The Chanute times., 1912-11-15
SYNOPSIS.

The scene 1T the opening OF the story is
laid in the library of an old worn-out
southern plantation. known as the Bar
ony The place Is to be sold. and its
history and that of the owners. the
puintards, is the subject of discussion by
Jonathan Crenshaw. a business man.
stranger known as Bladen. and Bob
Yancy, farmer. when Hannibal wayne
Hazard a mysterious child of the old
southern family. makes his appearance
yancy tells how he adopted the boy Ma
thaniel Ferris buys the Barony. but the
boy. Yancy to keep Hannibal Captain
Murrel friend of the Quintards APP
pears and asks questions about the Bar
ony. Trouble at Scratch Hill. when Han
nibal is kidnapped by Dave Blount Cap
tain Murrell's agent Yancy overtakes
Blount. gives him a thrashing and secures
the boy. Yancy appears before Squire
Balaam. and is discharged with costs for
the plaintiff. Betty Malroy, friend Of
the Ferrises, has an encounter with Cap
tain Murrell, who forces his attentions on
Betty sets out for her Tennessee home
Darlington takes the same stage. Yancy
and Hannibal disappear. with Murrell on
their trail. Hannibal arrives at the home
nizes in the boy the grandson Of an old
time friend. Murrell arrives at Judges
home. Cavendish family on raft rescue
Yancy. who is apparently dead. Price
breaks jail Betty and Darlington arrive
at Belle Plain. Hannibals rifle discloses
some startling things to the Judge. Han
nibal and Betty meet again. Murrell ar
rives in Belle Plain. Is playing for big
less sleep on board the raft. Judge Price
makes startling discoveries In looking up
land titles. Charley Norton. a. young
planter, who assists the judge. is mys-
teriously assaulted Norton informs Car
rington that Betty mas promised to marry
him. Norton is mysteriously shot More
light on Murrells plot He plans upris-
bal, visits Betty. and she keeps the boy
as companion. In a stroll Betty takes
with Hannibal they meet Bess Hicks,
Betty of danger and counsels her to
leave Belle Plain at once. Betty, terri
fed, acts on Bess' advice, and on their
way their carriage is stopped by Slossoh.
the tavern keeper, and a confederate, ana
Betty and Hannibal are made prisoners.
The pair are taken to Hicks cabin, In an
almost inaccessible spot and there Mur-
rell visits Betty and reveals his part in
the plot and his object. Betty spurns
his proffered love and the interview Is
ended by the arrival of Ware, terrified
at possible outcome of the crime. Judge
Price, hearing of the abduction plans ac-
ton. The Judge takes charge of the
situation, and search for the missing ones
Is instituted Darlington visits the Judge
and allies are discovered. Judge Price
visits Colonel Fentress, where he meets
Yancy and Cavendish. Becoming enraged,
Price dashes a glass of whisky into the
colonel's face and a duel is arranged. Muir
rell is arrested for negro stealing and his
bubble bursts. The Judge and Mahany
riscuss the coming duel Darlington
makes frantic search for Betty and the
boy.
CHAPTER XxVIlI.-(Continued.)
What have We between here and
the river?" inquired the latter. 1t was
best, he felt, not to give Slosson an
opportunity to ask questions
1T narrows considerably, pardner
but it's a straight course" said Slos-
son. BLACK in yonder, amt it?" he
added, nodding ahead.
The shores drew rapidly together;
They were leaving the lake-like ex-
panse behind. In the silence, above
the rustling of the trees, Darlington
heard the first fret of the river against
its bank. Slosson yawned prodigious-
ly.
81 reckon you amt needing meT'
he said,
Better go up in the bow and get
some Sleep" advised Darlington, and
Slosson, nothing loath, clambered
down from the root of the cabin and
stumbled forwards
The ceaseless murmur of the rush
ing waters grew in the stiffness as
the keel boat drew nearer the hurry
ing yellow flood, and the beat OF the
Kentucklan's pulse quickened. Would
he find the raft there? He glanced
back over the way they had come.
The dark ranks of fhe forest walled
of the clearing, but across the water
a dim point of light was visible. He
fixed it's position as somewhere nSar
the head of the bayou. Apparently 1t
was a lantern, but as he looked a
ruddy glow crept up against the sky
line.
From the bow Bunker had been OBJ
serving this singular phenomenon.
Suddenly he bent and reused Slos-
son. who had fallen asleep. The tav-
ern-keeper sprang to his feet and
Bunker pointed without speaking.
"Mebby you can tell me what that
lipht back yonder means?" cried Slos-
son, addressing himself to Caring
ton; as he spoke he snatched up his
rife.
That's what I'm trying to make
out" answered Darlington.
''HeIl!" cried Slosson, and tossed
his gun to his shoulder.
What seemed to be a breath oil
wind lifted a stray lock OF Caring
toms hair, but his pistol answered
slosson in the same second. He fired
at the .huddle of men in the bow oil
the boat aud onB OF them pitched Tor
ward with hhs arms outspread.
Keep back, you'll" he saidi and
dropped of the cabin roof.
His promptness had bred a momen'
tary panic, then Slosson's bun-like
voice began to roar commands; but In
that brief instant OF surprise and
shock Darlington had found and with
drawn the wooden peg that fastened
the cabin door. He had scarcely done
this when Slosson came tramping an
aunnorted By the three men.