The Mena weekly star., 1913-01-16

carriage; the marks of the wheels were as plainly distinguishable as the more recent trail left by the four men. and as he grasped the significance of that wide half circle his sense of in- jury overwhelmed him again He hoped to live to see Murrell hanged!
 He was so completely lost in his bitter reflections that he had been un- aware of mounted man who was coming toward him at a swift gallop, but now he heard the steady pounding of hoofs and, startled by the sound. looked up. A moment later the horse man drew rein at his side.
 'Ware!" he cried.
 How are you, CarT1ngton?" said the planter.
 You are wanted at Belle Plain," be- gan Darlington, and seemed to hesi- tate.
 "Yes-yes, I am going there at once now" stammered Ware, and gath cred up his reins with a shaking hand.
 You've heard, take it?" said Car rington slowly.
 "Yes," answered Ware, in a hoarse whisper My God, Darlington, I'm heart sick; she has been like a daugh. ter to mel" he fell silent, mop ping his face.
 T think I understand your feeling" said Darlington, giving him a level glance.
 Then you'll excuse me-" and the planted clapped spurs to his horse. Once he looked back over his shoul- der; he saw that Darlington had not moved from the spot where they had met.
 At Belle Plain, Ware found his neighbors in possession of the place. They greeted him quietly and spoke in subdued tones of their sympathy. The planter listened with an air of such abject misery that those who had neither liked nor respected him, were reused to a sudden generous feeling where he was concerned; they could not question but that he was deeply affected. After all the man might | have a side to his nature with which they had never come in contact.
 When he could he shut himself in his room. He had experienced a day of maddening anxiety; he had not slept at all the previous night; in mind and body he was worn out; and now he was plunged into the thick of this sensation. He must keep control of himself, for every word he said would be remembered. In the pres ent there was sympathy for him, but sooner or later people would return | to their sordid unemotional judg- ments.
 He sought to forecast the happen | ings of the next few hours. Murrelrs friends would break jail for him, that was foregone conclusion; but the instruction he had planned was at | an end. Hues had dealt it's death blow. Moreover, though the law might be impotent to deal with Mur- rell. he could not hope to escape the vengeance of the powerful class he had plotted to destroy; he would have to quit the country. Ware gloated in this idea of craven flight. Thank | God. he had seen the last of him. | But as always, his thoughts came back to Betty. Slosson would wait al Hicks place for the man Murrell had promised him, and, failing the mes senger, for the signal fire, but there would be neither; and Slosson woulc be left to determine his own course oi action. Ware felt certain that he would wait through the night, but as sure as the morning broke, if no word had reached him, he would send ont of his men across the bayou, who must learn of Murrelfs arrest. escape, flight flor in Wares mind these three events were indissolubly associated The planters teeth knocked together He was having terrible acquaint ance with fear, it's very depths hac swallowed him up; 1t was black pit in which he sank from horror to hor TOT. He had lost all faith in the Clar which had terrorized half a dozer states, which had robbed and mur dered with apparent impunity, which had marketed it's hundreds of stoier slaves He had utterly collapsed al the first blow dealt the organization but he was still seeing Murrell, pailiC and shaken.
 A step sounded in the hall and ar instant later Hicks entered the room without the formality of knocking Ware recognized his presence with s glance of indifference, but did not speak. Hicks slouched to his employ CTS side and handed him a note whict