Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-02-18
CHAPTER TX.
The Face in the Window.


Country with such force that the
waves were rolling southwark like
iy0ry-crested mountains. Once in a
while a heavy thud of thunder rever-
berated over the lake from the north,
losing its roar back of the Cornell
buildings on the university campus.
Deyons canal boat was following
the little tug which was hugging the
western shore nOrthWard. TOnnibel,
in the little room back of the cabin,
was searching through the darkness
from the small window. But the only
thing she could see was the dark bank
along which they crept and which
once in a While was lit up by vivid
streak Of lightning.
Suddenly the engine stopped. and as
If she imagined Gussie could help her
she gathered her into her arms.
In vivid streak of lightning she
saw they were anchored close to
Crowbar point, which protected them
somewhat from the wind She
crouched low when the little door
opened and Uriah called her name.
Come out here, Tonnibel," he com
manded roughly, and Tony, with Gus
sic in her arms, crept into the cabin,
where Reggie was seated on bunk,
looking pale and sullen.
SET down on the floor, brat" com
manded Uriah, and T0nnibel dropped
down. Now listen to me, Tony"
went on Devon. Ever since you've
been knee high to a grasshopper you
been as mean as the devil. You always
got in behind Eide when she was here,
but now there amt no skirts to shove
me off. You hear?"
Every vestige of blood left the wan
young face.
where is mummy" she said lift
ing imploring eyes to his.
Dead" said Devon brutally, 'as
dead as door nail. Here, my lady,
if you hoIler I'll rap you one on the
COB"
Dead. ;" cried Tonnibel. pop,
you're lying to mel know you are :"
Have it your own way, kid" re-
piled Uriah, with an insolent laugh,
"but one things sure-Ede amt here
to buck against me now. What l want
to get into your thick noodle is you're
gon' to get married as soon as we
get to Auburn. See?"
The girls eyes remained conferred
on his face, horror deep seated in
their gray depths.
Here's Reggie wantin' to marry
YOU" continued Devon, with Il wide
wave at the limp young man. "And
when l say you've got to l mean it."
Il won't" fell from Tony's lips, but
the awful expression on her face didn't
change nor did she drop her eyes.
Devon took quick step toward her,
with an appraised arm, and as he had
beaten his wife so he laid the blows
about the girls head and shoulders.
The pig fell from Tony's arms in her
desperate efforts TO protect herself.
"Oh daddy, don't, don't any more! !"
she screamed
Reggie Brown was watching the
brutal scene duly as if it interested
him but little. At the girls fearful
plea Devon stepped back and gIared
at her
''Will YOU do what l bid you, miss?"
he demanded hOarSely. I'D as soon
kill YOU as take q wink"
T0nnibel made no answer save to
weep more wildly, and, because she
did not make ready reply Uriah
struck her again. Then suddenly
Reginald stood up
Don't hit 'er any more, Dew" he
dr&wled. "Shut 'er up Il while and
keep 'er without grub, and she'll come
to time. Give 'er Il night to think it
over. God, but you've walloped her
black and blue as it's"
In answer to this Devon picked
Tony up and threw her into the back
cabin. Then he kicked Gussie over
the threshold, slammed the door and
locked it.
Philip MacCauey had padded away
from the Dirty Mary with a dull.
sick fear for the girl he had had to
leave behind To fight single-handed a
hardy and would do little Tony no
good.
When he reached the corner Of the
lake he ran his craft ashore and sat
for Il long time thinking. Suddenly
he saw through the dusk that the ca
nal boat had left its mornings and was
moving slowly nOrthward in the teeth
of the rising wind. With an ejacula
ion he showed off and was out in the
boiling surf. Wherever that boat went
he decided TO 60 too.
AS he padded carefully along. he
could see the shadows Of two men in
the glimmer of the little light in the
small pilot house. Then Reggie was
there with Devon, but where was
Tony?
One small window in the canal boat
gave forth dim light. He felt within
him that she was there where that
light was, alone and suffering. What