Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-08-14
CHAPTER XVII.
s.ss Leads . settx.


Just where he had parted from
Ware. Darlington sat his horse, MS
brows knit and his eyes turned ia the
direction OF the path lie was on his
way to plantation below Birard. the
owner OF which had recently import.
ed a pack OF bIoodhounds; but this
unexpected encounter with Ware ha1
affected him strangely. He stil hearc
party For moment he hesitated;
II the dogs We're TO be used with any
hope OF success he had no time to
spare, and this was the merest sus-
pieion, illogical conjecture, based on
nothing beyond his distrust OF Ware
In the end be sprang from the saddle,
and leading his horse into the woods,
tied 1t to a sapIing.
A hurried Investigation told MIN
that five men had ridden in and out OF
that path. OF the FIVE, all coming
from the south, four had turned
south again. but the fifth man-Ware.
IN other words-had gone north. He
weighed the possible Significance OF
these facts
Il am only wasting timel" he con
fessed reluctantly, and was on the
point of turning away, when, on the
very edge OF the road and just where
the dust yielded to the hard clay OF
the path, his glance lighted on the
print OF small and daintiIy shod
foot. The throbbing OF his heart
quickened curiously
"Bettyl" The word leaped from his
lips
That small foot had left but the
one impress. There were other signs,
however, that claimed his attention;
namely, the Footprints of Slosson
and his men; and he made the In
eyitable discovery that these tracks
were all confined to the one spot.
They began suddenly and as sudden
Iy ceased, yet there was no mystery
about these; he had the marks of the
wheels to help him to a sure concIu-
sion. A carriage had turned Just
here, several men had alignted; they
had with them a child, or a woman.
Either they had re-entered the car
riage and driven back as they had
come. or they had gone toward the
river. He felt the soul within him
turn sick.
He stole along the path; the terror
OF the river was ever in his thoughts.
and the specter OF his fear seemed to
fit before him and lure him on. Pres
emily he caught his first glimpse OF
the bayou and bis legs shook under
him; but the path wound deeper still
into what appeared to be an un-
touched solitude, wound on between
the crowding tree forms, a little back
from the shore, with an intervening
tangle of ines and bushes. lie
scanned this closely as he hurried
forward, scarcely conscious that he
was searching for some trampIed
space at the waters edge: but the
verdant wall preserved its unbroken
continuity. and twenty minutes later
he came within sight of Hicks clear
ing and the keel boat. where it rested
against the bank.
A little farther on he found the
spot where Slossop had launched the
skin 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 it was the print of childs
bare foot.
He no longer doubted that Betty
and Hannibal had been taken across
the bayou to the cabin, and ne ran
back up the path the distance of a
mile and plunged into the woods on
his right. his purpose being to pass
around the sluggish water.
Here he paused and took stock OF
his surroundings. The two or three
buildings MIR Hicks had erected stood
midway of the clearing and were very
modest Improvements adapted to their
owners somewhat fippant pursuit OF
agriculture While Darlington was
still staring about him. the cabin door
swung open and woman stepped
forth. u was the girl Bess. She went
to a corner of the building and called
loudly:
Joe! Oh. joel"
Darlington glanced In the direction
of the keel boat and an instant later
saw Slosson Chamber over its Side
The tayern-keeper crossed to the cab |
In, where he was met by Bess, who
placed In his hands what seemed to |
be a wooden bowl Win this he
slouched of to one of the outbuild- |
ings. which he entered. Ten or tif- /
teen minutes slipped by, then be came
from the shed and after securing the
door, returned to the cabin. lie was
again met by Bess, who relieved him
OF the bowl: they exchanged few
words and Slosson walked away and
afterward disappeared over the side
of the Keel boat.
This much was clear TO the Ken I
mckian food had been taken to some |
one in the shedto Betty and the
boy!-more likely to George.
ero RE CONTINUED