Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-05
CHAPTER Xxx. \
MurrelI Shows His Hand.

At length points or llgnt began u
show through chinks in the logs. Han
nibal reused and sat up, rubbing hle
eyes with the backs Of his hands.
Wasn't you able to sleep none?" he
incurred. Betty shook her head. He
looked at her with an expression or
troubled concern. How soon do you
reckon the Judge will known? he
asked.
VERY soon now, dear" Hannibal
was greatly consoled by this opinion
Miss Betty. he will love to 1ind
US"
'Hark! What was that?" for Betty
had caught the distant splash OF oars.
Hannibal found chink in the logs
through which by dlnt OF much squint-
Ing he secured q partial view OF the
bayou.
They're fetching up keel boat to
the shore, Miss Betty-it's Whoop'
er!" be announced. Betty's heart
sank; she never doubted the purpose
Tor which that boat was brought into
the bayou, or that it nearly concerned
herself.
Half an hour later Mrs. Hicks ap-
peared with their breakfast. 1t was
in vain that Betty attempted to en-
gage her in conversation. Either she
cherished some personal feeling OF
dislike for her prisoner, or else the
situation In which she herself was
IN
even to her dull mind. and her dis
satisfaction was expressed IN her at
utude toward the girl.
Betty passed the long hours OF
morning in dreary speculation con-
corning what was happening at Belle
Plain. In the end she realized that
the day could go by and her absence
occasion no alarm. Steve might rea-
sonably suppose George had driven
her into Raleigh or to the Bowens'
and that she had kept the carriage.
Finally all her hope centered on Judge
Price He would expect Hannibal dur
ing the morning; perhaps when the
boy did not arrive he would be tempt
ed to go out TO Belle Plain to dis
cover the reason OF his non-appear-
ance. She wondered what theories
would offer themselves 10 his IN
genious mind for she sensed some
thing OF that indomitable energy
which in the face of rebuffs and
laughter carried him into the thick OF
every sensation.
q
the morning. brought them. tBeI.e;d tsss
ner. She had scarcely quilted the loft
when a shriIl whistle pierdEd the 81
lence that hung above the ;ciearing.
1t was twice repeated. and the two
women were heard to so from the
cabin. Perhaps half an hour elapsed.
then a step became audible on the
packed earth OF the dooryard. Some
one entered the room below and, be-:
gan 10 ascend the narrow staits,.-an4
Betty's fingers closed copVulsiTHY.
about Hannibars. This was neither
Mrs. Hicks nor her daugh ter, nor;
Slosson with his clumsy shuttle. ,Ehers:
was a brief pause when. the landing
was reached. but it WAS only momen"
tary; hand lifted the bar, the door
was thrown open, and its space
framed the figure OF man. 1t was
John Murrell.
Standing there he regarded Betty In
silence, but deep-seated lire giowed'
in his sunEen eyes. The sense OF pos
session was raging through him, has
thrNhhnd Jarnr cfiYrdG hiS
blood. Love, such as 1t was, he un5
doubtedly felt for her. and even his
giant project, with all its monstrcus
qualifications. was lost sight OF for the
moment. She was the inspiration :lor
It an, the goal and reward for which
he struggled
Betty" the single word fell softly
from his lips. He stepped into the
room, closing the door as be did so.
The girls eyes were dilating with a
mute horror, for by some swift. IL
tuitive process of the mind. which
asked nothing of the logic OF events
but dealt only with conclusions. Nun
rell stood revealed as Norton's muir
derer. Perhaps he read her thoughts
but he had lived in his degenerate
ambitions until the common 1udg
ments or the understanding OF them
no longer existed for him. That Bet
ty had loved Norton seemed incense
auential even; it was a memory &c
pe swept away by the force or MS
greater passion. So he watched he'
smilingly. but back Of the smile wa;
the menace of unleashed impulse.
cant you find some word OF vel
come for me, Betty" he asked a
length. still softly. still with some
thing of entreaty in his tone.
Then it was you-not Tom-wh'
mad me brought here" She coule
have thanked God had 1t been Tom
whose hate was not to be feared a
she feared this mans love.
"Tom-no!" and Murreli laughed
~You didn't think Id give you up.
Nat hOt