SYNOPSIS. v ——— The scene laid in the routhern at the opening of the story is lHbrary of an old worn-out plantation, known as the Bar- ony. The place is to be sold, and Its history and that of the owners, the Quintards, is thie subject of discussion by Jonathan Cres v. & business man, 8 stranger known as Bladen, and Bob Yancy, a farmer. when Hannibal Wayne § a mysterious child the horn family } ¥ tells how #1 Ferris itards deny Yan irrell, I ka questions about at Scratch Hill wiped by Dave agent iter with Cap attentions on ‘arrington Re ome sal arr ves at the home 1¢ Judge recog The Judge recog at Worth vee dP fT hd Ly bl ht re CHAPTER XXV.— (Conti do i thi the on the From gh the I-red and It wis in the tops If the now, gent their shadows into his Again maddened his terrors, he started and backed toward the door; but again his greed, the one dominating influence of his life, vanquished him He watched watched the red the river; he saw pear. He told. himself would soon be gone-—if the fire was not to be lighted he must act at once! He stole to the window. was dusk now, yet he could old caks wnich room by the sun splendor fade the first stars ap that Hicks sink distin. of the great fields framed by the dark ening sky Then in the heard the thud of hoofs ————— CHAPTER XXXVI, The Judge Names His Second. “Price—" began Mahafly. They were back In Raleigh in the room the judge called his office, and this was Ma- haffy's first opportunity to ease his mind on the subject of the duel, as they had only just parted from Yancy and Cavendish, who had one of the stores to purchases for the raft, “Not a word, Solomon--it come. 1 am going to kil shall feel better then” “What if he kills you?" demanded Mahaffy harshly. The judge shrugged his sboulders. “That is as it may be” “Have you forgotten your grand. son?’ Mahaffy's voice was still harsh and rasping. “1 regard my meeting with Fentress as nothing less than a sacred duty “to him" makes certain had to him. | VAUGHAN KESTER_ We this are know no more than we did morning,” sald Mahafty. "You mixing up all sorts of side issues what should be your real pur “Not at not at ali! 1 grandson's speedy re- fact. Fentress | Knows he 18 all, Solomon WOK upon my covery as an not hold to earth at “Price No will not assured him last.” He ran Selomon-—no speak of it to Helle Plain Cavendish you must there We have as Hannibal, but we must Miss Malroy’s behalf. For an important bearing on the future, and since 1 cannot, you must be at| Belle Plain when Carrington arrives with his pack of dogs. Give him the | advantage of your sound and mature | gment, Solomon: don't let any | modesty in the back-| in my friend, we | again You will with Yancy and | represent me | good as found | be active in| us that has | keep You ‘Who's ing ped Mahafly judge to second youl was a pletuy ormal, the code merely in- he is not It will be quite inf is scarcely applicable; 1 tend to remove hix to “At n because live.” sun-up!” ttered Mahaftly intend tart or day right | » to begin another,” | udden fierce light! feel that 10 don't live to enjoy what's mine, my I'l warm the cockles of your heart with imported brandy. [ carry twenty nger and thirst under my wes-coat, and I'll feed and drink like a gentleman vet!” The judge smacked | his lips in an ecstacy of enjoyment, dropping down table | 1 which rved him pen “It's good enough to Price,” admitted Mahafly “It's better to do; and if anything | happens to me the papers | am going to leave will tell you how it's to be done Man, there's a million of | money In sight, and we've got to get | it and spend it and enjoy it! None of | your swinish th wor for me, but life a big sc and feasting and refined surroundings!” "And are going to meet tress in the morning?" asked Mahafly 1 Suppos e there's no way of avolding | that? “Avoiding it?’ almost shouted 1 judge For what [ been living? eet him, consequence they may fuced certal before the ae as a desk, selzed a 1 think about, | grudgingly i on | ale—con pany, you Fen he | have fet the Tonight whet facts writing join you at Belle Plain. holy history iy what to 1 shall meland Ife [ shall place Che grandson shall’ He zhall wear vel yet, by God, son should!” “It sounds well, the money coming suit?” The Judge waved this “The means will be found, Solo Our horizon is Hfting--1 can see it lift! Don't drag me back from the portal of hope! We'll drink the stuff that comes across the water; that from me and what would | be? Why, the very fate | hava been fight. ing off with tooth and nail would overwhelm me. I'd sink into unim- portance-—-my unparalleled misfor tunes would degrade me to a level with the commonest! No, sir, I've never been without hope, and though I've fallen I've always got up. What Fentress has is based on money he stole from me. By God, the days of his profit-taking are at an end’ | am As a gentleman's grand- | Price, but where's | from to push a law. aside still seeing his ghastly had come suddenness face, and he upon him with starting He had chanced to look faced about there had been the plant Presently Carrington’s glance ceas. ed to follow the windings of the path. He stared down at the gray dust and saw the trail left by Hues and his “You may need it at Belle Plain. Good by, and God bless youre CHAPTER XXVIL. Bess Leads to Betty, Just where he had parted from Ware, Carrington sat his horse. his brows knit and his eyes turned in the direction of the path, He was on his way to a plantation below Birard, the owner of which had recently import od a pack of bloodhounds; but this unexpected encounter with Ware had affected him strangely. He still heard purty. For a moment he hesitated; Es were to he used with any of success he had no time to and this was the fllogical conjecture, beyond his in the end he hope spare, picion, nothing distrust horse into the woods, apling tigation had ridden In five, south, four outh again, but t in other him and out of all coming had turned fifth man--Ware, north He ance of told inve that path the Of the ne words these facts I am con reluctan on the turning 1 on the r edge of the road and just where the dust yields hard clay of path, his rhited the f a small and daintily shod his heart OnLy wasting lime Le fessed and was of when, on print o ot The q ilckened Betty!" his lips the wi That small foot had left ut impress ver, to the the of his ippery s of , and nild's letly Across be ran co of & pass of a poi rom: which ould later approact 1¢ cabin cabir better fed than he and ndvanced, the difculties the t himself became al: vet sustained neead, he rinth of nse ERish water Hat the roved to had De fen foreseen: as he of had sae most insurmountable, oy his mn thro as he was perative igh the aby tr floundered green slime and h at each step threat. him in their treacher- until! at the end of an the southern firmer the woods, vines, o1 cre-wide pate black mud, whic ened to engulf pths he gained and a shelter of tiling Killing hes Of clearing within the Here he paused and took his surroundings The two buildings Mr. Hicks had erected stood or agriculture While Carrington gwung open and a woman stepped forth. It was the girl Hess. She went to a corner of tha bullding and called loudly: Jes! Oh, Joe!” Carrington glanced In the direction of the keel boat and an instant later saw Slosson clamber over its side. The tavern-kKeeper crossed to the cabs in, where he was met by Bess, who FARMER DOWN Swoops on Berrypicker Tree Fifty Yards Hat—S8pread Wings Was Five Feet—Left Marks its Talons. and Dropped of of he Dein bank caved Zoeventa, aged Matthews, an- it of the de i od that he died Andrew Skolanda, Ia 4 atmites Sus probably fatally in with Death Jun nine years old Children Flirt fewistown flin John Loft and Edna Bowers, vears old, flirted with death when they jumped on the tongue of a #leam threshing machine hauled by a traction engine to steal! a ride. Both jolted from their perch and the machine passed over inflicting a few bruises, soft nature of the road, a sand saved them from instant death tion Ware heavy only The Conshohocken —The strike of the 1.000 employes of the Alan Wood Iron ana of the J. Wood Company, was broken wooden bowl. he a ! ings, which he entered. Ten or fil teen minutes slipped by, then he came from the shed and after securing the door, returned to the cabin. He was again met by Bess, who relieved him of the bowl: they exchanged a few words and Slosson walked away and afterward disappeayed over the side of the keel boat. . This much was clear to the Ken tuckian: food had been taken to some one in the shed-