Okolona messenger., 1921-02-17
CHAPTER m.

IohHlDel heart Jumped almost int
her throat, then seemed to cease bear
Ing. There stood her father growing
enraged and drank, and as II she were
dead and no longer able to help her
child, her mother lay almost within
touching distance If Urah carried
our 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.
What's the matter RyY he asked
quite casually.
He's killed mummy" burst forth
the girl. "And if both you fellers don't
want to get pinched, you'd better
Sco0t often this boat"
Ur'iah laughed. and Reggies high,
pitched cacSle followed.
"Been giving your woman little
discipline. eh, pal?" 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 'er, Dev?"
"Iep," growled the other man, "and
I'm goln to beat Tony, too The inn
pudent brat says she wouldn't marry
you if you was the last man Twin.
You watch the brat there. Rege while
duck Eide in the cabin"
TOnnibel, wAle-eyed and suffering.
saw her father lift her mother up in
his brHwny arms and carry her down
stairs. none toe gently. When he had
disappeared, throat sound made her
swing her eyes to the other man. He
was contemplating her with 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.
tie took a step toward her and
stopped.
why so much fuss about nothing.
my little Onef" he said, cooling.
Daddy said had to marry yOu."
breathed the girl, brushing hack a
stray curl from her brow. But I
don't! I'm goin' to STAY with nv
mother on the Dirty Mary. There
amt no law forcing a girl to marry n
man she don't Ike And I hate Won
seer Huh?"
who spoke Of iawY' smiled
Brown. Il didn't! But do know. nv
little Tony-girl. that yOuTI say a very
meek yes when get through with
you" "
Tonnibel suddenly shuddered and A
nopeless helpless feeling went in :
waves over her. Oh. to be anywhere !.
n GodS clear. clean world AWAY :
rom those cleaning lustful eyes But :
NE saw TO opportunity to escape. ;,
reginald Brown was blocking the =
mall space through which she must
" 4 she were to be saved at all She
new very we'll II she could hide for :" "
little while the two men would drink =
ntil they slept Then she could come ~
ack and help her mother. Plainly :,
ne had heard the woman weeping be- .,
Nv In the cabin, and even more plain. =
to her suffering ears came peyon's A.,
lows. and after that--silence. =.
Her heart thumped like a hammer ~
galnst her side, Behind her Inv the n,
inning lake. And one hasty glance
yer her shoulder only added to her :.
ar. There was not sign Of boat \,
lYwhere. She was frantic enough m -.
'ream If It would have done her any ~
iOd ~
.n 49,, IA
- tlink I'll kiss you, my little bird" 30
id Reggie, suddenly, narrowing his ~
'es. You're pretty enough for aDy. r.,
le to want to kiss. BY love. never -,
allied until today just how much I ho
ted you. II kissed YOU. well--ner- -,
ps you'd change your mind about ho
out things" -"
TOnnibel slid backward to the bOat fol
y. When she touched It, she whrled IN,
out and dove headlOng into the mke sh,
When Reginald Brown saw The yirl's an,
y disappear under the water. he III ,no
ed an oath and cried opt He hadn't tpr
Dected such an action on her part I
ran to the cnbin steps and
canned TO Devon ~.
She's 10 The lake. Ry," he shiyered The
the other man sprang to the deck. one
When Tonnlbel felt the water over =
she swept TO the lakes bottom .
h one long stroke Then deftly she !,
herself OF her dress skirt and be- 40,
d swim swiftly under the water. los,
hey were tense minutes that the wal