Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-01

6kIR tie night bSfore. The k6ol Of his
boat had cut deep into tie slippsry
clay; more than this, the impress Of
tho small shoe WAS repeated here. and
Just beside Il was the print Of . child's
bare foot.
He no longer doubted, that Betty
and Hannibal had been taken across
the bayou to the cabin. and hs ran
hack up the path the distance Of .
mile and plunged into the woods on
his right. his purpose being to pass
around the head Of the expanse Of
sluggish water to Z point from which
he could later approach the cabin.
But the cabin proved % b better
defended than he had foreseen: and
as he advanced, the dimculties Of the
task he had set himself became Al
most insurmountable; yet sustained
% no was by his imperative need, he
tore his way through the labyrinth OF
trailing vines, OF noundered across
acre-wide patches Of green slime and
black mud, which at each step threat
ened to engulf him In their Preacher
Gus depths, until at the end Of an
hour he gained the southern side OF
the clearing and firuer footing
within the shelter of the woods.
Here no paused and took stock Of
his surroundings. The two or three
buildings MI. Hicks had erected stood
midway Of the clearing and were very
modest improvements adapted to their
owners somewhat fiippant pursuit OF
agriculture. While Darlington was
still staring about him. the cabin door
swung open and q woman stepped
forth. It was the girl Bess.e She went
to a corner of the building and called
loudly:
Joe! Oh, JOEL
Darlington glanced in the direction
Of the keel boat and an instant later
saw Slosson Chamber over its side.
The tavern-keeper crossed to the cab
in. where he was met BY Bess. who
placed in his hands what seemed to
be q wooden bowl. With this he
slouched on to one of the outbuild-
ings, which he entered. Ten or fif-
teen minutes slipped by. then he came
from the shed and after securing the
door, returned to the cabin. He was
again met by Bess. who relieved him
Of the bowl; they exchanged q few
words and Slosson walked away and
afterward disappeared over the side
of the keel boat.
This much was clear to the Ken.
tuckian: food had been taken to some
enc in the shed-to Betty and the
boy!-more likely to George.
He waited now FOR the night to
come, and to him the sun seemed
fixed In the heavens. At Belle Plain
Tom Ware was watching It with a
shuddering sense of the swiftness OF
its fight. But at last the tops of the
tall trees obscured 1t; 1t sank quickly
then and blazed ball of fire beyond
the Arkansas coast, while its dying
glory spread aslant the heavens, turn
ing the tanks Of the gray clouds to
violet and purple and gold.
With the first approach Of darkness
Darlington made his way to the shed.
Hidden in tho shadow he paused to
listen. and fancied he heard difficult
breathing from within. The door
creaked hideously on its wooden
hinges when he pushed it open, but as
it swung back the last remnant OF
the days light showed him some dark
object lying prone on the dirt floor.
He reached down and his hand rested
on mans booted foot.
George" Darlington spoke softly,
but the man on the floor gave no sign
that he heard, and Carrington's ques-
tioning touch stealing higher he foursd
that George-if 1t were George-was
lying on his side with his arms and
legs securely bound. Thinking he
slept, the Kentuckian shook him gent
ly to arouse him.
"George?" he repeated, still bend
ing above him. This time an inartic-
ulate murmur answered him. At the
same instant the woolly head Of the
negro came under his fingers and he
discovered the reason Of. his silence.
He was as securely gagged IS he was
bound.
Listen, George-it's Carrington-I
am going to take on this gag. but
don't speak above whisper-they
may hear us!" And he cut the cords
that held the gag In place..
How 20 get here, Mas'r Gazing