Putnam patriot., 1912-05-24
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| sweep or nis arm call these pretty close quarters!" Still shaking his head and mutter>
 ing, the tavern-keeper sprang ashore l and mounted the bank, where his
 slouching figure quickly lost itself in | the night
 Darlington took up his tation on
 the flat roof of the cabin which filled the stern of the boat. H was remem-
 bering that day in the sandy Barony | road-and during all the weeks and | months that had intervened, MurreIl,
 working in secret, had moved stead.
 fly toward the fultilment of his de- | sires! Unquestionably be had been
 back of the attack on Norton, had in- I spired his subsequent murder, and the | mans sinister and mysterious power
 had never been suspected. Caring ton knew that the horse-thieyes and
 slave stealers were supposed to main-
 tain a loosely knit association; he
 wondered if Murrell were not the | moving spirit in some such organiza- l tion.
 l If I'd only pushed my quarrel with
 him!" he thought bitterly. l He heard Blossoms shuffiing step in
 the distance, word or two when he | spoke grufly to some one, and mo-
 mept later he saw Betty and the boy, 1 their forms darkly silhouetted against l the lighter sky as they moved along the top of the bank. Slosson, with | out any superhuoug gallantry, helped | his captives down the slope and | aboard the keel boat, where he locked | them in the cabin, the door of which l fastened with a hasp and wooden peg. 1 You're boss now, pardnert" he said, joining Darlington at the steer mg oar.
 Well cast o0 then." answered 1 Darlington.
 | Thus far nothing had occurred to mar his plans. If they could but quit
 the bayou before the arrival of the
 man whose place he had taken the
 rest would be, If not easy of accom-. plishment. at least within the realm | of the possible.
 | T reckon you're . river-manr' ob. | served SIOs9On.
 All my life.''
 The line had beeo cast on. and the crew with their setting poles were forcing the boat away from the bank. All was quietly done; except for an occasional order from Darlington no | word was spoken, and soon the un' | wieldy craft glided into the sluggish ] current and gathered way. MT. Slos, | son, who clearly regarded his relation to the adventure as being of an offi- cial character. continued to stand a, l Carrington's elbow.
 What have We between here and
 the river?" inquired the latter. It was best, he felt. not to give Slosson an | opportunity to ask questions. Tt narrows considerably, pardner.
 but it's a straight course" said Slos- son. "Black in wonder, ain't it?" he | added, nodding ahead. l The shores drew rapidly together; l They were leaving the lake-like ex- panse behind. In the silence, above
 the rustling of the trees, Darlington heard the first fret of the river against
 It's bank. Slosson yawned prodigious- 1 ly
 'T reckon you aint needing me?'' he said
 Better go up in the bow and get
 some sleep" advised Darlington, and
 Slosson, notAing loath, cIambered
 down from the roof of the cabin and
 stumbled forward.
 l The ceaseless murmur of the rush.
 ing waters grew in the stiffness ae | the keel boat drew nearer the hurry- ing yellow flood. and the beat of the
 Kentucklans pulse quickened. Would 1 he find the raft there? He glanced
 back over the way they had come.
 The dark ranks of the forest walled 1 of the clearing, but across the water
 a dim point of light was visible. He fixed it's position as somewhere near
 the head of the bayou. Apparently it
 was a lantern, but as he looked a
 ruddy glow crept up against the sky
 line.
 From the bow Bunker had been ob-
 serving this singular phenomenon. | Suddenly he bent and reused Slos-
 son. who had fallen asleep. The tav-
 ern-keeper sprang to his feet and
 Bunker pointed without speaking. "Mebby you can tell me what that
 light back wonder means?" cried Slos-
 son, addressing himself to Caring
 ton: as he spoke he snatched up his
 rife.
 That's what I'm trying to make out" answered Darlington.
 He'll" cried Slosson, and tossed
 his gun to his shoulder.
 What seemed to Sbe breath Of
 wind lifted stray lock of Caring
 tons hair, but his pistol answered
 SIosson in the same second. He fired
 at the huddle of men in the bow or
 the boat and one of them pitched for-
 ward with his arms outspread.
 Keep back, you." he said. and
 dropped of the cabin roof.
 His promptness had bred a momen-
 tary panic, then Blossoms bull-like
 voice began to roar commands; but in
 that brief instant of surprise and
 shock Darlington had found and with
 drawn the wooden peg that fastened
 the cabin door. He had scarcely done
 this when SIosson came tramping ait 1 supported by the three men. ] r7-A+-- EIauaihaT n nz-