Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-04
VIII 90 no farther" aaid Betty

mastering fear, the full horror OF the
unknown lay hold Of her. and she gave
a piercing cry for help. Slosson swung
about on his heel and seized her. Fer
q moment she struggled 10 escape.
but the mans big hand pinioned her.
"No more of that" he warned, then
he recovered himself and laughed.
you could yell till you was black III
the face, ma'am. and there'd be no
one to hear you."
Where are you taking me-" and
Bettya voice faltered between tbs
sudden sobs that choked her.
Just across to George Hlcks's.'
For what purpose?"
You'll know In plenty OF time"
And SiOsson leered g. her through the
darkness
Hannibal is to 60 with me-" asked
Betty TREMENDOUSLY.
"Sure!" agreed Slosson atfably.
your niger, too-Quite a party.
Betty stepped into the skin. She
felt her hopes Quicken--she was think
ing OF Bess; whatever the girls mo-
lives, she had wished her TO escape.
She would wish 1t now more than
ever since the very thing she had
strlven to prevent had happened.
Slosson seated himself and took up
the oars. Bunker followed with Han
nibal and they pushed on. No word
was spoken until they disembarked on
rhe opposite shore, when Slosson adj
dressed Bunker.
81 reckon ! can manage that young
rip-stayer: you go back after Sherrod
and the niger" he said.
He conducted his captiyes up the
bank and they entered clearing.
Looking across this Betty saw where
@ cabin window framed single
square OF light. They advanced to-
ward this and presently the dark out
line of the cabinet itself became dis
tinguishable. A moment later Slos-
son paused, door yielded to his
hand, and Betty and the boy were
thrust into the room where Murreil
had held his conference with Fentress
and Ware. The Two women were now
its only occupants, and the mother,
gross and shapeless, turned an ex-
presslonicss face on the intruders;
but the daughter shrank into the
shadow. her burning glance fixed on
Betty.
Here's yo' guests, old LADY," said
Mr. Slosson. Mrs Hicks rose from
The three-legged stool on which she
was sitting.
Hand me the candle, Bess," she
ordered.
At one side Of the room was steep
flight Of stairs which gave access to
the loft overhead. Mrs. Hicks, by a
gesture, sIgnified that Betty and Han
nibal were to ascend these stairs;
they did so and found themselves on
narrow landing Enclosed by a par
tition OF rough planks: this partition
WAS pierced by a low door. Mrs.
Hicks, who had followed close at
their heels, handed the candle 10 Bet
~.
IN yonder!" she said briefly, nod
dug toward the door.
Wait" cried Betty in a whisper.
No" said the woman with an al
most masculine surliness or tone. II
got nothing to say" She pushed them
into the attic, and, closing the door,
fastened it with q stout wooden bar.
Beyond that door, which seemed to
have closed on every hope, Betty held
the talIow dip aloft, and by It's uncer-
tain and Pickering light surveyed her
prison. The briefest glance sufticed.
The room contained two shake-down
beds and a stool; there was a window
In the gable, but piece oil heavy
plank was spiked before it.
Miss Betty, don't you be scared"
whispered Hannibal. when the judge
hears we're gone, him and Mr. Ma