Smyrna times., 1893-02-15
the remainder of the day, but as soon
as night fell I was off to see my color
ed girl.
CHAPTER XIV

"A hired horse never tires" Yes.
that is the old saying, and l hired a
lame horse of Mr.. w. T. Frever. tell.
ing him [ wanted to 20 to Porter,s
Bridge, that 1 did not aim to drive apv
further than would have taken me
there and back. But instead of going
to Porter's Bridge l drove about two
miles to friends house, where I went
in and arranged my toilet, so that
l was no longer a photographer but a
city business man. l was in a few
minutes so we'll under cover and nv
disguise so complete, that my own
parents would not have recognized in
me their own son, either by appear
ance or speech. Then singing a small
grlpsack over my shoulder myself and
frlend-a gentleman entered the car.
riage and drove straight to the colored
girls aunt, near the Bridge, that being
the girls home when not out at SER
vice. Leaving my friend to tend the
horse, | went in and called for Flor
ence. cid not halt at the door 70
await an invitation in, neither was the
aunt home alone, as there wera men
folks and one or two other colored
women there, yet the sight of a man, or
boy rather, whom they had very fre-
quently seen, time and again. seemed
to scare them all out of speech. Find.
ing them slow to answer | pointed to
another girl, saying "Is that Flo p
mo" "Well, where is she?" "She
is not at home"
Il did rot say she was, yet suppose
you know where she is 2" mo. I do
not"
That is very strange. madam. that
you do not know where your own
child is. should think she seems
like your own. You raised her. l be.
lieve."
Yes, l raised her, but she knows
nothing"
81 should think you would have
raised her up so she would have known
something"
II don't mean that; ! mean, are
they trying to get her to Elkton
again"
mot that know of. Why should
they, when you know very well that
the reward on the Richards murder
case has been withdrawn long ago,
and you don't suppose they are going
to keep at one thing and without pay,
do you ?"
81 should think not" every well. |
then, wish to see Flo on a little other
business"
Then one of the men spoke up, say
ing why don't you tell the gentleman
where she is?
Il guess she is at Sylmire." !" II guess
not, madam" "Well, if she is not
there she must be at the Sun" "Now
l did not come here to have any
words, and don't wish to. l have no
time to fool away, yet you know full
well that Florence is not at Sylmire or
the Sun either"
Have you been there?" l have, at
both places" "Well, maybe she is
out to Cameron's." "Where is Cam.
erOn's." Adjoining farm to Robin
son." "Who is Robinson?" "NIer-
chant at the Sun" "Well, his farm is
not in the Sun, is it: perhaps it is in
the mOon?" mo, it is past Sylmire."
How far past ?" II don't know"
We'll, there seems to be good bit to-
night that you don't know, but just
think little, and then give me true
answer, whether she is at Cameron's
or somewhere else" II expect she is
there"
VERY, well, but whether Flo be at
CamerOn's or not, it is too far for me to
drive tonight, besides my business is
no ways urgent and will keep. Good
night" Good night, Mister"
Yes, true, it was long ride, even
for horse that was not lame, yet l
knew that if did not make my horse
run that night that she would be nOti-
fed the next morning, which would
make my interview with h9r more un- I
favorable, if not render it entirely i'm 5
possible. So we drove off in an Oppo {
site direction, yet circled around and '
were soon at Harrisville, where l re- Y
moved my wig and full beard and ]
stopped on a little business. Soon l +
had again dOnned my gentlemanly APP
pearauce. and we were passing through {
Rising Sun, my man crOuched back in
the shade, to avoid recognition. Then
we neared Sylmire, and he, as my {
guide, lost his reckoning, so that l S
aud called at a house where \
everything was dark and still, with a r
loud rap on the front door. e
To be Continued