The Washington herald., 1911-11-12
CHAPTER XXI.
The Bubble Bursts.

which served to isolate Hicks cabin.
Now, no one of these three had ever
heard of Judge Slocum Price; the breath
of his fame had never blown, however
gently, in their direction, yet they were
preparing to thrust opportunity upon
him. Tc th!= end they were lounging
about the opening in the woods where
the horses belonging to Ware and Muir
rell were tied.
At length the dip of oars became audi
BILE in the silence and one OF the trio
stole down the path, a matter of fifty
yards, to a point that overlooked the
bayou. He was gone but a moment
It's MurrelI, all right" he said in an
eager whisper. Him and another fellow
the Hicks girl is rowing them He
glanced from one to the other of his
companions, who seemed to take firmer
hold of themselves under his eye. It'll
be all right" he protested lightly Hes
as good as ours. Wait till I give you
the word" And he led the way into an
adjacent thicket
Meantime Ware and Murrell had landed
and were coming along the path, the
outlaw a step or Two in advance of his
friend They reached the horses and
were untying them when the thicket sud
denly disgorced the three men; each held
a cooked pistol; two of these pistols
covered Murren and the third was leveled
at Ware.
''Hues." cried Murrell in establishment.
for the mar confronting him was the
Clans messenger who should have been
speeding across the State.
Toss up your hands, Murrell." said
Hues quietly.
One Of the other men spoke.
You are under arrest
''Arrest"'
You are wanted for nigger-stealing,
said the man. Still Murrell did not seem
TO comprehend He looked at Hues in
dull wonder.
What are you doing here?" He asked
Waiting to arrest you-ain't that
piain?' said Hues, with a grim smile.
The outlaws hands drooped at his side,
limp and helpless. With some idea that
he might attempt to draw a weapon one
of the men took hold of him, but Murren
was nerveless to his touch; his face had
gone a ghastly white and was streaked
with the markings of terror.
We'll, by thunder" cried the man in
utter amazement-
Murrell looked into Hues' face.
''You-you-'' and the words thick
ened on his tongue, becoming an inar-
ticulate murmur.
It's all up, John" said Hues.
No" said MurreIl, recovering him
self You may as well turn me loose
you can't arrest me!'
I've done it." answered Hues. I've
been on your track for six months"
How about this fellow?" asked the
man whose pistol still covered Ware.
Hues glanced toward the planter and
shook his head.
Where are you going to take me?"
asked Murren quickly. Again Hues
laughed.
you'll find that out in plenty of time,
and then your friends can pass the word
around if they like; now you'll come
with ME"
Ware neither moved nor spoke as Hues
and his prisoner passed back along the
Path. Hues with his hand on MurreITs
shoulder, and one of bis companions close
at his heels. while the third man led off
the outlaws horse.
Presently the distant clatter of hoofs
was borne to Wares ears-only that; the
miracle of courage and daring he had
half expected had not happened. Murren
for all his wild boasting, was like other
men. like himself. His bloodshot eyes
slid around in their sockets. There across
the sunlit stretch of water was Betty
the thought of her brought him to quick
choking terrors. The whole fabric of
crime by which he had been benefited in
the past or had expected to profit in the
future seemed toppling in upon him, but
his mind clutched one important fact.
Hues, if he knew of Betty's disappear
ance did not connect Murrell with 1t.
Ware sucked in comfort between his
twitching lips. Stealing niggers! No one
would believe that he. a planter. had a
hand in that, and for a brief instant he
considered signaling Bess to return. Slos-
son must be told of MurrelTs arrest; but
he was sick with apprehension; some trap
might have been prepared for him, he
could not know; and the impulse to act
forsoOk him.
He smote his hands together in a hope
less, beaten gesture. And Murrell had
gone weak-with his own eyes he had
seen Naturalization he believed with
put fear. He felt that he had been griev-
Ously betrayed in his trust and q hot
rage poured through him. At last he
climbed into the saddle and, swaying
like a drunken man. galloped off.
When he reached the river road he
paused and scanned its dusky surface. |
Hues and his party had turned south |
when they issued from the wood path. |
No doubt Murrell was being taken to |
Memphis. Ware laughed harshly. The
outlaw would be free before another dawn |
broke.
He had halted near where Jim hao
turned his team the previous night after
Betty and Hannibal had left the car
riage; the marks of the wheels were as
plainly distinguishable as the more re-
cent trail left by the four men, and as he |
grasped the significance OF that wide half
circle his sense of injury overwhelmed
him again. He hoped to live to see Muir
rell hanged!
He was so completelN lost in his Bit
ter reflections that he had been unaware
Of a mounted man who was coming to-
ward him at a swift gallop, but now he
heard the steady pounding of hoofs and.
startled by the sound. looked up. A mo- |
nent later the horseman drew rein at his !
side.
"WareP he cried.
How are you, Carrington?" said the |
planter.
You are wanted at Belle Plain" began |
Darlington, and seemed to hesitate
''Yes-yes, / am going there at once
now" stammered Ware, and gathered
Ip his reins with shaking hand
You've beard. I take it?' said Car
-ington slowly.
yes" answered Ware, in hoarse |
whisper. my God. Carrington, I'm heart |
Iick; she has been like a daughter to me !