The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-31

How 20 set here. Nas'r Cs'mg-
tan asked the negro gnardedly,
= the sag fell away.
Around the head OF the bayou
IAwd! exclaimed George, In =
tone Of wonder.
Where's Miss Betty
She's In the cabin yondef-fo'
the love Of God, cut these here
other ropes with 70 knife, Mr..
Caington-Tm perishin' with 'em!"
Darlington did rs he asked, and
groaning, George sat erect. .Tm
Ike was gone to sleep all over"
he said.
You'll feel better in q moment.
Tell me about Miss Malroy!
They done fetched US here last
night / was drivin' Missy into
Raleigh-her and young Mas'r
Hazard-when TO- men stop us in
the road"
Who were they, do you know"
asked Darlington.
Iawd-what's that!'
Darlington, knife in hand, swung
about on his heel. A lanterns
light flashed suddenly in his face
and Bess Hicks. with low startled
cry breaking from her lips, paused
in the doorway. Springing forward,
Darlington seized her by the wrist.
HUSH" he grmily warned.
What are you doin' here?" de-
manded the girl, as she endeavored
to shake of his hand, but Caring
ton drew her into the shedd, anf
! closing the door, set his back
! against it. There was a brief silence
during which Bess regarded the
kentuckian with a kind of stolid
fearlessness. She was the first &c
speak. Il reckon you-all have
come after Miss Malroy," she OBJ
served quietly.
Then you reckon right" an
swered Darlington. The girl stud.
led him from her level brows.
And you-all think you can take
her away from here" she specu.
lated. Il amt afraid of yo' knife
-you-all might use it fast enough
on man. but not on me. I'll hell
YOU" she added. Darlington gave
her an incredulous glance. "Yo.
don't believe me? That would fetch
our men up from the keel boat. W
l-you-alPs knife wouldn't stoI
mel"
Don't be too sure Of that" sale
said Darlington sternly. The cir
met the menace of his words with
soft, full-throated laughter.
Why. yo' hands shakin' now
Mr.. Carrington!"
You know me?"
! Eyes, l seen you once at Boggs'.
She made an impatient movement
You can't do nothing against then
TO- men unless l help you. Mis-,
Malroy's to go down river tonight
they're only waiting TO- a pilot
you-alls got to act quick"
Darlington hesitated.
why do you want Miss Malro,
to escape?" he said.
The girls mood changed abrupt
ly. She scowled at him.
Il reckon that's private mat
ter. Amt it enough TO- you-all t,
know that l do? I'm showing how
it can be done. Them four mel
on the keel boat are strangers il
these parts, they're waiting TO- :
pilot, but they don't know VIII,
he'll be. I've heard you-all was
river-man; what's to hinder you
taking the pilots place. Looks lik
lyo' was willing to risk yo' life fe
Miss Malroy or you wouldn't b
here"
I'm ready" said Darlington, hi
hand on the door.
NO, you ain't-jest yet" inter
posed the girl hastily. Listen t
me first. They's a dugout tied u
bout a hundred yards above tn
keel boat; you must get that t
cross in to the ether side of tn
bayou, then when yo're ready t
come gack you're to whistle thre
times-it's the signal we're expec,
ing-and I'll row across TO- you i
one of the skiffs"
Can you see Miss Malroy in tn
meantime%
IF l want to, they's nothin' t
hinder me-" responded Bess silent
ly.
TELL her then began Caring
ton, but Bess interrupted him.
Il know what yo' want. Sh
amt to cry out or nothin' when sh
sees you-all. l got sense enoug
TO- that"
Darlington looked at her cul
iously.
This may be a serious bushes
for your people" he said signit
cantly, and watched her narrowl
And you-all may get killed,
reckin if yo' want to do anythin
bad enough you don't mind muc
what comes after" she answere
with a Lard little laugh, as 81
went from the shed.
Gomez" said Darlington to IL
negro, when he had seen the cab
door close on Bess and her Lantern
and they stole across the clearin
n~YY q