The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-12
The MAN IN THE SWAMP
Ely JOHN EDGERToN.
Copyright. 1915. by W. G. Chapman)

Copyright. 1915 by w. G. Chapman)
Joe crouched in the palmetto scrub,
and his brain worked feverishly as he
laid his plans
He had escaped three hours before
from the turpentine camp, where he
had toiled three months out Of a life
sentence. He had been committed
there for murder, but it was only man
slaughter, and Joe knew that any
white man who had killed under the
circumstances would have been &C.
quilted. It IVES this knowledge that
ranked and made him hate every
body in the camp
Flogged, starved. treated as a wild
beast, Joe dreamed of the day Of his
escape, when he could take revenge
upon the world He hated his keep
ers. the man who had betrayed him;
but most of all, by singular chance,
he hated Bentley. the white convict.
who was serving a five years sem
tence for doing what he had done. and
Of whom it was freely said that only
political animosities had got him con-
victed at all
However, Bentley, who was respect
ed as a rich man, the hero of the
camp, the subject Of Difference on the
part of the wardens-Bentley was in
the camp and Joe was outside. That
was the situation. Joe had made his
escape dxing 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.
He had run for three hours through
the palmetto and pine; now he rested
uneasily and planned. He would make
his way to his home town. OF course
he must get some coke That done, he
would per.crm hi; yar.ous 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 rang a faint and musical cry. 1t
was the call Of a bloodhound. Joe
knew its 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 he knew he was safe. He
kn th4
The shallow bayou was about two
miles away With luck he would reach
1t before the hounds caught up with
him The swampy ground would i'm
pede their scent He struggled along.
Once at the bayou. he would swim
out to one of the islands. Turk there
until the chase had passed. then dou-
BILE on his tracks, skirt the bay, and
reach the negro settlement near
Becksville. He 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 brackish water was only
beginning to fill his nostrils. Madly
now Joe plunged into the scrub. Sud-
denly he emerged upon little creek,
one of the numerous tributaries that
fed the bayou.
A woman was kneeling ON the bank.
her back toward him, and occupied In
bailing out boat. As Joe approached
she started and looked eagerly towsrd
him. then. seeing the negro, she
sprang to her feet with little cry.
where is he?" she asked. "Mr.
Bentley"
Joe gaped at her vacantly. Then.
seeing the boat. he made toward 1t.
The woman's figure barred his path.
you can't take it," she cried. ITS
for-for-Mr Bentley"
Joe thrust her aside and made for
the boat The cry Of the bloodhounds
grew louder, and suddenly ragged
figure crashed through the glade and.
stumbling, painting, collapsed at the
woman's feet She cried out and
threw her arms about him.
Suddenly Joe remembered woman
who had loved him. She was black
woman. but she had meant all to him
that this girl meant to Bentley. And
in a fash he recognized the situation.
Bentley had escaped. too; the blood
hounds were after him, and 1t was
Bentley, not he, who occupied tho
stage at that moment.
As the 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 en-
ter. He even assisted the girl in; he
watched her haul Bentley after her,
saw them pole off-and then the
hounds burst into the glade and gave
tongue among the palmettos.
Joe turned and pushed into the pal
metto again. His feet stuck in the
soft mud The hounds were gain.
ing on him. He stopped in despair.
and at that instant. with loud bowls
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 behind.
The next he heard the sound Of an
| oar dipped into water near him. The
PROV of a boat shot through the man.
groves. Joe saw Bentley and the girl
| They had come back for him.
Jump in. Joe, said Bentley. Ibid
you think vas going to save my
skin and not help you. after what you
1 d;I for