Argosy, Volume XXIII — Index Page, 1897 — page 169: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

F HOODOO SAM. 739 —too miserable tc remain at home—went only a few steps, then fell back un- observed ; she stood still, fighting against her horror of the African, then walked with a firm step back to the gateway in which Sam was standing watching her. ‘“Sam, you know more than you told my father,’’ she said. ‘‘ You can tell me where Rob is. Oh, Sam, tell me, I beg you; I will pay you well.” She held out her clasped hands to him in an agony of appeal ; her sunbon- net had fallen off, her rich hair fell over her shoulders. ‘The negro’s eyes snapped as he looked at her ; his thick lips worked before he spoke. ‘“How much you give ?’’ he asked. “Tl give you gold, Sam—two big gold pieces—two twenty dollar pieces. They aremy own. My grandmother left them to me. You shall have them both, if you will only tell me where to find Rob.”’ 3 7 “Gold! Big gold! Two twenty dollars! take me *way—clear off; nebber fin’ Sam,’’ he muttered. He looked at the girl. His breath came in quick snorts through his flat nostrils. She shuddered and struggled against the impulse to run. He thrust his head close to her, chuckling when he saw she could not help shrinking back. : ‘Come ternight, ten erclock, ter Sink. Bring money. I tell you where Rob is.’’ ; ‘“Is he alive? Oh, Sam, tell me if he is alive !’ ‘‘ No tell now: come ternight ; bring money.’ “I will come. I will bring the money. I will be at the Sink at ten o’clock.”’ ‘“ No tell fader ; brudder—no tell nobody. Mind dat,’’ he hissed close to her ear. A shuddering revulsion seized her. How could she meet this creature alone at night? But Rob !—she would give her life to have Rob in her arms. ‘‘ Twill not tell anybody. I will come by myself,’’? she answered. ‘Then, not able to bear the strain any longer, she darted away and ran through the woods in the direction of home. Hoodoo Sam looked after her and chuckled. A pair of eyes that had been watching him over the top of the stockade at the back of the house disappeared ; Hardy Brock slipped away. He had seen the interview and heard enough to know its import. It was past nine o’clock that night when Hetty got up from her knees and wrapped her shawl about her. It was raining ; the balmy day had been a storm breeder. After sundown the sky became overcast ; only the full moon behind the cloud pall prevented the night from being very dark. Hetty’s father and brothers, with a few of their friends, had eaten supper and hurried away before seven o’clock. They ate in silence; their gloomy faces telling they had no hope to animate their dismal night search. ‘They did not speak to Hetty. She felt that they looked upon her as the cause of Rob’s fate. . She was more miserable than she could tell ; but she clung to the thread of hope given her by Hoodoo Sam. She took the little box that held the comichooks eas) Sa en ee ee tae ee UR eae ~ - £ (E(@)