The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-02-21


ing that?"
Avoiding it," almost shouted the
Judge. For what have I been living
I shall meet him, let the consequences
be what they may. Tonight when
have reduced certain facts to writing
shall join you at Belle Plain. The
strange and melancholy history of my
life I shall place in your hands for
safe keeping. In the morning ! can
be driven back to Boggs'.'
"And you will go there without a
second?"
IF necessary; yes"
81 declare, Price, you are hardly
fitted to be at large! Why, you act as
if you were tired of life! There's
Yancy-there's Cavendish!"
The Judge gave him an indulgent
but superior smile.
1.-TWO very worthy men, but go to
Boggs' attended by gentleman or
20 there alone. l am aware of your
prejudices, Solomon; otherwise |
might ask this favor of you"
Mr.. Mahaffy snorted loudly and
turned to the door, for Yancy and
Cavendish were now approaching the
house, the latter with meal sack
slung over his shoulder.
Here, Solomon, take one OF my pis-
tolls" urged the judge hastily. you
may need it at Belle Plain. Good-by
and God bless you!"
CHAPTER XXXIH.
Bess Leads to Betty.
Just where he had parted from
Ware, Darlington sat his horse, his
brows knit and his eyes turned in the
direction of the path. He was on his
way to a plantation below Girard, the
owner of which had recently imported
a pack of bloodhounds; but this un-
expected encounter with Ware had af'
fected him strangely. He still heard
Toms stammering speech, he was still
seeing his CHASTITY face, and he had
come upon him with startling sudden.
ness. He had CHANGED to look back
over his shoulder and when he faced
about there had been the planter with
in hundred yards of him.
Presently Carrington's glance ceased
to follow the windings of the path.
He stared down at the gray dust and
saw the trail left by Hues and his
party. For a moment he hesitated;
if the dogs were to be used with any
hope of success he had no time to
spare, and this was the merest sus.
)icion, Illogical conjecture, based on
nothing beyond his distrust of Ware.
IN The emu he sprang from the saddle
and leading his horse into the woods,
led it to sapling.
A hurried investigation told him
hat five men had ridden in and out
If that path. Of the five, all coming
rom the south, four had turned south
again, but the fifth man-Ware, in
)ther words-had gone north. He
the possible significance OF
hese facts.
81 am only wasting time!" he con-
,essed reluctantly, and was on the
rs
very edge of the road and just where
he dust yielded to the hard clap of
he path, his glance lighted on the
print of a small and daintily shod foot.
The throbbing OF his heart quickened
,uriously.
Betty" The word leaped from his
Ups.
That small foot had left but the
)ne impress. There We're other signs,
however, LAT claimed his attention
the boot prints of Slosson and
MS men; and he made the inevitable
discovery that these tracks were all
confined to the one spot. They began
suddenly and as suddenly ceased, yet
here was no mystery about these; he
lad the marks of the wheels to help
him to sure conclusion. A car
Rage had turned just here, several
men had alighted; they had with them
/ child or woman. Either they had
re.entered the carriage and driven |
pack as they had come or they had
zone toward the river. He felt the
;oul within him turn sick.
He stole along the path; the ter
or of the river was ever in his
thoughts, and the specter of his fear
eemed to fit before him and lure
i'm on. Presently he caught his first
limpse of the bayou and his legs
hook under him; but the path wound
eeper still into what appeared to be
n untouched solitude, wound on be-
ween the crowding tree forms, lit
lie back from the shore, with an in
tangle of vines and bushes.
lie scanned this closely as he hurried