The Red Cloud chief., 1912-09-12
syNopsls.

The scene II the opening Of the story is
laid In the library Of an old worn.out
southern plantation. known as the Bar.
history and that Of the. owners. the
0uintards. Ia the subject OF discussion by
Jonathan Crenshaw q SnI business m man. s
Yancy a farmer. when Hannibal Wayne
Hazard. a mysterious child Of the old
snsy ,.s ;" Soy na d. hs gsS Ss
thanlei Ferris buys the Barony. but tho
Quintards deny any knowledge OF the
%Syrr.i Hy e friend rep of the "%!o oain,ards. ap
pears and asks questions about the Bar
ony. Trouble at Scratch Hill: when Han
tain MurrelIs agent. Yancy oyertakes
Blount. gives him thrashins and secures
the boy. Yancy appears before Squire
the plaintiff. Betty Malroy, a friend Of
the Eerrises. has an encounter with Cap
tain Murrell. who forces his attentions on
Betty sets out for her Tennessee home.
Darlington takes the same stage. Yapcy
and Hannibal disappear, with Murrell on
Of Judge siocum Price. The Judge recog:
time friend. Murreil arrives at Judges
Yancy. who Ia apparently dead Price
breaks jail Betty and Darlington arrive
~ Belle Plain. Hannibai's rifle discloses
nibal and Betty meet again. Murrell ar
rives In Belle Plain. IL playing for big
stakes. Yancy awakes from long dream
makes startling discoveries In looking up
land titles, Charley Norton. a young
planter, who assists the Judge. Is mys-
rington that Betty mas promised to marry
him. Norton H. mysteriously shot More
light on Murreli.s plot. lie plans uprls-
bal. visits Betty. and she Keeps the boy
as companion. In stroll Betty takes
with Hannibal they meet Bess Hicks.
daughter OF the overseer. who. warns
Betty Of danger and counsels her to
leave Belle Plain at once. Betty. terri
fled. acts on Bess' advice. and on their
Betty and Hannibal are made prisoners.
The pair are taken to Hicks cabin. In an
reii visits Betty. and reveals his part in
the plot and his object. Betty spurns
his ,proirered love and the Interview is
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
IL Instituted. Darlington visits the judge
and allies are discovered. Judge Price
visits Colonel Fentress. where he meets
Price dashes glass OF whisky into the
coloncl's face and a duel Is arranged. Muir
rell is arrested for negro stealing and his
bubble bursts. The Judge and Mahaffy
riscuss the coming duel. Darlington
makes Srantic search for Betty and the
boy.
| CHAPTER xxvlil.-(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.
II reckon you amt needing me-?
he said.
Better 20 up In the bow and ge
some Sleep" advised Darlington. ant
Slosson. nothing loath. clamberet
down from the roof OF the cabin an,
stumbled forward.
The ceaseless murmur OF tho rush
ing waters grew In the stiffness a
the keel boat drew nearer the hurry
ing yellow food. and the beat OF tn
Kentucklan's pulse quickened. Woul,
he find the raft there? He glance,
back over the way they had come
The dark ranks of the forest walle,
on the clearing. but across the waite
dim point OF light was visible. H.
fixed its position as somewhere nea
the head of the bayou. Apparently
was lantern, but as he looked
ruddy glow crept up against the sky
line.
From the bow Bunker had been oh
serving this singular phenomenon
Suddenly he bent and reused Slos
son. who had fallen asleep. The tay
ern-keeper sprang to his feet an
Bunker pointed without speaking. !
"Mebby you can tell me what tina
light back yonder means?" cried Slos
son, addressing himself to Caring
ton: as he spoke he snatched up hi
rife.
That's what I'm trying to max
out" answered Darlington.
HE'LL" cried Slosson, and tosse
his gun to his shoulder.
What seemed to be a breath G
wind lifted stray lock OF Carrinl
tons hair. but his pistol answere
Slosson In the same second. He fire
at the huddle of men In the bow {
the boat and one of them pitched TO
ward with his arms outspread.
Keep back. you!" he said. an
dropped of tho cabin roof.
His promptness had bred momel
tary panic. then Slosson's buli.iik
voice began to roar commands; but |
that brief instant of surprise an
shock Darlington had found and witt
drawn the wooden peg that fastene
the cabin door. He had scarcely dor
this when Slosson came tramping a
supported by the three men.
Calling to Betty and Hannibal to e
cane in the skin which was TOWN