Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-02-13

She was a girl of about Betty's own
Iage, with a certain dark, sullen beauty
land that physical attraction which
tom, in spite of his vexed mood, had
taken note of earlier in the day.
You are Bess Hicks" said Betty.
Make the boy go back toward the
house a SPELL got something I wan,
Ito say to YOU" Betty hesitated. She
was offended by the girls manner
which was as rude as her speech. q
laif't going to hurt you-you needn',
be afraid Of me, got something i'm
lportant to say-send him off. I tel
lyou; there amt no time to lose!" The
girl stamped her foot impatiently.
Betty made a sign to Hannibal and
he passed slowly back along the path
lHe went unwillingly, and he kept his
head turned that he might see what
was done, even If it were not to hear
what was said.
THAT will do. Hannibal-wait there
don't go any farther" Betty called
after him when he had reached a
point sufficiently distant to be out OF
hearing of a conversation carried on
in an ordinary tone. Now, what is
lit? Speak quickly If you have any
thing to tell mel"
"I got a heap to say" answered the
girl with a scowl. Her manner was
still fierce and repellent, and she gave
Betty a certain Jealous regard out OF
her black eyes which the latter was at
a loss to explain. where's Mr.. Tom?''
she demanded.
tom? Why about the place, sup
pose-in his office, perhaps" So 1t
lhad to do with Tom. Betty felt
sudden disgust with the situation.
mo, he amt about the place. either!
He done struck out for Memphis two
hours after sun-up, and what's more
he amt coming back here tonight"
There was moment Of silence. The
girl looked about apprehensively. She
lcontinued, fixing her black eyes on
Betty: You're here alone at Belle
Plain-you know what happened when
Mr.. Tom started for Memphis last
time-I reckon you-all amt forgot
that!"
Betty felt a pallor steal over her
face. She rested hand that shook
on the trunk Of tree to steady her
self. The girl laughed shortly.
| Don't be scared; reckon Belle
Plains as good as his II anything hap
pened to you?"
| By a great effort Betty gained a
measure of control over herself. She
took a step nearer and looked the girl
steadily in the face.
Perhaps you will stop this sort OF
talk, and tell me what is going to hap
pen to me-if you know?" she said
quietly.
why do you reckon Mr.. Norton was
shot? I can tell you why-it was all
along of you-that Is why!" The girls
furtive glance, which searched and
watched the gathering shadows, came
back as 1t always did to Betty's pale
face. You amt no safer than he
was, tell you!" and she sucked In her
breath sharply between her fun red
lips.
What do you meam?" faltered Bet
| ty.
do you reckon you're safe here In
the big house alone? Why do you
reckon Mr.. Tom cleared out for Men,
phis? It was because he couldn't be
around and have anything happen to
|you-that was why!" and the girl sank
her voice to whisper. you quit
Belle Plain now-tofight-just as soon
as you cant"
frighten mel"
Did they stop with trying to fright
en- Charley Norton?" demanded Bess
with harsh insistence.
Whatever the promptings that in
spired this warning, they plainly had
nothing to do with either liking or
sympathy. Her dominating emotion
seemed to be a sullen sort Of resent
ment which lit up her glance with a
dull fire: yet her feelings were so
clearly and so keenly personal that
Betty understood the motive that
had brought her there. The explana-
tion, she found, left her wondering
lust where and how her own fate was
linked with that Of this poor white.
You have been waiting some time
to see me?" she asked.
| Ever since along about noon."
| You were afraid to come to the
house?"
| "I didn't want to be seen there
And yet you knew was alone"
"Alone-but how do you know who's
watching the placer"
do you think there was reason to
be afraid Of that?" asked Betty.
| Again the girl stamped her foot
with angry impatience.
You're just wastin time-just fool
in it away-and you amt got none
to spare!"
You must tell me what l have to
fear-I must know more or l shall
stay just where I ami"
We'll, then, stay" The girl turned
away, and then as quickly turned
back and faced Betty once more. Il
reckon he'd kill me If he knew-1 reck-
on I've earned that already"
"Of whom are you speaking?"
He'll have you away from here to-
night"
"He?. . .who?. .. and what If I re-
fuse to go?"
Did they ask Charley Norton
whether he wanted to live or die?"
came the sinister question.
A shiver passed through Betty. She
was seeing it all again-Charley as
he groped among the graves with the
hand of death heavy upon him.
A moment later she was alone. The
girl had disappeared. There was only
the shifting shadows as the wind toss
ed the branches of the trees and the
bands of golden light that slanted
along the empty path. The fear Of the
unknown leaped up afresh in Betty's
,o,,I Il, on instant her dyinP feet had