Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-08
CHAPTER XIV.
Tho Bubble Bursts.

fudge was hurting threats and insults
st ColoneLFentresS, three men were
waiting ten miles away at the. head Of
the bayou which served to isolate
Hicks cabin. Now no one or 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. TO this
end they were lounging about the
opening in the woods where the
horses belonging TO Ware snd Murrell
were tied.
At length the dip OF oars became
audible in the silence and one OF the
trio stole down the path. matter OF
nifty yards, to point that overl)Oked
the bayou. He was gone but lmo-
ment.
Its Murrell all right" he ID In
an eager whisper. Hin and another
Yellow-the Hicks girl Is rowing
them" He glanced from one to the
other of his companions. who seemed
to take firmer hold OF themselves I'M
der his eye. It'll be all right" he
protested lightly. Hes as good as
ours. Wait till 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 step or two in ad-
vance OF his friend. They reached the
horses and were untying them when
the thicket suddenly disgorged the
three men: each held cooked pistol:
two of these pistols covered Murrell
and the third was leveled at Ware.
"Hues!" cried Murrell in astonish-
ment, for the man confronting him
was the Clans messenger who should
have been speeding across the state.
Toss up your hands, Murreli." said
Hues quietly.
One OF the other men spoke.
lyon are under arrest"
Arrest"
"You are wanted for nigger.steal.
ing" said the man. Still Murreli did
not seem to comprehend. He looked
ut Hues in dull wonder.
"What are you doing here?" he
asked.
WAITING to arrest you-ain't that
plain?" said Hues, with grim smile.
The outlaws hands dropped at his
side, limp and helpless. With some
idea that he might attempt to draw
al weapon one OF the men took hold
Of him, but Murrell was nerveless TO
hts touch: his face had gone ghast-
" 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 in
artlculate murmur.
ITS all up. John" said Hues.
mo-" said Murrell, recovering him.
self. You. may as we'll turn me loose
you can't arrest me-"
Eve 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 bead.
Where a Ire you going TO take me-"
asked Murten quickly. Again Hues
laughed.
You'll fhd 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
OIL Murrella shouIer, and one or his
companions |close at his heels, while
the third NJ an led on the outlaws
horse.
Presently the distant clatter OF
boots was bdrne to Wares ears-only
that: the miracle OF courage and dar-
ing he had half expected had not hap
pened. MurHell, for all his wild boast
Ing. was liks other men. like himself.
His .bloodsh$t eyes slid around in
their sockets There across the sun
lit stretch of water was Betty-the
thought of her brought him to quick
choking terrors. The whole fabric OF
crime by which be had been benefited
In the past or had expected to profit
in the future seemed topping in upon
him.. but his mind clutched one i'm.
portant fact Hues, II he knew OF
Betty's disappearance, did not con-
meet Murrell with it. Ware sucked in
comfort between his twitching lips.
Stealing niggers! No one would be-
lieve that be, planter, had hand in
that, and for a brief instant he con-
sidered signaling Bess to return. Slos-
son must be told OF Murrells 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 q
hone,ess beaten gesture. And Muir.