The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-05-02
ByXAUCHAnkESTER
ILLUSTRATORS %HI

COuIu SIdII pcIlcCIAy even. 4Ao Az
trinsic fairness OF this start made its
strong appeal. Mr.. Slosson dwelt up
on it with satisfaction. "She hadi
three to her credit, I had three to;
mine; neither could crow none overi
the other"
AS they stumbled forward through
the thick obscurity he continued his
personal revelations, the present en-
terprise having reused whatever there
was of sentiment slumbering In his
soul. At last they came out on q
wide bayou; a white mist hung above
it, and on the low shore leaf and
branch were dripping with the night
dews. Keeping close to the waters
edge Slosson led the way to point
where a skill was drawn up on the
bank.
"Step in, ma'am," he said, when he
had launched 1t.
Il will 90 no farther!" said Betty
in desperation. She felt an over
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. For
a moment she struggled to escape,
but the mans big hand pinioned her.
mo more of that" he warned, then
he recovered himself and laughed.
"You could yell till you was black in
the face, ma'am, and there'd be no
one to hear YOU
Where are you taking me?" and
Betty's voice faltered between the
sudden sobs that choked her.
Just across to George Hicks's."
For what purpose?'
you'll know in plenty OF time"
And Slosson leered at her through the
darkness.
HANNIBAL is to go with me?" asked
Betty TREMENDOUSLY.
"Sure!" agreed Slosson atrably.
"Your niger, too-quite party i.
Betty stepped into the skill. She
felt her hopes quicken-she was think
ing of Bess; whatever the girls mo-
tives, she had wished her to escape.
She would wish it now more than
ever since the very thing she had
striven to prevent had happened.
Slosson seated himself and took up
the oars, Bunker followed with Han
nibal and they pushed of. No word
was spoken until they disembarked on
the opposite shore, when Slosson ad-
dressed Bunker.
II reckon l can manage that young
rip-staver; you go back after Sherrod
and the Niger he said.
He conducted his captives up the
bank and they entered a 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 Murrell
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-
pressionless 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
the loft overhead. Mrs. Hicks, by a
gesture, signitied that Betty and Han
nibal were to ascend these stairs;
they did so and found themselves on
a narrow landing inclosed by par
tition Of rough planks; this partition
was pierced by low door. Mrs.
Hicks, who had followed close at
their heels, handed the candle to Bet
ty.
In yonder!" she said briefly, nod
ding toward the door.
"Wait!" cried Betty In whisper.
NO." said the woman with an al
most masculine surliness OF tone. Il
got nothing to say" She pushed them
into the attic, and, closing the door,
fastened it with a stout wooden bar.
Beyond that door, which seemed to
have closed on every hope, Betty held
the tallow dip aloft, and by its uncer-
tain and Pickering light surveyed her
prison. The briefest glance sutticed.
The room contained two shake-down
beds and stool; there was window
in the gable, but piece of 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
hatfy will try to find US. They'll go
right of to Belle Plain-the Judge is
always wanting to do that, only MIR.
Mahaffy never lets h1m-but now he
won't be able to stop him."
"Oh, Hannibal, Hannibal, what can
he do there-what can any one do
there?' And a dead palIor over
spread the girls face. To speak OF