought into
the bayou. or that II nearly concern
ed herself
Half an hour later Mrs Hicks ap-
pcared with their breakfast. II was In
vain that Betty attempted TO engage
her in conversation Either she cher.
ished some personal feeling of dis
like for her prisoner. or else the sit
uation in which she herself was plac-
ed had little TO recommend il, even
TO her dull mind, and her dissatisfac-
| ton was expressed in her attitude
| toward the girl.
Betty passed the long hours OF
| morning In dreary speculation con-
corning 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 rea-
sonably suppose George had driven
| her into Raleigh or TO the Bowens'
and that she had kept the carriage.
t Finally all her hope conferred ON
Judge Price. He would expect Han
nibal during the morning; perhaps,
when the boy did not arrive he would
be tempted to go out TO Belle Plain
I 10 discover the reason OF his non-ap-
pearance She wondered what theories
would offer themselves to his ingen.
| ious mind, for she sensed something
OF that indomitable energy which in
the face of rebuffs and laughter car
ried him into the thick of every SEN
/ sation.
| At noon Mrs. Hicks, as sullen as I'm
the morning. brought them their din
ner. She had scarcely quilted the loft
when shrill whistle pierced the si-
lence that hung above the clearing.
II was twice repeated, and the two
women were heard TO go from the
cabin. Perhaps half an hour elapsed.
then a step became audible on the
packed earth of the dooryard. Some
one entered the room below and be-
gan to ascend the narrow stairs, and
Betty's fingers closed convulsively
about Hannibals. This was neither
Mrs. Hicks, nor her daughter. nor
Slosson with his clumsy shuttle. There
was a brief pause when the landing
was reached, but il was only mo-
mentary, a hand lifted the bar, the
door was thrown open. and its space
framed the figure of a man. 1t was
| John Murrell.
| Standing there, he regarded Betty
| In silence, but a deep-seated fire glow
cd in his sunken eyes. The sense OF
possession was raging through him.
! his temples throbbed, a fever stirred
his blood. Love, such as il was, he
undoubtedly felt for her, and even
| his giant project, with all its mon
strous qualifications, was lost sight
OF for the moment. She was the in
spiration for It all, the goal and re-
ward for which he struggled.
Betty" the single word fell softly
from his lips. He stepped into the
(Continued).