Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1912-08-22

raft clear Of the keel boat. then the
turbulent current seized the smaller
craft and wnirled It away into the
night; as It's black bulk receded from
before his eyes the Earl OF Lambeth
spoke with the voice OF authority and
experience.
1T was a good fight and them fel.
lows done well. but not rear we'll
enough" A conclusion that could
not be gainsaid. He added. mo one
amt hurt. but them tLat had ought to
have got hurt. Mr.. Yancy's all right.
and SOS Mr.. Carrington-who's
mighty welcome here"
"Mr. Carrington's kin to me. Pol
ly." explained Yancy to Mrs. Caven.
dish. His voice was far from steady.
for Hannibal had been gathered into
his arms mt had all but wrecked h
stole calm with which the Scratch
Hitler was seeking to guard his emo
lions.
Polly smiled M dimpled 1t the
Kentuckian. Trained to a romantic
point OF view she had q frank liking
for handsome. staiwart men. Caven-
oAoh "oo htitutis Uht hohV hhO" y
ter than Polly that where he was most
lacking In appearance he was richest
In substance. He carried scars hon
orably earned In those differences he
had been prone to cultivate with less
generous n%atures; for his scheme OF
life did not embrace the millennium.
Thank God. you got here when
you did," said Darlington.
I'VE was some pushed TO time. but
we done It," responded the earl mod
estly. He added. What now?-do we
make landing?"
"No-unless II interferes with your
plans not to. want to get around
the next bend before we tie up Later
we'll all go back. Can | count on
your"
You shorely can. consider this
here as sociable a neighborhOod as l
ever struck. 1t pleases me well.
Folks are up and doing hereabOut."
Darlington looked eagerly around IN
search of Betty. She was sitting on
an upturned tub. Il pathetic enough
figure as she dropped against the wall
OF one of the shanties with all her
courage quite gone from her. lie
made his way quickly to her side.
La" whispered Polly In Chills and
Fever's ear. IF that pore young thing
yonder keeps a widow 1t won't be be-
cause OF any encouragement she gets
from MIR. Darlington. II l ever seen
marriage In a mans eye l seen 1t In
his this minute!"
"Bruce!" cried Betty. starting up as
Darlington approached. "Oh. Bruce,
I am SO glad you have come--you are
not hurt?" She accepted his presence
without question.
We are none Of us hurt. Betty" nc
said gently, as he took her hand
l He saw that the suffering she had
undergone during the preceding
D twenty.four hours had left its record
on her tired face and In her heavy
: eyes. She retained a shuddering con
! seriousness OF the unchecked savagerJ
of those last moments on the kee
boat; she was still hearing the Oathi
. OF the men as they struggled together
the sound OF blows, and the dreadful
silences that had followed them. Sh'
turned from him. and there came tn
relief of tears.
There, Betty, the danger Is owe
G now and o were 30 brave while
lasted. | can bear to have you cry!
4 Il was wild with fear-all that tim
4 on the boat, Bruce" she faltered be
I tween her sobs. Il didn't know bu
they would find you out. | could oni.
wait and h%ope-and pray"
II was in no danger, dear. Didn'
4 the girl tell you | was to take tn
place of n man Slosson was expect
ing? lie never dout,ted that | wa
/ hat man until a light--a signal l
must have been-on the shore at tn
h head o0the bayou betrayed me"
q Where are we going now, Bruce
. Not the way they went" and Bett
glanced out into the black void wher
the keel boat had merged n tn
gloom.
. No, no--but We can't get the sai
back upstream against b curren
80 the best thing Is to land at tn
Bates plantation below here; b Q a
soon as you are able we IA return I
Belle Plain" said Darlington.
There was an interval broken o n
by the occasional sweep Of the gres
{ steering oar as Cavendish coaxed tn
raft out toward the channel. IN
thought OF Charley. Norton's murds
rested on Darlington like a pal
Scarcely a week had elapsed since
quilted Thicket Point, and In thi
week the hand Of death had dea
with them impartially. and to VIII
end?