Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1917-09-05
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=, "a MARINA'S RESCUE . .
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I'm BY MARTHA McC. WILLIAMS. 81
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Dusk fell before sunset because Of
the thickening mists. May though 1t
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 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 went Zigzag, feeling with
a little, badly shod foot for what she
sought. Presently she found it and be-
gan eagerly to gather arms and apron
full of it, but stopped with little star
tied cry as she ran plump against q
human figure.
A man indeed! He was clearly no
less startled than she. She looked up
AT him-he was very tall-the smother
of mist all but masked him, yet she
noted that he was clean-shaven and
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-flled
apron significantly, saying only,
NEED
"Is it great enough to make you risk
isomething?" ne asked eagerly. Singu-
larly fear had fallen away from her as
soon as he spoke. She drew deep
breath. answering, "Nly need is imme
diate-warmth for old age. But if the
risk is not a wicked one, I do not
mind"
"Judge!" he said thickly. 81 am
hun unred-lost-unless I get word to
friend. Yet l am not criminal
swerr it before your innocence. The
cha, ge is murder-my pursuers will
han, me first and prove me guilty
,aftt ward. So far I have baffled them;
but when you have been tramping, run
min falling, getting up, for twelve
hours, you can't go much farther. Rest
ing / little while, grew chilled. Now
vii you bring me food-and take or
SCI a message? You shall have your
rev rd-"
! want none," Marina said, almost
haughtily. "But I shall help you'll
would even if thought you guilty"
"That makes me believe there is
God after ALL" the man said huskily.
"But you must be quick-they have set
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, walk
on them, take them up, spread them
again, come back to me and follow me,
still keeping them under your feet"
"Where will you take me?" the man
asked.
"Home," she said. "Be quick-and
be glad that as child I learned to
play the Indian game of breaking
TRAIL"
How successfully it was broken was
proved within two hours. The dogs
were utterly at fault after leaving the
fire. Lanterns showed neither hoof
marks nor footprints-as to the other
scent the hounds took no note of it. So
in the thick dark they could do no
more than wait for daylight. The best
chance was to guard their exits. The
fugitive must be hidden somewhere
within, unless he had escaped by air.
plane.
Instead he lay snug in the loft of
Grannys lumber house. Marina had
After that things all but arranged
themselves. Upon the third night Ma
rina made clean breast of things to
Granny-and got her blessing upon the
closing errand, which was to take the
accused man, William Benton by name,
out back to the farther turnpike,
where Francis Galton awaited them
with his swift car. She had hardly
slept since the beginning Of her ad-
venture. After this happy ending Of
1t she nodded so heavily that Gray
Billy had things all his own way. Be
ing a wise beast, withal kindly, he
took his young mistress safely home.
Murder will out. Less than month
after Marina's rescue the real crimi-
nal discovered himself. He was poor,
lost soul in the grip Of recurrent con-
genital insanity. Then the country
Side shuddered in thankfulness over
what it had escaped. But before that
young Francis Galton had said things
of Marina that made Granny's cheeks
flush and glow as in youth. He had
come to them bearing gifts-registered
gold bonds for $4,000. William Ben
ton had sent them, not in payment, but
in gratitude. Francis had to make that
very, very plain before proud Granny
would even consider them. Also he
made it plain that Benton was rich
enough never to think again Of his gift
and that he would be sadly hurt by Its