Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1921-03-11
CHAPTER III.

TOnnlDeIS 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 Urlah carried
out his plans, then the horrd 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, Ry2' 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 a little
discipline, eh, pal?' he demanded,
turning on Devon. "Well, they all
need It now and then. But she's the
livelest breathing corpse l ever saw.
Did you hit 'er Dew"
"Yep," growled the other man. "and
Tn goln' 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
/ duck Eide In the cabin"
Tonnibel, wSie-eyed and suffering,
saw her father lift her mother up In
his brawny arms and carry her down
stairs. none toe 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 step toward her and
stopped.
"Why so much fuss about nothing
my little one?" he said, cooling.
Daddy said had to marry you,
breathed the girl, brushing back q
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 q
man she don't like. And l hate you
see? Huh?"
"Who spoke of a law?" smiled
Brown. 81 didn't! But do know, my
little Tony-girl, that you'll say a very
meek yes when I get through with
you"
Tonnibel suddenly shuddered and @
hopeless, helpless feeling went ir
waves over her Oh to be anywhere
in Gods clear, clean world Away
from those cleaning lustful eyes But
she saw 20 opportunity to escape
Reginald Brown was blocking the
small space through which she mus
fly If she were to be saved at all Sht
knew very well If she could hide fol
little while the two men would drinb
until they slept Then she could CONT
back and help her mother. Plainly
she had heard the woman weeping be
low In the cabin, and even more plain
~ to her suffering ears came Devon!
blows, and after that-sllence.
Her heart thumped like a hammer
against her side. Behind her lny tht
shining lake. And one hasty glanc,
over her shoulder only added to he
fear. There was not sign Of boa
anywhere. She was frantic enough t,
scream If 1t would have done her an!
good
81 think III kiss you my little bird,
said Reggie, suddenly, narrowing hi
eyes. you're pretty enough for any
one to want to kiss. BY Jove, | neye
realized until today just how much
liked you If kissed you, well-per
haps you'd change your mind about
about things"
TOnnhel slid backward to the boa
rail. When she touched It, she whirIet
about and dove headlong into the lake
When Reginald Brown saw the girl
feet disappear under the water, he Ut
tered an oath and cried out. He hadn'
expected such an action on her part
He ran to the cnbln steps an
screamed to Devon.
"She's in the lake, Ry,' he shiyere
as the other man sprang to the deck.
When Tonnibel felt the water owe
her, she swept to the lakes bottor
with one long stroke Then deftly sh
rid herself of her dress skirt and b,
gan to swim swiftly under the waite
They were tense minutes that tn