The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-07-05
CHAPTER XIX (continued).

AS they stumbled forward through
the thick obscurity he continued his
personal revelations, the present en-
terprtse having reused whatever there
was of sentiment slum bering in his
soul. At last they came out on
wide bayou; white mist hung above
1t, 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 skiff was drawn up on the
bank.
Step in, ma'am," be said, when he
had launched 1t.
Il will go 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 ptarcing 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 thatI" 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 Hickss."
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 afrably.
Your niger, too-quite a party"
Betty stepped into the skifr 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 off. No word
was spoken until they disembarked on
the opposite shore, when Slosson ad-
dressed Bunker.
y .
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
a 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, a door yielded to his
hand. and Betty and the boy were
thrust into the room.
Here's yo' guests, old Iady!" 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
fight of stairs which gave access to
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 a par
" AOuoh pAoHhS, lulS pdruIlOn
was pierced by low door.
In yonder!" she said briefly. nod
ding toward the door.
"Wait!" cried Betty in a 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 stout wooden bar.
Beyond that door, which seemed tn
have closed on every hope, Betty held
the tallow dip aloft, and by its uncer-
tain and hickering light surveyed her
prison. The briefest glance sutficed
the room contained two shake-down