The Mena weekly star., 1913-01-16
CHAPTER XIV.
The Bubble Bursts.

C0l. FenJfeSS, three men were walt ing ten miles away at the head of the bayou which served to isolate Hicks cabin. Now no one of these three had ever heard of Judge Slocum Price; the breath of his fame had never blown, however gently, in their direction, yet they were preparing to thrust opportunity upon him. To this end they were lounging about the opening in the woods where the horses belonging to Ware and Murrell were tied.
 At length the dip of oars became audible in the silence and one of the trio stole down the path, matter of fifty yards, to point that overlooked the bayou. He was gone but a mo- ment
 Its Murrell all right" he said in an eager whisper. Him and another fellow-the Hicks girl is rowing them" He glanced from one to the other of his companions, who seemed to take firmer hold of themselves un- der his eye. "Itll be all right" he protested lightly. Hes as good as ours. Wait till give you the word" And he led the way into an adjacent thicket.
 Meantime Ware and Murrell had landed and were coming along the path, the outlaw step or two in ad- vance of his friend They reached the horses and were untying them when the thicket suddenly disgorged the bnl nicf two of these pistols covered MurrelI and the third was leveled at Ware.
 "Hues!" cried Murrell in astonish- ment, for the man confronting him was the Clans messenger who should have been speeding across the state.
 "Toss up your hands, Murrell," said Hues quietly.
 One of the other men spoke.
 "You are under arrest!"
 Arrest"
 You are wanted for nigger-steal- ing" said the man. Still Murrell did not seem to comprehend. He looked at Hues in dull wonder.
 What are you doing here?" he asked.
 Waiting to arrest you-aint that plain?" said Hues, with a grim smile.
 The outlaws hands dropped at his side, limp and helpless. With some idea that he might attempt to draw a weapon one of the men took hold of him, but Murrell was nerveless to his touch; his face had gone ghast- ly white and was streaked with tho markings of terror.
 Well. by thunderi" cried the man in utter amazement.
 Murrell looked into Hues' face.
 "You-you-" and the words thick ened on his tongue, becoming an in. articulate murmur.
 Its all up, John" said Hues.
 ''No." said Murrell, recovering him. self. You may as well turn me loose you can't arrest mel"
 I've done it," answered Hues. I've been on your track for six months.'
 How about this fellow?' asked the man whose pistol still covered Ware, Hues glanced toward the planter and shook his head
 Where are you going to take me?'' asked Murrell quickly. Again Hues laughed
 You'll find that out in plenty of time, and then your friends can pass the word around if they like; now you'll come with me"
 Ware neither moved nor spoke as Hues and his prisoner passed back along the path, Hues with his hand on Murrell's shouler, and one of his companions close at his heels, while the third man led off the outlaws s horse.
 Presently the distant chatter of hoofs was borne to Wares ears-only that; the miracle of courage and dar- ing he had half expected had not hap pened. Murreil. for aii his wild boast ing, was like other men, like himself His bloodshot eyes slid around in their sockets. There across the sun lit stretch of water was Betty-the thought of her brought him to quick choking terrors. The whole fabric oi crime by which he had been benefited in the past or had expected to profit in the future seemed toppling in upon him, but his mind clutched one i'm portant fact. Hues, if he knew ol Betty's disappearance, did not con meet Murrell with it. Ware sucked 1T comfort between his twitching lips Stealing niggersl No one would be leve that he. planter, had hand fl that. and for brief instant he con sidered signaling Bess to return. Slos
 son must be told of Murrel's arrest but he was sick with apprehension some trap might have been prepared for him, he could not knowe and th' impulse to act forsook him. He smote his hands together in { hopeless. beaten gesture And Mur Tell had gone weak--with his owl eyes he had seen t--Murrell--whon ne believed without feari He felt tha he had been grievously betrayed il his trust and hot rage poure' through him. At last he climbed in to the saddle, and, swaying like 1 drunken man, galloped or When he reached the river roa, he paused and scanned it's dusty sur lace. Hues and his party had turne, south when they issued from the WOO path. No doubt Murrell was beinI taken to Memphis. Ware laughe' narshly. The outlaw would be ire pelore another dawn broke. lie had halted near where Jim ha