Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-02-16

learn to be kind to me, Betty, he said
"You may find It will be worth youl
while" BETTY made no answer. she
only gathered Hannibal closer to hel
side. why not accept what / have
to offer, Betty?" and again he went
nearer her, and again she shrani
from him, but the madness OF his
mood was in the ascendant. He seizeo
lher and drew her to him. She strug.
gled to free herself. but his fingers
frightened about hers.
Let me go!" she painted. H'
laughed his cool laugh of triumph.
LET you go-ask me anything bu
that, Betty. Have you no reward FOL
patience such as mine? A whole
,r,mmer has passed since I saw yor
| first"
There was the noisy shutting Of fee
on the stairs, and releasing Betty
Murrell swung about on his heel ano
faced the door. 1t was pushed oper
an inch at a time by a not too con.
hdent hand and Mr.. Slosson thus
guardedly presented himself to the
eve of his chief, whom he beckoneo
from the room.
..Well?" said Murrell. when they
stood together on the landing.
".Just come across to the Keel
boat,- and Slosson led the way down
the stairs and from the house.
Damn you, Joe; you might have
waited!" observed the outlaw. Sios-
son gave him a hardened grin. ihey
crossed the clearing and boarded the
keel boat which rested against the
hank. AS they did so, the cabin In
the stern gave up a shattered presence
in the shape of Tom Ware. Murrell
started violently. II thought you
were hanging out in Memphis. Tom
he said, and his brow darkened as
sinister and forbidding, he stepped
closer to the planter. Ware did not
answer at once, but looked at MUIR
rell out of heavy bloodshot eyes, his
face pinched and ghastly. AT iast'
speaking with visible effort.
"I stayed in Memphis until o'clock
this morning"
Damn your early hours! roareo
Murrell. What are you doing mere!
I suppose you've been showing that
dead face of yours about the neigh
borhood-why didn't you stay al
Belle Plain since you couldn't keep
away?"
"I haven't been near Belle Plain, l
came here instead. How am l going
to meet people and answer ques-
tions?" His teeth were chattering.
"Is It known she's missing?" he add
ed.
Hicks raised the alarm the first
thing this morning. according to the
instructions I'd given him.
"Yes?" gasped Ware. He was
dripping from every pore and the
sickly color came and went on his un-
shaven cheeks. Murrell dropped a
heavy hand on his shoulder.
You haven't been at Belle Plain,
you say, but has any one seen you on
the road this morning?"
NO one, John" cried Ware, pant
ing between each word. There was
a moments pause and Ware spoke
again. What are they doing at Belle
Plain?" he demanded In a whisper.
Murrell's lips curled.
IT understand there is talk Of sui
side," he said.
."Goodw cried Ware.
They are dragging the bayou down
below the house. 1t looks as though
YOU were going to reap the rewards
Of the excellent management you have
given her estate. They have been try
ing to find you in Memphis, 80 the
sooner YOU show yourself the better"
he concluded significantly.
You are sure you have her safe.
John, no chance Of discovery? For
Gods sake, get her away from here
as soon as you can, it's an awful risk
you rum"
Captain" began Slosson who up
to this had taken no part in the con-
versation. when are you going to
cross to t'other side of the bayou?"
Soon" replied Murrell. Slosson
laughed.
81 didn't know but you'd clean for
got the Clans business. I want to
ask another question-but first I want
to say that no one thinks higher or
more frequent of the ladies than just
me, I'm genuinely fond Of 'em and
I've never lifted my hand ag'in' 'em
except in kindness" Mr.. Slosson look
ed at Ware with an exceedingly vir-
tuous expression Of countenance. He
continued. "Yo' orders are thai
we're to slip out Of this a little afore
midnight, but suppose there's hitch
here's the lady knowing what she
knows and here's the boy knowing
what he knows"
There can be no hitch" rasped
out Murrell arrogantly.
Il never knew a speculation that
couldn't go wrong. and by rights we
should have got away last night"
We'll, whose fault is it you didn't?'
demanded Murrell.
I'm a manner 1t were mine, but the
ark got OH a sandbank as we were
fetching it in and it took us the whole
damn night to get clear"
"Well?" prompted Murrell. with a
sullen frown.
Suppose they get shut Of that no.
tion of theirs that the lady's done
drowned herself, suppose they take
to watching the river? Or suppose the
whole damned bottom drops out OF
this deal? What then? Why, I'll tel
you what then-the lady, good looking
as she Is, knows enough to make west
Tennessee mighty unhealthy for some
of us. l say suppose it's flash in the
pan and you have to crowd the dis
tance in between you and this part OF
the world, you can't tell me that you'll
have any use for her then" Slossor
paused impressively. And here's Mr.
Ware feeling bad, feeling lik hell" he
resumed. Him and me don't want