Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1911-12-07

MbEh lSll.
n you tuck along after her, with the boy"
What about this nigger?" said Slos.
son. They turned from the road while
he was speaking and entereda a mar.
row path that led off through the
woods, apparently in the direction of
the river. A moment later Betty heard
the carriage drive away They went
onward in silence for little time,
Slosson spoke over his shoulder
Il Eyes, ma'am, I've riz ten children
Ebut none Of 'em was like him-l
trained 'em up to the minute!' MT.
Scissor seemed to have passed COM
|pletely under the spell Of his domestic
recollections. for he continued with
Just 4 touch Of reminiscent sadness IN
his tone There was all told four
Mrs. Slossons; two of 'em was South
! Carolinians, one was from Georgia. and
the last was a widow lady out OF east
Tennessee. Shed buried three hus.
bands and figured we could start per-
fectly even.
j The intrinsic fairness OF this start
made it's strong appeal. Mr. Slosson
dwelt upon 1t with satisfaction. She
had three to her credit, / had three to
mine: neither could crow none over
the other" H..
i AS they stumbled forward through
the thick obscurity he continued his
personal revelations. the present enter
|prise having reused whatever there
was OF sentiment slumbering IN his
soul. At last they came out on wide
bayou; a white mist hung above 1t,
and on the low shore leaf and branch
were dripping with the night dews.
Keeping.close to the waters edge Slos-
son led the way to point where Q
skiff was drawn up on the bank.
| "step in, ma am he said, when he
had launched It. y.
Il will 60 no farther! said Betty ~
desperation. h She felt an overmasterl
ling fear. the full horror of the un-
known lay hold Of her. and she gave
piercing cry for help. Slosson swung
about on his heck and seized her. For
La moment she struggled to escape. but
the mans big hands pinioned her.
mo more Of that" he warned, then
he recovered himself and laughed.
"You could veil TIL you was black in
} the face ma am, and there'd be no one
to hear YOU" a
Where are you taking me?' and
Betty's voice faltered between the sud
den sobs that checked her. i
"Just across to George Hickss.
For what purpose?"
J you'll know in plenty of time
; And Slosson leered at her through the
darkness ~
Hannibal is to 20 with me?" asked
Betty tremlously.
"sure." agreed Slosson affably.
"Your nigger. too-quite party"
: "c'ty stepped into the skin. She
- r hopes quicken--she was think.
ii Of Bess; whatever the girls mo.
| tives. she wished her to escape. She
, would wish it. now more than ever
since the very thing she had striven
! to prevent had happened. Slosson
seated himself and took up the. oars,
, Bunker followed with Hannibal and
. they pushed off. No word was spoken
until they disembarked on the opposite
, shore, when Slosson addressed Bunker
II reckon can manage that young
I rip.staver. you go back after Sherrod
and the Niger" he said %
], He conducted his captives up the
bank and they entered clearing
, Looking across this Betty saw where
J cabin window framed a single square
/ of light They advanced toward this
and presently the dark outline of the
: cabin itself became distinguishable. A
: moment later Slosson paused. door
yielded to his hand, and Betty and the
J boy were thrust into the room where
Murrel had held his conference with
| Fentress and Ware. The two women
were now it's only occupants and the
( mother, gross and shapeless, turned
!, an expressionless face on the intrud
ers; but the daughter shrank into the
| shadow, her burning glance fixed on
} Betty. ID i4
Here's yo' guests. old LADY," said
Mr.. Slosson. Mrs. Hicks rose from
: the three.legged stool on which she
was sitting.
"Hand me the candle. Bess,' she
ordered. Tl"s . #.
. At one side of the room was a steep
flight Of stairs which gave access to the
to the loft overhead Mrs. Hicks, by
| a gesture, signifed that Betty and Han
nibal were to ascend these stairs; they
uIu 81 dliu lOuuu tHSulSCltSo VII a
row inclosed by a partition of rough
; planks, this partition was pierced by
, low door. Mrs. Hicks. who had fol
lowed close at their heels. handed the
candle to Betty.
:, 'In yonder!" she said briefly, nod
ding toward the door, .ss@
Watt" cried Betty in whisper
NO" said the woman with an almost
masculine sur]iness of tone. 81 got
nothing to say She pushed them
into the attic, and closed the door
fastened it with stout wooden bar.
Beyond that door, which seemed tc
have closed on every hope, Betty held
the tallow dip aloft, and by It's uncer
tain and fiickerjng light surveyed hel
prison. The briefest glance sufaced
The room contained two shakedown
beds and a stool. there was q window
4 in the gable. but piece Of heay,
plank was spiked before It.
4 Miss Betty. don't you be scared.