The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-05-30

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n Was Quite Peevlsh After He Threw
Ne In the River.
seriousness of the unchecked savagery
Of those last moments on the keel
boat; she was still hearing the oaths
of the men as they struggled together,
the sound of blows, and the dreadful
silences that had followed them. She
turned from him, and there came the
relief Of tears.
There. Betty, the danger 10 over
now and you were 30 brave while 1t
lasted. can't bear to have you cry!"
Il was wild with fear-al that time
on the boat, Bruce" she faltered be-
tween her sobs. Il didn't know but
they would find you out. could only
wait and hope-and pray!"
II was in no danger, dear. Didn't
the girl tell you l was to take the
place of q man Slosson was expect
ing? He never doubted that l was
that man until ight-a signal 1t
must have been-on the shore at the
head of the bayou betrayed me-"
where are we going now, Bruce?
Not the way they vent" and Betty
glanced out into the black void where
the keel boat had merged into the
gloom.
mo, no-but we can't get the raft
back upstream against the current,
80 the best thing is to land at the
Bates plantation below here; then az
soon as you are able we can return to
Belle Plain said Darlington.
There was an interval broken only
by the occasional sweep of the great
steering oar as Cavendish coaxed the
raft out toward the channel. The
thought OF Charley Norton's murder
rested on Darlington like q pail.
Scarcely week had elapsed since he
quilted Thicket Point, and in that
week the hand of death had dealt
with them 1mpartially, and to what
end? Then the miles he had traversed
In his hopeless journey up-river trans
lated themselves into a division OF
time as we'll as space. They were
Just as much further removed from
the past with its blight OF tragic ter
ror. He turned and glanced at Betty.
He saw that her eyes held their steady
look of wistful pity that was for the
dead man; yet In spite of this, and in
spite of the bounds beyond which he
would not let his Imagination carry
him, the future, enriched with sudden
promise, unfolded itself. The deep
sense OF recovered hope stirred with
IN him. He knew there must come
day when he would dare to speak OF
his love, and she would listen.
Its best We should land at Bates
place-we can get teams there" no
went on to explain. And, Betty.
wherever we go We'll 60 together,
dear. Cavendish doesn't look as If he
had any very urgent business Of his
own. and l reckon the same is true
of Yancy, so am going to keep them:
with US. There are some points to be
cleared up when we reach Belle Plain
folks who'll have lot to ex-
plain or else quit this part Of the
state! And intend to see that you
are not left alone until-until l have
the right to take care OF you for good
and all-that's what you want me to,
do one of these days, isn't it, Oar.
ling?" and his eyes, glowing and in
hnitely tender, dwelt on her upturned
face.
But Betty shrank from him in in
voluntary agitation.
"Oh, not now, Bruce-not now-we
mustn't speak of that-it's wrong
its wicked-you mustn't make mo
forget himl" she cried brokenly, in
protest. ...
Forgive me, Betty, I'll not speak
OF 1t again." he said.
walt, Bruce, and some time-Oh,
don't make me say It," she gasped.
"or I shall hate myself" for in his
presence she was feeling the horror
Of her past experience grow strangely
only the dull ache Of her
memories remained, and to these she
chung. They were silent for q mo-
ment, then Darlington said:
AFTER I'm sure you'll be safe here
perhaps I'll go south into the Choctaw
Purchase. I've been thinking of that
recently; but I'll find my way back
here-don't misunderstood NELL
not come too soon for even you, Bet
ty. I loved Norton. He was one OF
my best friends, too" he continued
gently. But you know-and know
dear, the day viii como when no
matter where you are shall md you
and not lose you"