The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1920-12-08
CHAPTER III.
The Picture of a Baby.

TOnniDelS heart Jumped almost INTO
her throat, then seemed to cease beat
ing. There stood her father growing,
enraged and drunk, and as If she were
dead and no longer able to help her
child, her mother lay almost within
touching distance. If Uriah carried
out his plans, then the hOrrid fellow
there would soon claim her as his
woman. That thought frightened her
so that she stepped back as the new
conner came upon the deck.
whats the matter, Ry?" he asked
quite casually.
Hes killed mummy" burst forth
the girl. "And if both you fellers don't
want to get pinched, you'd better
scOOt often this boat"
Uriah laughed, and Reggle's high
pitched cackle followed.
"Been giving your woman a little
discipline. Ell, paI?" he demanded,
turning on Devon. "Well, they all
need it now and then. But she's the
liveliest breathing corpse ever saw.
Did you hit FER, Dev?'
1HD, SIOMlCu lllC OIAACl sHAN
I'm goin' to beat Tony, too. The i'm
pudent brat says she wouldn't marry
you if you was the last man Twin.
You watch the brat there, Rege, while
I duck EIDE in the cabin"
TOnnibel, wide-eyed and suffering,
saw her father lift her mother up in
his brawDy arms and carry her down
stairs. none too gently. When he had
| disappeared, a throat sound made her
swing her eyes to the other man. He
! was contemplating her with a smile,
an evil smile, such as she hated In
men. His white teeth seemed like
many cleaning knives, sharp, strong
and Overhanging, his red lips spread
! ing away from them.
He took a step toward her and
stopped.
"Why so much fuss about nothing,
my little one?" he said, cooling.
Daddy said 1 had to marry you"
breathed the girl, brushing back a
stray curl from her brow. "But I
don't! I'm goin' to stay with my
mother on the Dirty Mary. There
amt no law forcing a girl to marry a
man she don't like. And I hate you,
see? Huh?"
''WhO spoke Of law?" smiled
Brown ~ didn't But I do know, my
little TOny-girE, that yOu1l say very
meek yes when get through with
you"
Tonnibel suddenly shuddered and d
hopeless, helpless feeling went in
waves over her. Oh. to he anywhere
n Gods clear. clean world, Away
from those cleaning luStful eyes, But
she saw no opportunity tU escape.
Reginald Brown was blocking the
small space through, which she must
fly if she were to be saved at ALL She
knew very well If she could hide for
little while the two men would drink
!, until they slept Then she could come
back and help her mother PLAINLY
she had heard the woman weeping be
low in the cabin, and even more plain
iy to her suffering ears came Devon;
blows. and after that-silence.
Her heart thumped like a hammer
against her side. Behind her lay the
shining lake. And one hasty glance
over her shoulder only added to hel
fear. There was not a sign of a boa
anywhere. She was frantic enough Il
scream if it.wOUld have done her an!
, good.
, 81 think I'll kiss you, my little bird,
; said Reggie, suddenly, narrowing hi
! eyes. you're pretty enough for any
> one to want to kiss. By JOve, l neve
> realized until today just how much
2 liked you If kissed you, well-per
haps you'd change your mind about
. about things"
= Tonnibel slid backward to the boa
rail. When she touched it, she whirle
= about and dove headlong into the Lake
= When Reginald Brown saw the girl
feet disappear under the water, he u
= tered an oath and cried out. He hadn
expected such an action on her par
He ran to the cabin steps an
screamed to Devon.
"She's in the lake, Ry," he shivere
n as the other man sprang to the deck
TO BE CONTINUED.
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