The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-10-13

 Buz0ards perched on the larger growths. The atmosphere of the swamp was heavy, suggestive Of de- cay and of disease. Now and then they passed thickets where the land bumped up above the water level, and in many of these showed great masses of pale yellow, Towering vines, from which came a sickly sweetness.
 Cairns sniffed at the odor curtously, his brows knit.
 What is that stuff?'' he asked the sheriff.
 Jasmine, yellow jasmine, grows all oveh the place. Like the smell of it?'
 Not particularly said Cairns shortly; but as he went on he still sniffed at the perfume where it pre- vailed, and a look of abstraction came over his face.
 What is the Idea % asked Blatch- ley once as they halted, while the sheriff led the way over a particular ly boggy patch.
 What idea?'
 'eW7hy, you have looked for the last mile as if you were playing chess with yourself
 Cairns laughed.
 Almost as bad" he said. i've been trying to fit together a jig-saw puzzle. and I haven't got all the pieces. But have got g1imm ering idea of the final answer, just a glin1- mering.''
 They came to where a slough cross ed the way, a. sluggish channel of dark water. over which two blanks with a single handrai1 was arranged. Water plants floated on the surface, and now and then a. big; gaseous bubbles came up and slowly exploded.
 Chap drowned there las spring. said the sheriff. Out afteh swamp rabbits an got to takin' mo ague remedy than that was good fo' him. bridge. Thet slough's all of ten foot, an ten foot of mud undeh that-no th1ckeh'n soup. No one ever knew if he could swim, he'd always hated watch too much to giv' an exhibition an water got him. When we found him, the water-vines was all wropped round his feet, an the eels had pret- ty night spoiled him fo' identification. A slough like that is a reg'lar trap; ; even fo' a swimmer, the way the weeds trai1.'
 The deariness of the place, the gray of the sky, the dark water with the bubbles breaking as the n1an-eating eels wiggled in the ooze, brought a shudder to B1atchley.
 You'll be gettin chills an fever,'' he said. Better try some"
 "I might fall in the slough,' said Blatchley. My head isn't seasoned to that stuff.''
 f'Ninety-six proof!' said the sheriff ''But, if man is goin' o take a drink, let him take a drink, say, nor adulterated. That-or let it alone. I wouldn't tech it if it want for the ager.''
 They had passed the bridge and were crossing a bend of the slough. the sheriff told them. To their right was a space the shape of a horse shoe, an expanse of black mud in which grew reedy grasses, with here and there a hummock on which was ranker growth. About this like ser pent, twined the deep slough. To their left, where the channels of the slough gradually widened apart, hair pin fashion. was much the same, save that little runnels of water trIck1ed between the reed grasses. On the other sides of the slough swamp-cy- press grew thickly.
 What on earth possessed Hardin to live in a place like this?"s asked Blatchley as they sludged along. "Why not back in Scipio?"
 Wal" answered the sheriff, flor one thing, it ain't so bad when you git thar. The cabins in fair snape, an it's in a clearin', on what you might call an island, high ground above the swamp. With a good spring to it. An the cabin was there an nobody lived in it, nor owned it, Hardin, not bein' overblessed with money, takes it over. It ain't but a little way now. We just got to cross this nex' bridge an then -
  short, turned and looked at them with a swift consternation, a look of helpless that was ludicrous.
 There ain't no bridge" he said. Who in time got away with that bridge?"
 There was certainly no sign of any manner of crossing the slough, save to swim and risk the weedy network.
 '"Thet's damned funny said the sheriff.
 Then, again. it ain't so funny. Tents some of that Humpy's work. He fggehs we ain't out heah jest on social visit. an he's taken the bridge. Yessuh, come along .in his boat an jest natcheally lifted it. Strong as an OK in the arms for on his twisted back. T'-Suddenly he wheeled and began to run sloppily but fast over the back trail.
 ''He figures that Hump has taken the other bridge, too." said Cairns. That shuts off in this neck of the swamp. Can you swim?"
 "No. Your"
 I'm ashamed to confess it," said Cairns, "but I can't. Whats more, I'll bet you good money the sheriff can't swim, either"
 They had not taken as swift a pace as the sheriff, and now they met nm coming back.
 '"The squat ga1oot has suah got us penned in,' he said. 1.-TWO and a half miles from Scipio. at tnet. LOOKS like a night of it. No grub, not enough whiskey, no fire, an nothin' but swamp fever fo' breakfast. I wouldn't advise either of you to try to swim the slough. As for myself I can't"
 Cairns and. Blatchley laughed and explained their mirth.
 They know in Scipio we're in the swamp" said Cairns. "Isn't there chance of them coming after us be- fore morning