The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-06-05

three had ever heard of Judge SlOcum
Price; the breath of his fame had
never blown, however gently, in their
direction, yet they were preparing to
thrust opportunity upon him. TO this
end they were lolging about the
opening in the woods where the
horses belonging tC Ware and Murrell
were tied
At length the dip Of oars became
audible in the silence and one of the
trio stole down the path, a matter OF
fifty yards, 20 point that overlooked
the bayou. He was gone but a mo-
ment.
IT'S MurIell all right" he said in
an eager whisper. Him and another
fellow-<he Hicks girl is rowing
them" He glanced from one to the
other of his companions, who seemed
to take firmer hold of themselves un-
der his eye It'll be all right" be
protested lightly. Hes as good as
ours. Wait till give you the word"
And he led the way into an adjacent
thicket.
Meantime Ware and Murrell had
landed and were coming along the
path. the outlaw step or two in ad.
vance OF his friend. They reached the
horses and were untying them when
the thicket suddenly disgorged the
three men; each held a cooked pistol;
two of these pistols covered Murreli
and the third was leveled at Ware.
"Hues!" cried Murrell in astonish.
ment, for the man confronting him
was the Clans messenger who should
have been speeding across the state.
Toss up your hands, Murrell," said
Hues quietly.
One OF the other men spoke.
"You are Under arrest"
Arrest"
You are wanted for nigger-steal.
ing," said the man. Still Murrell did
not seem to comprehend. He looked
at Hues In dull wonder.
What are you doing hereY' he
asked.
Waiting 10 arrest you-ain't that
plain?" said Hues, with a grim smile.
The outlaws hands dropped at his
side, limp and helpless. With some
idea that he might attempt to draw
q weapon one of the men took hold
Of him. but Murrell was nerveless to
his touch; his face had gone q ghast.
ly white AMI was streaked with the
markings of terror.
well, by thunder!" cried the man
In utter ams.zement
Murrell looked into Kues' face
"You-you-" and the words thick.
ened on his tongue, becoming an in
articulate mlrmur.
Its all up, John," said Hues.
mo-" SAID, Murrell, recovering him.
self. "You may as we'll turn me loose
you can't arrest me-"
i've done It," answered Hues. "I've
been on your track for six months"
How about this fellow" asked the
man whose pistol still covered Ware.
Hues glanced toward the planter and
shook his head.
Where are you going to take me?"
asked Murrsll quickly. Again Hues
laughed.
You'll frd that out in plenty Of
time, and then your friends can pass
the word around If they Mke; now
you'll come with me-"
Ware neither moved nor spoke as
Hues and his prisoner passed back
along the path. Hues with his hand
on Murrells shouler, and one OF his
companions close at his heels, while
the third man led of the outlaws
horse.
Presently the distant clatter Of
hoofs was borne to Wares ears-only
that; the miracle of courage and dar-
ing he had talf expected had not hap.
pened. Murrell, for all his wild boast.
ing, was like other men, like himself
His bloodshot eyes slid around in
their sockets. There across the SUM-
lit stretch of water was Betty--the
thought of her brought him to quick
choking terrors The whole fabric OF
crime by which he had been benefited
In the past or had expected to profit
In the future seemed topping in upon
him, but his mind clutched one i'm.
portant fact Hues, If he knew OF
Betty's disappearance, did not con-
meet Murrell with 1t. Ware sucked in
comfort between his twitching lips.
Stealing niggers. No one would be.
lieve that he, planter, had hand in
that, and for brief instant he con-
sidered signaling Bess to return. Slos.
son must be told OF Murrells arrest;
but he was sick with apprehension,
some trap might have been prepared
for him, he could not know; and the
impulse to act forsook him.
He smote his hands together in a
hopeless. beaten gesture. And Muir.
rell had gone weak-with his own
eyes he had seen Decentralization