He went unwillingly, and he kept his head turned that he
might see what was done, even if he were not to hear what was
said.
"That will do, Hannibal--wait there--don't go any farther!" Betty
called after him when he had reached a point sufficiently distant
to be out of hearing of a conversation carried on in an ordinary
tone. "Now, what is it? Speak quickly if you have anything to
tell me!"
"I got a heap to say," answered the girl with a scowl. Her
manner was still fierce and repellent, and she gave Betty a
certain jealous regard out of her black eyes which the latter was
at a loss to explain. "Where's Mr. Tom?" she demanded.
"Tom? Why, about the place, I suppose--in his office, perhaps."
So it had to do with Tom. . . . Betty felt sudden disgust with
the situation.
"No, he ain't about the place, either! He done struck out for
Memphis two hours after sun-up, and what's more, he ain't coming
back here to-night--" There was a moment of silence. The girl
looked about apprehensively. She continued, fixing her black
eyes on Betty: "You're here alone at Belle Plain--you know what
happened when Mr. Tom started for Memphis last timeI reckon
you-all ain't forgot that!"
Betty felt a pallor steal over her face. She rested a hand that
shook on the trunk of a tree to steady herself. The girl laughed
shortly.
"Don't be so scared; I reckon Belle Plain's as good as his if
anything happened to you?"
By a great effort Betty gained a measure of control over herself.
Pages:
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319