The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-08-27
THE MAN IN THE SWAMP
ey JOHN EDoHRToN.

from the t%urpentine camp, where he
had tolled three months out Of n life
eentence. He had been committed
there for murder, but II was only nan
slaughter. and Joe knew that any
white man who had killed under the
circumstances would have been &C.
quilted. II was this knowledge that
rankled and made him hate every.
body In the camp.
Fiogged. starved, treated as n Wild
beast. Joe dreamed OF the dcy OF his
escape, when he could take revenge
upon the world. lie hated his Keep
ers, the man who had betrayed him;
but most OF all. by a singular chance.
he hated Bentley, the white convict,
who was serving a ave years SEN
tence for doing what he had done, and
OF whom Il was freely said that only
political animosities had got him con-
victed at all.
However, Bentley. who was respect
cd as a rich man. the hero OF the
camp, the subject Of Difference on the
part OF the ENTHUSIASTICALLY vas In
the camp and Joe was outside. That
was the situation. Joe had made his
escape during the confusion following
on the outbreak OF the FIRE. The wood
en- stockade was threatened, the con
victs were mustered into the yard.
and, under cover OF the smoke, Joe
made his getaway.
lie had run for three hours through
the palmetto and pine: now he rested
uneasily and planned. He would make
his way 70 his home town. OF course
be must get some coke That done. he
would perform his various acts OF re.
venge upon diverse persons. and then
well. then the safety Of the southern
ports and the society Of his fellow
roustabouts.
Suddenly he raised his head and
listened uneasily Far down the glade
there rams a faint and musical cry. II
was the call OF a bloodhound. Joe
knew It's significance, and the super.
stitious terror which the negro has
for this hound awakened. He sprang
TO his feet and plunged on through the
thickets.
Once he could make the water OF
the bayou nc know he was safe. He
could throw he hounds OF the scent.
The shallow bayou was about two
miles away with luck he would reach
Il before the hounds caught up with
him. The swampy ground would i'm
pede their scent. He struggled along
Once az the bayou, he would swim
out TO one OF the lslande. lurk there
until the chase had passed. then dou-
bic on his tracks. skirt the bay. and
reach the negro settlement near
Becksvllle. lie knew exactly what he
would do. He felt the hope OF free.
dom strong In him.
But presently the cry OF the hounds
grew louder-louder still. and the
scent OF the brnckish water was only
beginning 10 on his nostrils. Madly
now Joe plunged into rho scrub Sud
denly he emerged upon n little creek,
one OF the numerous tributaries that
fed the bayou.
A woman was kneeling on tho bank.
hor back toward him, and occupied in
bailing u a boat. AS Joe approached
she started and looked eagerly toward
him: then. seeing the negro, she
sprnng TO her feet with a little cry.
where Is he?' she asked. "Mr
Bentley"
Joe gaped at her vaoantly. Then,
seeing the boat. he made toward t.
The woman's figure barred his path.
You can't take H." she cried. IT'S
for--for-Mr Bentley"
Joe thrust her aside and made for
the boat. The cry Of the b~loodhounds
grew louder. and suddenly a ragged
figure crashed through the glade and,
stumbling. painting, collapsed az the
woman's feet She cried out and
threw her arms about him.
Suddenly Joe remembered q woman
who had loved him. She was a black
woman. but she had meant all 10 him
that this girl meant 20 Bentley And
In n fash he recognized the situation.
Bentley had escaped. too. the blood.
hounds were after him. and n was
Bentley, not he, who occupied the
stage al that moment.
AS tho man rose, sobbing FOR breath,
and turned to Joe. the negro. who had
already one foot In the boat. stopped
and indicated that Bentley should ON.
ter. He even assisted the girl in. no
watched her haul BENTLEY aftor her
saw them pole oh-and then the
hounds burst into the glade and gave
tongue among the palmcttog.
Joe turned and pushed into the pal.
metto again His feet stuck In the
soft mud The hounds were gain
Ing on him. lie stopped On despair,
aud at that instant. with loud hoWls
OF triumph, the beasts leaped from
among the palmetto and raced down
into the mangrove.
One Instant Joe saw their 1.-THE
bodies and the forms OF the wardens
plunging through the scrub bohlnd
The next he heard The sound OF m
oar dipped into water near him. The
prov OF a boat shot through the man.
groves Joe saw Bentley and the rirl.
They had come back for him.
Jump In. Joe, said Bentley did
you think was going 10 save nv
skin and not help you, after what you
did for me-"
As the foremost hound leaned for