Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-02-13
ing away" she explained. Hanniba
nodded understandingly.

from the room.
IT only trust you, dear!"
What makes you go? Was 1t some
thing that woman told you? Are they
coming after US, Miss Betty? Is II
Captain Murrell?"
Captain Murrell?" There was less
of mystery now, but more of terror
and her hand stole up to her heart
and, white and slim, rested against
the black fabric Of her dress.
! Don't you be scared, Miss Betty!'
said Hannibal.
They went silently from the house
and again crossed the lawn to the
terrace. Under the leafy arch which
canopied them there was already the
deep purple Of twilight.
do you reckon it were Captain Muir
rell shot Mr.. Norton, Miss Betty?'
asked Hannibal, in a shuddering whis-
per.
"Hush-Oh, hush, Hannibal! 1t Ia
too awful to even speak Of" and
sobbing and half hysterical, she COW
cred her face with her hands.
But where are we going. Miss Bet
ty?" asked the boy.
IT don't know, dear!" she had an
agonizing sense Of the nights approach
and of her utter helplessness.
'Ill tell you what, Miss Betty, let's
go to the Judge and Mr.. Mahaffy!'
said Hannibal.
Judge Price," She had not thought
of him as a possible protector.
why, Miss Betty, amt told you
he amt afraid Of nothing? We could
walk to Raleigh easy II you don't
want your niggers to hook up team
for you."
Betty suddenly remembered the car
riage which had taken the judge into
town; she was sure 1t had not yet
returned.
I'VE will go to the judge. Hannibal!
George, who drove him into Raleigh,
has not come back; II We hurry we
may meet him on the road"
Screened by the thick shadows, they
passed up the path that edged the
BAYOU; at the head Of the inlet they
entered a clearing, and crossing this
they came to the cornfield which lay
between the house and the highroad.
Following one of the shock rows they
hurried to the mouth Of the lane.
Hannibal, I don't want to tell the
Judge why I am leaving Belle Plain
about the woman, I mean," said Betty.
You reckon they'd kill her, don't
you, Miss Betty, II they knew what
she'd done?" speculated the boy. 1t
occurred to him that an adequate ex-
PLANTATION of their flight would require
preparation, since the Judge was at all
times singularly alive to the slightest
discrepancy of statement. They had
issued from the cornfield now and
were going along the road toward Raj
eigh. Suddenly Betty paused.
"Hark!" she whispered.
. TT were nothing. Miss Betty" said
Hannibal reassuringly, and they hur-
ried forward again. In the utter still
ness through which they moved Betty
heard the beating Of her own heart,
and the soft, and all but inaudible pat
ter Of the boys bare feet on the warm
dust of the road. Vague forms that
resolved themselves into trees and
bushes seemed to creep toward them
out of the nights black uncertainty.
Once more Betty paused.
1T were nothing Miss Betty" said
Hannibal as before, and he returned 10
his consideration Of the judge. He
sensed something of that intellectual
nimbleness which his patrons physi-
cal makeup in nowise suggested, since
his face was a mask that usually left
one in doubt as to Just how much OF
what he heard succeeded in making
its impression on him; but the boy
knew that Slocum Prices blind side
was a shelterless exposure.
You don't think the carriage could
have passed us while we were cross
ing the corn -feld?" said Betty.
mo, I reckon we couldn't a-missed
hearing It." answered Hannibal. He
had scarcely spoken when they caught
the rattle of wheels and the beat OF
hoofs. These sounds swept nearer and
nearer, and then the darkness disgorg-
ed the Belle Plain team and carriage.
"George!" cried Betty, world OF
relief in her tones.
Whoa, you!" and George refined In
his horses with jerk. Who's dar?'
he asked, bending forward on the box
as he sought to pierce the darkness
with his glance.
George"
"Oh, it you, Missy?"
Yes, wish you to drive me into
Raleigh" said Betty. and she and Han
nibal entered the carriage.
"All right, Missy. Yo'-all ready TO
me to go along out O. here?"
"Yes-drive fast, George!" urged
Betty.
ITS right dark fo' fast drivin', Mis-
sy, with the road les aimin' TO to bus
yo' springs with chuckholes!" He had
turned his horses heads in the direc-
ton Of Raleigh while he was speaking.
Its scandalous black in these heah
woods, Missy 'clar never seen 1t
no blacker!"
The carriage swung forward for
perhaps hundred yards, then sudden
ly the horses came to a dead stop.
Go along on. dar!" cried George.
and struck them with his whip, but the
horses only reared and plunged.
Hold on, nigger!" said a rough
voice out Of the darkness.
What yo' doin'?" the coachman
gasped. Don vo' know dis de Belle
Plain carriage? Take yo' hams often
to dem hosses' bits!"
Two men stepped to the side Of the
carriage.
"Show your light, Bunker" said the
same rough voice that had spoken be-
fore. Instantly a hooded lantern was
uncovered, and Hannibal uttered a cry
of terror. He was looking into the face
of Slosson, the tavern keeper.
To Be Continued.