Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-08-31
M "a ~ - ~ ~ - ~ ~ ~ - -
|. MARINA'S RESCUE.
BY MARTHA Nee. WILLIAMS.


the thickening nists. May though II
was, there was more than wintry
tang to the penetrating. damp.
. Therefore Marina was out gathering
bark and chips. The winter woodpile
was exhausted. but Granny's feebleness
demanded a fire. So the girl went out
of bounds. into the woods beyond the
ragged pasture Men had worked there
in winter cutting timber; she knew
they must have left behind what would
be treasure trove to her. In the dusk
she could not instantly mark the spot
therefore she vent zigzag. feeling witt
a little. badly shod foot for what she
sought. Presently she found it and be
gan eagerly To gather arms and apron
full of ii, but stopped with little star
tied cry as she ran plump against 9
human figure.
A man indeed, He was clearly nc
less startled than she. She looked W
at him--he was very tall-the smother
of mist all but masked him. yet she
noted that he was clean-sh2ven ano
that his eyes were so deep set that she
could not mark shape or color.
"What brings you here?". he asked
tensely. She touched her half-filled
apron significantly, saying only
Need"
us 1t great enough to make you risk
something's" he asked eagerly. Singh
larly fear had fallen away from her as
soon as he spoke. She. drew deep
breath. answering. my need is imme-
diate-warmth for old age. But IL the
risk is not wicked one, / do not
mind"
Judge" he said thickly. 81 am
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. | get word to o
friend Yet | am not criminal
swear IL before your innocence. The
charge is murder-my pursuers will
hang me first and prove me guilty
afterward. So far have baffled them ;
but when you have been tramping. run.
ming. falling. getting up, for twelve
hours You can't 20 much farther. Rest
ing little while. grew chilled. Now
will you bring me fOOd-and take on
send a message? You shall have your
reward"
II want none" Marina said: almost
haughtily. But l shall help yOu-l
would even If thought you guilty."
THAT makes me believe there is'a
God after ALL" the man said hussily
But you must be quick-they have SCI
blOOdhOunds on my trail"
Marina let fall her burden. united
her apron. stripped off her skirt, and
said hushedly. as she spread them be-
fore him. "'Take these, run fifty yards
from the fire. spread them down. wall
on them, take them up. spread then
again. come back to me and follow me
still keeping them under your feet
"Where will you take me?' the mar
asked. q.
Home" she said. BE auckland
be glad that as Child learned Il
play the Indian game of br~lkint
trail"
How successfully II was broken wa.
proved within two hours. The dog.
were utterly at fault after leaving. thu
| fire. Lanterns showed neither hoo
marks nor fOOtprints--as to the othel
scent the hounds took no note of 1t. 81
in the thick dark they could do M
more than wait for daylight. The hes
chance was to guard their exits. tn,
fugitive must be hidden sOmewher,
| within, unless he had escaped by air
plane.
Instead he lay snug in the loft o
Granny's lumber house. Marina hat
After that things all but arranged
themselves. Upon the third night Ma
rina made a clean breast of things 4
Granny-and got her blessing upon TN
closing errand. which was to take tn
accused man, William Benton by name
out back to the farther turnpike
where Francis Cation awaited then
with his swift car. She had hardl.
slept since the beginning Of her ad
venture. After this happy ending o
il she nodded so heavily that Ora
Billy had things all his own way. BE
ing wise beast, withal kindly. h
took his young mistress safely home.
Murder will out. Less than mont
after Marins's rescue the real Grim
nal discovered himself. He was pool
lost soul In the grip Of recurrent cor
genital insanity. Then the country
side shuddered I'm thankfulness owe
what 1t Ind escaped. But before tina
young Francis Gallon had said thing
of Marina that made Granny's cheek
flush and glow az in youth. He ha
come to them bearing gifts-registere
gold bonds for $4,000 William Ber
ton had sent them. not in payment. bu
in gratitude. Francis had to make tina
very. very plain before proud Cram
would even consider them. Also h
made it plain that Benton was RTE
enough never to think again of his gii
and that lee would be sadly h,Et by II
rejection. Granny began theA to cor
slider. Francis. whispering aryrt wit
Marina. turned suddenly up her
radiant face. crying: ave dt't ear
what you do about the money. Gram,
| have enough my own self for brea
and cheese and Marina has promise
to furnish the kisses"
IF she is going TO marry you, as
take il she must he. she must have
dowry." Granny said. twinkling. as
YOU can tell Mr.. Benton we are dul
grateful; pity he can't come to tn
wedding"
He did come, after all. to be n,