The Red Cloud chief., 1912-09-05

entered the skin.
Slowly the clearing lifted out OF the
darkness, then the keel boat became
distinguishable; and Darlington
checked the skin by Q backward
stroke Of the oars
"Hello!" he called.
There was no immediate answer to
his hail. and he called again % he
sent the skin forward.
What do you want?" asked q surly
voice.
You want Slosson!" quickly
prompted the girl In a whisper.
Il want to see Slosson!" said Car.
rington glibly and with confidence.
Who be your"
"Murrell sent you," prompted the
girl again, in a hurried whisper.
"Murrell-" And In his astonish-
ment Darlington spoke aloud.
"Murrell?" cried the voice sharply.
sent mel" said Darlington quick
ly. as though completing an unfin.
ished sentence. The girl laughed nerv.
ously under her breath.
Row closter!" came the sullen
command. and the kentuckian did az
he was hidden. Four men stood in
the bow OF the keel boat. q lantern
was raised aloft and by its light they
looked him over. There was q mo-
ment's silence broken by Darlington.
| who asked:
Which one of you 10 slosson?"
I'm Slosson," answered the man
with the lantern. The previous night
Mr.. Slosson had been somewhat un.
der the enlivening and elevating in.
fuence Of corn whisky, but now he
was his own cheerless self. and rath.
er jaded by the passing OF the hours
which he had sacrificed to an irk.
some responsibility. what word do
you fetch from, the captain. brother?"
he demanded.
Miss Malroy is to be taken down
river" responded Carringtpn.
Slosson swore with SURPRISING fiu.
ency.
"Say. we're hve able bodied men
risking our necks to oblige him! You
than this II you 60 about 1t right-l've
done It lots Of times" Not under.
standing the significance Of Slosson's
, allusion to his own matrimonial ca
reer. Darlington held his peace. The
tavern.keeper swore again with un-
impaired vigor. you'll ind mighty
few men with more experience than
me-" he asserted. shaking his head.
But II you say the word"
I'm all for getting shut OF this!"
answered Darlington promptly. with
sweep OF his arm. Il call these
pretty close quarters!"
Still shaking his head and mutter
ing. the tavern.keeper sprang ashore
and mounted the bank, where his
slouching figure quickly lost itself in
the night.
Darlington took up his station on
the fat roof OF the cabin which filled
the stern of the boat. He was remem.
bering that day In the sandy Barony
road-and during all the weeks and
months that had intervened. MurrelL
working In secret, had moved stead.
lily toward the fulfilment Of his de-
sires! UnQuestionably he had been
back OF the attack ON Norton, had In.
spired his subsequent murder. and the
mans sinister and mysterious power
had never been suspected. Caring.
ton knew that the horse-thieves and
slave stealers we're supposed to main.
tain q loosely knit association; he
wondered II Murrell were not the
moving spirit in some such organiza'
ton.
III I'd only pushed my quarrel with
him!" he thought bitterly.
He heard Slosson's shutting step In
the distance. q word or two when he
spoke grufhy to some one. and q mo
ment later he saw Betty and the boy.
their forms darkly silhouetted against
the lighter sky as they moved along
the top OF the bank. Slosson. with.
out any superfluous gallantry. helped
his captives down the slope and
aboard the keel boat, where he locked
them In the cabin. the door OF which
fastened with a hasp and wooden peg
You're boss now. pardner!" be
said. joining Darlington at the steer
Ing oar.
u wen cast on then" answered
Darlington.
Thus far nothing had occurred to
mar his plans. II they could but quit
the bayou before the arrival OF the
man whose place he had taken the
rest would be, II not easy OF accom-
plishment. at least within the realm
Of the possible.
II reckon you're q river.man!" OBJ
served Slosson.
"All my life"
The line had been cast on. and the
, crew with their setting poles were
? forcing the boat away from the bank
, All was quietly done; except for an
occasional order from Darlington nc
word was spoken. and soon the un
, wieldy craft glided into the sluggish
current and gathered way. MIR. Sos
son. who cieerly regarded his relation
+ to the adventure as being OF an OH
cial character. continued to stand al