CHAPTER LI.
The Boy at the Barony.
The Quintards had not prospered
©on the barren lands of the pine woods
whither they had emigrated to es-
cape the malaria of the low coast, but
this no longer mattered, for the last
of his name and race, old General
Quintard, was dead in the great house
his father had bulit almost a century
before and the thin acres of the
Barony, "where he had made his last
stand against age and poverty, were
to claim him, now that he had given
up the struggle in thelr midst.
Though he had itved continuously |
at the Barony for almost a quarter of |
a century, there was none among his |
neighbors who could say he had]
looked on that thin, aquiline face in|
all that time. Yet they had known |
much of him, for the gossip of the |
slaves, who had been his only friends |
in those years he had chosen to deny |
himself to other friends, had gone far
and wide over the county.
That notable man of business, Jona-
than Crenshaw, was closeted In the
library with a stranger to whom |
rumor fixed the name of Bladen, sup
posing him to be the legal repre |
gentative certain remote connec-|
tions of the old general's.
Crenshaw sat before the fiat-topped |
mahogany desk with several account- |
books before him. Bladen stood by |
the window.
“1 =
’
Lf
ippose you will buy in tng pr op- i
arty when it comes up for sale the |
latter was saying.
Jrenshaw nodded,
“He lived ent!
one, derstand?”
“Alone with his
slaves—yes, sir
see me”
There was a brief pause, then Cren- |
shaw spoke again. “I reckon, sir, if
you know anything about the old gen-
8 private affairs you don't feel
to speak on that point?” he
rely alone,
said
two
He
EAW
Bladen
or
wouldn't
no |
three oid
even
to
observed
“All 1 know
tard was a con
parts fifty
Beaufort.”
“S80 he 41d)” said
there was one child, a daughter: she
married a South Carolinian by the
Turberville. Great folks,
bervilies, rolilng rich.”
‘And what became of the daughter
who Turberville?”
“Died years ago,” sald Crenshaw
They were Interrupted by
at the door
in,” sald
opened and
is this: General
gpicuous man
years ago; he
Quin-
in these
married a
Crenshaw, “and
those Tur
married
a knock
“Come Crenshaw, The
door a small boy entered
the dragging after him a long
rifle. Suddenly overcome by a shy-
Ress, he paused on the threshold to
gtare with round, wondering eyes at |
the two men. “Well sonny, what do
you want?” asked Mr. Crenshaw in-
dulgently.
room
“Please, sir, | want this
spo'tin’ rifle,” sald the child.
“1 reckon you may keep It
I've no objection.”
at Bladen,
“Oh, by all means,” sald the latter. |
Bpssms of delight shook the small |
figure. With a murmur that was meant |
for thanks he backed from the room, |
closing the door. Bladen glanced in- |
quiringly at Crenshaw,
“You want to know about him,
Well,
here old |
sir? |
that's Hannibal Wayne Hazard.
~just walt a minute, sir’—and quit |
ting his chair Mr. Crenshaw hurried
from the room to return almost fim. |
mediately with a tall countryman.
“Mr. Bladen, this Is Bob Yancy. Bob,
the gentleman wants to hear about
the woman and the child; that's your
story.”
“Howdy, sir,” sald Mr. Yancy. He
appeared to meditate on the mental
effort that was required of him.
“It was four years ago come next
Christmas,” sald Crenshaw,
“Od Christmas,” corrected Mr.
Yancey. “The evening befo’, it was,
and I'd gone to Fayetteville to get my
Christmas fixin's. Just at sundown |
hooked up that blind mule of mine to
the cart and started fo’ home, A mile
out of town [I heard some one siosh-
ing through the rain after me. |
pulled up and waited, and then | made
out it was a8 woman. She spoke when
sho was alongside the cart and says,
‘Can you drive me on to the Barony?
When | got down to help her into the
oart 1 saw she was toting a ohild in
her arms. Well, sir, she hardly spoke
until we came to the red gate, when
she says, ‘Btop, If you please; I'll
walk the rest of the way.’ The last
I seen of her she was hurrying
through the rain toting the child in
her arms.”
Mr. Crenshaw took up the narrative.
“When morning come she was
gone, but the child done stayed be
hind, I've heard Aunt Alsidia tell as
how the old general sald that morn.
ing, pale and shaking like, ‘You'll fina
a boy asleep In the red room; he's to
be fed and cared fo’, but keep him
out of my sight. kis name Is Hanni
(Dy
VAUGHAN KESTER.
bal Wayne Hazard. That is all the
general ever sald on the matter.” |
The old general was borne across |
what had once been the west lawn to |
hils resting-place in the neglected acre |
where the dead and gone of his race |
lay, and the record of the family was |
complete, as far as any man knew. |
I'hen Crenshaw, assisted by Bob!
Yancy, proceeded to secure the great
house against intrusion,
They passed from room to room se- |
curing doors and windows, and at |
last stepped out upon the back porch. |
"Hullo!" sald Yancy, pointing.
There on a bench by the kitchen |
door was Hannibal Wayne Hazard
asleep, with his old spo'tin’ rifle
across his knees,
“Well, I declare to goodness!” sald |
Crenshaw,
“I reckon you'd rather drop a word
with yo' missus before you toted him |
home?” suggested Yancy, who knew |
something of the nature of his friend's
domestic thraldom. |
“A woman ought to be boss in her
own house,” sald Crenshaw,
“Feelln’ the truth of that, I've never
married, Mr. John.
say, what's
toting that boy
“If you'll
But I was going |
to hinder me from
to my home?”
take the boy, Bob, you!
Yancy rested a big knotted hand
on the boy's shoulder.
“Come, wake up, sonny!” The child |
roused with a start and stared into |
strange bearded face that was |
toward him “It's yo Uncle
Bob,” continued Yancy in a wheedling
tone. "Here, give us the spo'tin’ ritle |
to total”
Yancy balanced
great paim and
speculative cast,
bent
the rifle on his
his eyes assumed a |
. |
I wonder what's to hinder us from |
of Scratch Hill the boy Hannibal fol-
lowed at Yancy's heels as that gen-
tleman pursued the not
made up hie daily iife, for if Yancy
were not completely idle he was re-
sponsible for a counterfeit present
ment of idieness having most of the
merits of the real article.
The Barony had been
eleven thousand
the amount of his claim.
months later he sold
for fifteen thousand
thanlel Ferris,
“There's
dollars, this
the plantation
dollars Na-
of Currituck county.
money In the old
Crenshaw
to
South Carolina Quintards, and
don't know nothing about the
added Crenshaw. “Bo you
easy, Bob; they ain't golng
him.”
py
comfort to me. I find I got all the
instincts of a father without having
the instincts of a hus
they
boy.”
band.”
A richer,
Joy came
turned his
deeper reavization of his
to Yancy when had
back on PBalaam’'s Cross
for home through
fragrant silence of the pine woods,
Just beyond the Barony, which was
midway Balaam's and
Hill, ng stretch of sandy
mounted fig
pearer he caught
skirts and recognized
It was Mrs
PW
he
between the
down the I
he saw
as they drew
flutter
af be
of the
road
then
two ures,
rr
of
horsewomen
the B
tris, wife of ny's new
b, ]
She reined Ir jer horse abreast
F 7" she asked
Bin
¢
“This,” Sald Yancy,
loading this old gun, and firing this
old gun, and hearing this old gun
go--bang! Eh?”
The child's blue eyes grew wide.
“Please, Uncle Bob, make It go
bang!”
“You come along, then,” and Mr.
Yancy moved off in the direction of
his mule, the child following.
Thereafter beguiling speech flowed
steadily from Mr. Yancy's bearded
lips, In the midst of which relations
were established between the mule
and cart, and the boy quitted the
Barony for a new world.
The afternoon sun waned as they
went deeper and deeper into the pine
woods, but at last they came to thelr
Journey's end, a widriy soattered set.
tiement on a hill above a branch,
“This,” sald .dr. Yancy, “are
Scratch Hill, sonny. Why BSerateh
Hill? Bome say it's the fleas; others
agin hold it's the eternal bother of
making a living here, but whether
fleas or living you scratch fo’ both.”
OHAPTER 11.
Captain Murrell Asks Questions,
In the deep peace that rested like
“Are Scratch HILL”
pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“The same here,” murmured Yancy
with winning civility,
Mrs. Ferris’ companion leaned for
ward, her face averted, and stroked
her horse's neck with gloved hand.
“This 1s my friend, Miss Betty Mal
roy.”
“Glad to know you, ma'am”
Yancy.
Miss Malroy faced him, smiling.
She was quite radiant with youth and
beauty,
“We are just returning from Scratch
HL” sald Mra, Ferris.
“And the dear little boy we met is
your nephew, is he not, Mr, Yancy?”
It was Betty Mairoy who spoke.
“In a manner he is and In a man.
ner he ain't,” explained Yancy, some
what enigmatioally.
“Do you know the old deserted cad
in by the big pine?—the Blount
place?’ asked Mrs. Ferris.
“Yes, ma'am, I know It”
“I am going to have Sunday school
there for the children; they shan't
be neglected any longer If I can help
it. Now won't you let your little
nephew come?”
“lI reckon youall can count om my
sald
'& benediction on the plne-ciad slopes
¥
nevvy,” Bob sald,
Hannibal and Yancy were the first
old fleld Bunday afternoon.
Bhy chil.
dren from the pine woods,
big broth-
ig sisters
fted out of the
dari
Mrs. Ferris’ spirit mani.
fested itself agroe ably enough on the
whole She read certain chapters
from the Bible, finishing with the
étory of David, a narrative that made
a deep impression upon Yancy, cow-
fortably seated In the doorway.
“You will all be here next Bunday,
hour?”
missionary
and at the same
she sald, rising
There was a sudden clatter
man,
ot
well
had rid-
Mrs. Ferris
flung hime
and, hat in
dressed
into
and well mw
the yard
ounted
As
he cabin he
self out
hand, approac
“1 am hunting a
Barony; can you tell
the right road?” he
in early
and powerful of
some face
“it is my bh isband you
I am Mrs Ferris”
“Then General Qu ar
Hig tone was
“His death occurred
ago, and my husband nd
Barony:
erail's?
of the saddle
hed her,
place called
1 am on
He was a
graceful
a hand
the
me if
asked
thirties,
bulid, with
the
wish (0 see?
one of 1 surpr
d is dead?”
1
pri
Bo.
Over a year
YW owns Lhe
Were you a friend of the gen
No, ma
friend
pid,
jam: he was
but | bad hoped
His manner was adr
“Will you rid
Barony and
®
father's
meet him.”
“Murrell
you: |}
place
lege,”
sh
I sb
then
“Betty, lot me preser
rell.”
it Captain Mur
The captain bowed, giving her a
giance of bold admiration
By this time the children
gled off Into the
iently as they had ass
and Hannibal
Ferris turned to the for:
“i you close
Mr. Yancy, everything will
for next Bunday,” she sald and moved
toward the horses, followed by Mur
rell. Betty Malroy lingered for a mo
ment at Hannibal's side.
“Good-by, little boy;
your Uncle Bob to
the big house to
ing she kissed
Yancy.”
had strag-
woods as sb
embl only
Mra
rile
yvihie
will door,
ready
fed Ine,
him
CHAPTER
Trouble at Scrat
Captain Murrell
iL
ch Mill,
had established
He
pany with Crenshaw visited the nu
merous tracts of land which the mer
chant owned,
“The Barony would have sulted
me,” he told Bladen one day. They
had just returned from an excursion
into the country and were seated In
the lawyer's office.
of the old general's?” sald Hiaden.
“Years ago, in the north-—yes,”
swered Murrell
sunk eyes.
“Too bad about the boy,”
at length slowly,
“How do you
asked Bladen,
“I mean it's a pity he has no one
mean,
Murrell;
terest and Murrell went on:
Yancy any legal claim on the boy?”
“No, certainly not; the
with him.”
“Get possession of him, and if I
with me,” sald Murrell quietly. “1
lars on this If necessary.”
“lil have to think your propos
The immediate result of this con
versation was that within twenty-four
hours a man driving two horses
hitched to a light buggy arrived at
Bcrateh Hill In quest of Bob Yancey,
whom he found at dinner and to
whom be delivered a letter. Mr.
Yancy was profoundly impressed by
the attention, for bolding the letter
at arm's length, he sald:
“Well, sir, I've lived nigh on to
forty years, but | never got a plece
of writing befo'--never, sir. People,
if they was close by, spoke to me, if
at a distance they hollered, but none
of ‘em ever wrote”
“What's your answer? demanded
the stranger.
“You tell him I'l be monstrous
glad to talk It over with him any time
he fancies to come out here”
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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