Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1921-02-24
CHAPTER III.
The Picture of a Baby.

ne Picture OF a 6dDy.
Tonnibers 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 Reggie's high
pitched cackle followed.
"Been giving your woman little
discipline, eh, pal?' he demanded,
turning on Devon. swell, they all
need II now and then. But she's the
hNclicst ptcuhitlHb ipSS 49, - -
Did you hit 'er. Dew"
"Yep," growled the other man, "and
I'm goin' to beat Tony. too. The I'M
pudent brat says she wouldn't marry
you n you was the last man Twin.
You watch the brat there, Rege. while
duck EIDE I'm the cabin"
Tonnibel, wide-eyed and suffering,
Jaw her father lift her mother up In
his brawny 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 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 step toward her and
stopped
"Why so much fuss about nothing.
my little oue?" he said, cooling.
Daddy said ! had TO marry you"
breathed the girl. brushing back a
stray curl from her brow. "But
don'tl 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 l hate you,
seer Huh?"
who spoke of a law" smiled
Brown. II didn't! But do know, my
little Tony-girl, that you'll say very
meek yes when get through with
YOU"
Tonnibel suddenly shuddered and a
hopeless. helpless feeling went in
waves over her. Oh. to be anywhere
IN Gods clear. clean world! Away
from those cleaning lustful eyes! But
she saw no opportunity to escape.
Reginald Brown was blocking the
small space through which she must
fly II she were to be saved at all. She
knew very well II 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 I'm the cabin. and even more plain
~ to her suffering ears came Devon's
blows. and after that--silence.
Her heart thumped like hammer
against her side. Behind her lay the
shining lake. And one hasty glance
over her shoulder only added to her
fear. There was not sign of boat
anywhere. She was frantic enough to
scream IL 1t would have done her any
good.
~ think TIL kiss you, my little bird"
said Reggie, suddenly, narrowing his
eyes you're pretty enough for any
one to want to kiss. BY Jove never
realized until today just how much |
liked you. II kissed you, well-per-
haps you'd change your mind about
about things"
Tonnibel slid backward to the boat
rail- When she touched It, she whirled
ABOUT and dove hsadlong into the lake.