Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-05-01

on. the same spot-cIean FROM the MP
and Bill pitched against the wall
like bundle of dirty rags. ~
With curse. horrible upon a WON
ans lips, Doll Baker ran to where he
lay and bent over him.
She had hardly reached him before
the woodsman was darling about the
house and peeping into pantry2and
closets. There was no basement&l He
made sure of that, and sprang to the
stairs. The woman tried to drag him
back, he flung her off and dashed up
the steps.
Every place where girl could have
been concealed was explored. but Doll
Baker had told the truth-that much
of it. at least. Texie was not there.
When he hurried down, Bill and the
woman were both gone. He was just
stepping from the stair door, wary and
alert for surprise of some sort, when
there came a clatter of feet running
across the porch. 100
He dashed through the house TO the
door by which he had entered. Just
as he wrenched it open they rushed
into the room behind him-four OF
them, Bill in the lead.
But, his purpose accomplished. Jack
sprang outside and, with tantalizing
deliberation, took his way toward the
street. Bill thrust his battered face
out at the door, scowled and swore,
hut none Of the four ventured to fol-
low, like the alley rats they were, not
daring to chase their prey into the
open. "a.
Through a number of streets and
side-streets In the neighborhoOd Of
Brickbat alley. Jack Warhope searched
for Brownie. He even made inquiries
at all the livery and feed stables In
the vicinity, but failed to find any
trace of her.
A thought suddenly came to him
he frowned hard muttered some very
uncomplimentary things about himself
that it hadn't occurred to him before
the old tollgate keeper ten miles 01t
on the River road, he had been there
more years than Jack had lived and
knew everybody from the Flatwoods.
He would know if Texie had passed.
Next moment the fleet Graylock was
racing toward the bridge.
Ten miles out on the River road he
drew rein and dismounted by the well
in front of the diminutive house Of the
tollgate keeper.
"Jist mouthful FIR the boss, Uncle
Asbury."
Hep y'ursef." The old man shut
fled up out of his rickety chair and
limped toward the we'll BEN lettin'
i'm out, hain't y'u?"
"Some-yss."
He loosened the saddle grth; with
the squeaky windlasa cranked up a
bucketful of water allowed the horse
to have It sparingly, sup at time.
HAS Texie Colin passed the gate
t'day, Uncle Asbury?-you know 'er,
don't y'u?'
COZ Slime Collins dater--the purity
leetle gal wi the brown hair an laugh
in eyes-well, reckon L do know 'er.
No, she hain't passed the gate t'day,
nary way-whyY'
"Oh-she rid up this way
did she?-no, she didn't pass" He
hobbled a step closer. "Ol Slime hai
t let loose at last, didn't e? Dern
shame, though, e had t. be. bumped
off. Reckon they amt found the Teller
yit that done it?"
The woodsman made no reply. 1t is
even doubtful if he heard His mind
was flying fast from point to point of
every possibility that lay between
Black rock and the tollgate He washed
the froth off Graylock's nose; tightened
the saddle girth; paid his toll and
mounted
Thanks FIR the drink, Uncle AS
bury" 7e
Il don't make no business O. water
in hosses," the old man called after
him as he rode away, but a boss like
that-he's welcome t. drink the we'll
dry
The concealed house-boat - the
woodsman pondered the significance Of
it; the possibilities of it; the horrible
threat of it as he galloped down the
road.
He glanced at the sun-within half
an hour Of the tree-tops. He had blum
dered-Hopkins had just undercut
him-but maybe the light would hold
to redeem the blunder. His jaw tight
ened and he gave Graylock the rein
closely scanning every inch of the road
and every foot of river-that came
into view as he passed
Two miles above Black rock, just
where by-road, mere wagon track,
led off across the wooded bottoms. he
found what he was looking fora mass
of horse tracks, with print or two OF
a boot heel that he knew.
His lips twisted into a hard grin !;
frightened till they squeezed every mite
of mirth out Of it. He had lost the
trail; like hound at fault, had actually
run by it-and here it lay, right where