Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1911-12-14

kets, which are auctioned on In the pal
brother with string tie and few we
the life-saving station of the church,
the form of kicks about the conee al
fit before him and lure him on. Pres
emily he caught his first glimpse OF
the bayou and his legs shook unoer
him; but the path wound deeper SUI!
into what appeared to be an untoucned
solitude. wound on between the crowd
ing tree forms, little back from the
shore, with an intervening tangie OF
vines and bushes. He scanned tnls
closely as he hurried forward, scarcely
conscious that he was searching 1or
some trampled space at the waters
edge; but the verdant wall preserved
it's unbroken continuity, and twenty
minutes later he came within sight OF
the Hicks clearing and the keel boat,
where it rested against the bank.
A little farther on he found the spot
where Slosson had launched the sklfl
the night before. The keel OF his boat
had cut deep into the slippery clay;
more than this, the impress OF the
small shoe was repeated here, and Just
beside 1t was the print OF chlid,
bare foot. ~
He no longer doubted that Betty and
Hannibal had been taken across the
bayou to the cabin. and he ran back up
the path the distance of mile ana
plunged into the woods on his right,
his purpose being to pass around the
head of the expanse Of sluggish water
to a point from which he could later
approach the cabin. r.,
But the cabin proved to be better
defended than he had foreseen; and as
he advanced, the difficulties Of the
task he had set himself became almost
insurmountable: yet sustained as he
was by his imperative need. he tore
his way through the labyrinth Of trail
| ing vines, or floundered across acre
wide patches of green slime and black
mud, which at each step threatened to
4 engulf him in their treacherOus depths,
until at the end OF an hour he gained
the southern side of the clearing and
! firmer footing within the shelter Of
the woods. -s...... .,aa.E ..5-... ~
Here he paused and took stock of his
surroundings. The two or three build
ings Mr.. Hicks had erected stood mid
way of the clearing and we're very
modest improvements adapted to their
owners somewhat flippant pursuit OF
agriculture. While Darlington was still
staring about him, the cabin door
swung open and a woman stepped
forth. It was the girl Bess. She went
to corner of the building and called
loudly: .r..
Joe! Oh, joel"
! Darlington glanced in the direction
of the keel boat and an instant later
saw Slosson Chamber over It's side. The
tavern-keeper crossed to the cabin.
where he was met by Bess, who placed
in his hands what seemed to be a
wooden bowl. With this he slouched off
TO one of the outbuildings, which he
entered. Ten or fifteen minutes slipped
by, then he came from the shed and
after securing the door. returned to
the cabin. He was again met by Bess,
who relieved him Of the bowl; they ex-
changed few words and Slosson
walked away and afterward disap-
peared over the side of the keel boat.
This much was clear to the Ken
tuckien: food had been taken to some
one in the shed--to Betty and the boy!
more likely to George.
| He waited now for the night to
come, and to him the sun seemed
fixed in the heavens. At Belle Plain
Tom Ware was watching It with a
shuddering sense of the swiftness Of
It's flight. But at last the tops Of the
tall trees obscured it; it sank quickly
then and bIazed ball Of fire beyond
the Arkansas coast. while it's dying
glory spread aslant the heavens, turn
ing the flanks OF the gray clouds to
violet and purple and gold.
| With the first approach of darkness
Darlington made his way to the shed.
Hidden in the shadow he paused to
listen. and fancied he heard difficult
breathing from within. The door
creaked hideously on it's wooden
hinges when he pushed 1t back. but as
it swung back the last remnant Of the
days light showed him some dark OBJ
ject lying prone on the dirt floor. He
reached down and his hand rested on
a mans booted foot.
George" Darlington spoke softly,
but the man on the floor gave no sign
that he heard, and Carrington's ques-
tioning touch stealing higher he found
that George-if 1t were George-was
lying on his side with his arms and
legs securely bound. Thinking he slept,
the Kentuckian shook him gently to
arouse him.
"George?" he repeated, still bending
above him. At the same instant the
woody head Of the negro came under
his fingers and he discovered the
reason Of his silence. He was as
securely gagged as he was bound.
Listen, George-it's Darlington j
am going to take off this gag, but
don't speak above a whisper-they
may hear u.s." And he cut the cords
that held the gag in place.
!, How yo' get here, Masr Ca'ington p
asked the negro guardedly, as the gag
fell away.
| "Around the head of the bayou"
! "Lawd" exclaimed George in tone
of wonder.