The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-05-29

wide bayou; white mist hung above
1t, and on the low shore leaf and
branch were dripping with the night
dews. Keeping close to the waters
edge Slosson led the way to a point
where a skiff was drawn up on the
bank
Step in, ma'am." he said, when he
had launched it.
i will go no farther!" said Betty
In desperation. She felt an over.
mastering fear, the fall horror of the
unknown lay hold C her, and she gave
a piercing cry for help. Slosson swung
about on his heel and seized her. For
moment she struggled to escape.
but the mans big hand pinioned her.
NO more OF that" he warned, then
he recovered himself and laughed.
You could yell till you was black In
the face, ma'am. and there'd be no
one to hear you"
Where are you taking rae!" and
Betty's voice faltered between the
sudden sobs that choked her.
Just across to George Hicks's."
For what purpose?"
You'll know in plenty OF time"
And Slosson leered at her through the
darkness.
Hannibal is to go with me?" asked
Betty tremulously.
"Sure!" agreed Slosson affabIy.
Your niger, tOo-quite a party"
Betty stepped into the skin. She
felt her hopes quicken-she was think.
ing of Bess; whatever the girls mo.
tives. she had wished her to escape.
She would wish it now more than
ever since the very thing she had
striven to prevent had happened.
Slosson seated himself and took up
the oars, Bunker followed with Han.
nibal and they pushed OFF. No word
was spoken until they disembarked on
the opposite shore, when Slosson ad-
dressed Bunker
Il reckon l can manage that young
rip-staver; you go back after Sherrod
and the nigger," he said.
He conducted his captives up the
bank and they entered a clearing.
Looking across this Betty saw where
cabin window framed q single
square OF light. They advanced to-
ward this and presently the dark out.
line OF the cabinet itself became dis.
tinguishable. A moment later Sios.
son paused. q door yielded to his
hand, and Betty and the boy were
thrust into the room where MurreII
had held his conference with Fentress
and Ware. The two women were now
Its only occupants, and the mother.
gross and shapeless, turned an ex.
pressionless face on the intruders;
but the daughter shrank into the
shadow, her burning glance fixed on
Betty.
Here's yo' guests. old LADY," said
Mr.. Slosson. Mrs. Hicks rose from
the three-legged stool on which she
was sitting.
Hand me the candle, Bess," she
ordered.
At one side Of the room was a steer
flight Of stairs which gave access to
the loft overhead. Mrs. Hicks, by 9
gesture, signified that Betty and Han
nibal were to ascend these stairs;
they did so and found themselves on
q narrow landing inclosed by a par
tition OF rough planks; this partition
was pierced by a low door. Mrs
Hicks, who had followed close al
their heels, handed the candle to Bet
ty.
In yonder!" she said briefly. nod
ding toward the door.
"Wait!" cried Betty In a whisper.
NO." said the woman with an al
most masculine surliness OF tone. ~
got nothing to say" She pushed then
into the attic, nnd, closing the door
fastened 1t with a stout wooden bar.
Beyond that door, which seemed tc
have closed on every hope. Betty hello
the tallow dip aloft, and by its uncer
tain and fiickering light surveyed hei
prison. The briefest glance sufficed
The room contained two shake-dowr
beds and stool; there was window
in the gable, but a piece OF heavy
plank was spiked before it.
Miss Betty, don't you be scared
whispered Hannibal. when the Judge
hears we're gone, him and Mr.. Ma
~ III