Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-22
CHAPTER Xxx.
BrMUcHAnkEsTER
caeAs.e a. a~AaAas,A't AA.s ea.a4Avr
Murrs,, Shows HE Hand.

lAurrojl ohews HE Hand.
AZ length points Of light began TO
ehc. through chinks In tho logs. Han
pibal reused and sat up. rubbing his
Dyos With the backs Of his hands.
Wasn't you able to sleep none7" he
Inquired. Betty shook her head. He
looked &C her With an oxpression OF
troubled concern. chow soon do you
reckon the Judge VIII knowr' hs
asked.
..Vsry soon now, dear" Hannibal
was greatly ooasolsd BY this opinion.
| Miss Betty. hs VIII love to ma
49,
"Hark! What was tha&3" for Betty
had caught the distant splash Of oars.
Hannibal found . chink In the logs
through which BY dint Of much squirt
ing no secured . partial view OF the
bayou.
They're fetching up . keel boat to
the shore, Miss Bstty-it's whoop.
erl" he announced. Betty's heart
sank: she never doubted tho purpose
for which that boat vas brought into
the bayou, or that It nearly concerned
herself.
/. Halt an hour later Mrs.. Hicks ap-
peared with their breakfast. It was
In vatn that Betty attempted to on.
gage her In conversation. Either she
cherished some personal feeling Of
dislike for her prisoner. or else tho
situation in which she herself was
placed had little to recommend It,
even to her duh mind. and her dis
satisfaction was expressed IN her At
itituds toward the girl.
Betty passed the long hours Of
morning In dreary speculation con-
corning what was happening at Belle
Plain. In the end she realised that
the day could 90 BY and her absence
occasion no alarm. Steve might rea-
isonabIy suppose George had driven
her into Raleigh or to the Bowens'
and that she had kept the carriage.
Finally all her hope esntsrsd on Judge
Price. He would expect Hannibal dur.
ing the morning: perhaps when the
boy did not arrive no would be tempt
ed to 60 out to Belle Plain to dis
cover the reason OF his non-appear-
anco. She wondered what theories
would OFFER themselves to his In
Eenious mind. for she sensed some
thing. Of that indomitable energy
which In the face Of rebu6s and
laughksr carried him into the thick Of
every sensation.
At noon Mrs. Hicks, % sullsn - In
the morning, brought them their din
ner. She had scarcely quilted the loft
when Q shrill whistle pierced tho a.
lence that hung above the clearing.
1t was twice repeated. and tho two
women were heard to 60 from the
cabin. Perhaps half an hour elapsed.
then Q step became audible on the
packed earth Of tho dooryard. Some
ono entered tho room below and be-
gan to ascend tho narrow stairs. ana
Betty's fingers closed convulsively
about Hanntbal's. This was neither
Mrs. Hicks nor her daughter, nor
Slosson with his clumsy shuttle. There
was brief pause when the landing
was reached. but It was only momen-
tary; q hand lifted the bar, the door
was thrown open, and its space
framed the 1gure Of 2 man. 1t was
John MuTrell.
Standing there he regarded Betty in
silence. but . deep-seated fire glowed
In his sunken eyes. The sense Of Dos
session was raging through him, hts
temples throbbed. . fever stirred his
blood. Love. such ~ It was, he un-
doubtedly felt for her. and even his
giant project, with all its monstrous
.amifications. was lost sight of for the
moment. She was the inspiration for
II all, the goal and reward for which
he struggled.
'Betty!" the single word fell softly
from his HIPS. He stepped into the
room. closing the door as he did 80.
The girls eyes were dilating with =
mute horror. for BY some swift, In
tuitive process OF the mind, which
asked nothing Of tho logic OF events.
but dealt only with conclusions, Muir
rell stood revealed 40 Norton's muir
dSrer. Perhaps he read her thoughts.
bat he had lived In his degenerate
R89pyy1Ou0 UuSM SA0 SVAAAAAASANe SNNo
ments OF. the understanding OF them
10 longer existed for him. That Bet
n had loved Norton seemed inconse-
auential even: 1t was memory to
b swept away BY the force OF his
Ereater passion. So he watched hcr
lmilingly. but back OF the smile was
the menace Of, unleashed impulse.
Cant you ind some word Of well
come for: me, Betty?" he asked II
length. still softly, still with some.
thing Of sntreaty IN his tone.
'Then it was you-not Tom-who
had me brought here!" She could
have THANKED God had It been, Tom,
whose hate was not to be feared %
she fsared this mans love.
..Tom-noi" and Nurrell laughed.
.You didn't think I'd give you up?
Am standing with halter about my !
neck, and AL for your sake-who'd
risk - much for love Of your" He |
peemed 70 expand with savage pride |
nat this was %. and took step to- !
ward her.
.bon.t come near met" cried Betty.
Her eyes blassd. and she looked at
him With loathing.
.sYoull learn to DO kinder" he OK
uated. .You wouldn't zee mo at Belle |
piain: what was left for me but to
49,. v~.sS hrou~kf hore3"