The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1912-09-20
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Keel Boat.

few minutes later they had sepa-
rated, George to hurry away In search
of the horse, and Darlington to pass
back along the shore until he gained
a point opposite the clearing. he
whistled shrilly three times. and after
an interval of waiting heard the
splash of oars and presently saw
skiff steal out of the gloom.
Who's there?" 1t was Bess who
asked the question.
"Carrington," he answered.
Lucky you amt met the other
mani" she said as she swept her skitf
alongside the bank.
Lucky for him, you mean. I'll take
the oars" added Darlington. as he
entered the skiff.
Slowly the clearing lifted out Of the
darkness. then the keel boat became
diStinguishable; and Darlington
checked the skiff by a backward
stroke Of the oars.
"Heiloi" he called
There was no immediate answer to
his hail, and he called again as he
sent the skiff forward.
What do you want?" asked a surly
voice
You want Slosson!" quickly
prompted the girl in whisper.
Il want to see Slosson!" said Car
rington glibly and with confluence.
Who be you?"
"Murrell sent you," prompted the
girl again, in a hurried whisper.
"Murrell-'' And in his aston1sh-
ment Darlington spoke aloud.
"Murrell?" cried the voice sharply.
sent mel" said Darlington quick
ly, as though completing an unt1n-
ished sentence. The girl laughed nery-
ously under her breath.
Row closter!" came the sullen
command, and the Kentuckian did as
he was hidden. Four men stood in
the bow of the keel boat, a lantern
was raised aloft and by It's light they
looked him over. There was a mo-
ment's silence broken by Darlington.
who asked:
Which one of you is Slosson? p
I'm Slosson," answered the man
with the lantern. The previous night
Mr.. Slosson had been somewhat un-
der the enlivening and elevating in
fiuence of corn whisky, but now he
was his own cheerless self, and rath'
er faded by the passing Of the hours
which he had sacrificed to an trk-
some responsibility. What word do
you fetch from the captain. brother?'
he demanded.
Miss Malroy Is t. be taken down
river" responded Darlington.
Slosson swore with surprising flu
ency.
Say, we're five able-bodied men
risking our necks to oblige him! You
| can get married a damn sight easier
than this If you go about it right-lVe
| done it lots of times" Not under
standing the significance of Slosson s
| allusion to his own matrimonial ca
reer, Darlington held his peace. The
| tavern-keeper swore again with un-
! impaired vigor. You'll find mighty
few men with more experience than
me-" he asserted, shaking his head.
But if you say the word"
I'm all for getting shut of this
answered Darlington promptly. with
a sweep of his arm. Il call these
| pretty close quarters!'
Still shaking his head and mutter'
ing. the tavern-keeper sprang ashore
and mounted the bank, where his
slouching figure quickly lost itself In
the night.
Darlington took up his station on
the fat roof of the cabin which filled
the stern of the boat.
IF I'd only pushed my quarrel with
| him!" he thought bitterly.
He heard Slosson's shutting step in
| the distance, word or two when he
spoke gruffiy to some one, and a mo.
ment later he saw Betty and the boy,
their forms darkly silhouetted against
| the lighter sky as they moved along
| the top of the bank. Slosson, with
| out any supertiuous gallantry, helped
his captives down the slope and
| aboard the keel boat, where he locked
| them in the cabin, the door of which
| fastened with a hasp and wooden peg
You're boss now, pardner!' he
said. Joining Darlington at the steer
ing oar.
We'll cast off then" answered
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.
II reckon you're a river-man?" OBJ
| served Slosson.
"All my life
The line had been cast off, 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 nc
word was spoken, and soon the I'M
wieldy craft glided into the sluggish
current and gathered way. Mr.. Slos
son. who clearly regarded his relation
to the adventure as being OF an Off
cial character, continued to stand at
| Carrington's elbow.
(TO BE CONTINUED