Putnam patriot., 1912-02-16

You Out of That Saddle and Twist Your Neck"
 mustn't forget mel" And touching her i horse lightly with the whip she rode
 away at gallop.
 .She sholy is a ladyi" said Yancy,
 staring after her. And we mustn't
 forget Memphis or Belle Plain, New wy"
 When Betty Malroy rode away from | Squire Balaam's Murrell galloped after her Presently she heard the beat Of | his horses hoofs as he came pound
 ing along the sandy road, and glanced back over her shoulder. With an ex- clamation of displeasure she reined in
 her horse Murrell quickly gained 1 place at her side.
 "I suppose Ferris is at the Barony?" he said, drawing his horse down to a | walk.
 'I believe he is," said Betty with curt little air.
 May I ride with your" he gave her swift glance. She nodded indif- | ferently and would have urged her
 horse into gallop again, but he made gesture of protest. "Don't-or 1 shall think you are still running away 1 from me-" he said with a short laugh. Were you at the trial?" she asked. T am glad they didn't get Hannibal away from Yancy." "Oh. Yancy will have his hands full | with that later-so will Bladen," he l1l eJo la "a
 out of those deeply sunken eyes of his | in which no shadow of youth lin- | gered, for men such as he reached l their prime early, and 1t was a swift | ly passing splendor. Ferris tells me you are going to west Tennessee?" | he said at length.
 Yes"
 "I know your half-brother. Tom Ware-I know him very we'll" "So you know Tom?" she observed, and drowned slightly Tom was her guardian, and her memories of him were not satisfactory. A burly, un- | shaven man with queer streak Of, | meanness through his character. You've spent much of your time l up north?" suggested MurrelI. -Four years. I've been at school, you know. That's where 1 met Judith Ferris
 q hope you'll like west Tennessee. | It's still a bit raw compared with
 what you've been accustomed to in
 the north. You haven't been back in ] all those four years?" Betty shook her head. Nor seen Tom-nor any
 one from out yonder? For some req. son a little tinge of color had crept
 into Betty's cheeks. Will you let me
 renew our acquaintance at Belle
 Plain? 1 shall be in west Tennessee
 before the summer is over; probably
 I shall leave here within a week." he said, bending toward her. His glance
 dwelt on her face and on the plant lines of her figure, and his senses
 swan.
 q imagine you will be welcome at Belle Plain. You are Toms friend" Murrell bit his lip, and then laughed as his mind conjured up picture of the cherished Tom. Suddenly he reached out and rested his hand on
 hers
 "Betty-if I might think" he be- gan, but his tongue stumbled. His love-making was usually of a savage
 sort. but some quality in the girl held him in check. Betty drew away from him, an angry color on her cheeks | and an angry light in her eyes. For give me, Bettyi" murmured Murrell. but his heart beat against his ribs. and passion sent it's surges through him. Don't you know what I'm try ing to tell you?" he whispered. Betty gathered up her reins. Not yet" he cried, and again he rested heavy hand on hers.
 Let me go-let me got" cried Bet ty indignantly.
 "No-not yeti" He urged his horse still nearer and gathered her close. You've got to hear me. I've loved you since the first moment I rested my eyes on you-and, by God, you shall love me in returni" He felt her struggle to free herself from his grasp with a sense of savage triumph. Bruce Darlington, on his way back to Fayetteville from the Forks, came about turn in the road. Betty saw a tall, handsome fellow in the first flush of manhood; Darlington, an
 angry girl struggling in mans grasp.
 At sight Of the newcomer. Murrell, with an oath, released Betty. who, striking her horse with the whip. gal loped down the road toward the 1 Barony. As she fed past Darlington she bent low in her saddle. Don't let him follow mel" she
 gasped, and Darlington, striding for
 ward, caught MurrelIs horse by the bit.
 Let go," roared Murreli, and a 1 murderous light shot from his eyes. | T don't know but l should pull you | out of that saddle and twist your neck," said Darlington hotly. Mur- l relps face underwent a swift change. I You're . bold fellow to force your
 way into . lovers quarrel" hs said