The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-01-17

you tuck along after her with the
boy"
what about this nigger?" asked the
fourth man.
Fetch him along with u.s. said
Slosson. They turned from the road
while he was speaking and entered
narrow path that led off through the
woods, apparently in the direction OF
the river. A moment later Betty
heard the carriage drive away. They
went onward in silence for a little
time, then Slosson spoke over his
shoulder.
Yes, ma am, I've riz ten children
but none Of 'em was like him
trained 'em up to the minute!" Mr.
Slosson seemed to have passed com
pletely under the spell of his domest
lie recollections, for he continued with
just a touch of reminiscent sadness
in his tone. There was all told four
Mrs. Slossons; two of 'em was South
Carolinians, one was from Georgia
and the last was a widow lady out OF
east Tennessee. She'd buried three
husbands, and l figured we could start
perfectly even" The intrinsic fair.
ness of this start made it's strong ap-
peal. Mr.. Slosson dwelt upon it with
satisfaction. "She had three to her
credit, l had three to mine; neither
could crow none over the other"
AS they stumbled forward through
the thick obscurity he continued his
personal revelations, the present en-
terprise having reused whatever there
was of sentiment slumbering in his
soul. At last they came out on wide
bayou; a white mist hung above it,
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 point where
a skiff was drawn up on the bank.
"Step in, ma'am,' he said, when he
had launched it.
81 will go no farther!" said Betty
in desperation. She felt an overmaster-
ing fear, the full horror of the I'M
known lay hold of her, and she gave
piercing cry for help. Slosson
swung about on his heel and seized
her. For a moment she struggled to
escape, but the mans big hand pin
toned 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 me?" and
Betty's voice faltered between the
sudden sobs that choked her.
"Just across to George Hicks"
"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 TREMENDOUSLY.
"Sure!" agreed Slosson affably.
"Your Niger too-quite party
Betty stepped into the skiff. She
felt her hopes quicken-she was think
ing of Bess; whatever the girls
motives, 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
addressed Bunker.
81 reckon can manage that young
rip-staver; you go back after Sherrod
and the Niger" he said.
He conducted his captives up the
bank and they entered clearing. On
looking across this Betty saw where
a cabin window framed single
square of light. They advanced to-
ward this and presently the dark out
line Of the cabin itself became dis
tinguishable A moment later Slos-
son paused, door yielded to his
hand, and Betty and the boy were
thrust into the room where Murrell
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;
shadow her burning glance fixed on