oing to take the girl away from there to-night. I don't ask your
help and you needn't ask what comes of her afterward. That will be my
affair." Murrell's burning eyes shifted from one to the other.

"A beautiful and accomplished young lady--a great heiress--is to
disappear and no solution of the mystery demanded by the public
at large!" said Fentress with an acid smile. Murrell laughed
contemptuously.

"What's all this fuss over Norton's death amounted to?" he said.

"Are you sure you have come to the end of that, John?" inquired
Fentress, still smiling.

"I don't propose to debate this further," rejoined Murrell haughtily.
Instantly the colonel's jaw became rigid. The masterful airs of this
cutthroat out of the hills irked him beyond measure. Murrell turned to
Ware.

"How soon can you get away from here, Tom?" he asked abruptly.

"By God, I can't go too soon!" cried the planter, staggering to his
feet. He gave Fentress a hopeless beaten look. "You're my witness that
first and last I've no part in this!" he added.

The colonel merely shrugged his shoulders. Murrell reached out a
detaining hand and rested it on Ware's arm.

"Keep your wits about you, Tom, and within a week people will have
forgotten all about Norton and your sister. I am going to give them
something else to worry over."

Ware went from the cabin, and as the door swung shut Fentress faced
Murrell across the table.

"I've gone as far with you in this affair as I can go; after all, as you
say, it is a private matter. You reap the benefits--you and Tom between
you--I shall give you a wide berth until you come to your senses.
Frankly, if you think that in this late day in the world you can carry
off an unwilling girl, your judgment is faulty."

"Hold on, Colonel--how do you know she is going to prove unwilling?"
objected Murrell, grinning.

Fentress gave him a glance of undisguised contempt and rose from his
seat.

"I admit your past successes, John--that is, I take your word for
them--but Miss Malroy is a lady."

"I have heard enough!" said Murrell angrily.

"So have I, John," retorted the colonel in a tone that was unvexed but
final, "and I shall count it a favor if you will never refer to her in
my hearing." He moved in the direction of the door.

"Oh, you and I are not going to lose our tempers over this!" began
Murrell. "Come, sit down again, Colonel!" he concluded with great good
nature.

"We shall never agree, John--you have one