The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-11-10

! Stepping out from the shadows Sc
that he might see me. added:
"Come inshore. I don't mean tt
hurt you"
My assurance partly removed his
panic, and, dipping his paddle into the
water he sheered the Gugout up tc
where was standing. Iperceived that
he was wearing large horn spectacles
and took him to be fully threescore
and ten years old.
"What's your manner" I asked, try
ing to throw a note of kindness in my
voice.
"Pete," was the reply in the accent
of his race. noted that he was atten-
lively studying my countenance, as il
trying to solve my identity. expected
each moment to hear him address yne
as Hank Boyer and was surprised that
he did not do so. Finally he asked in a
quaking voice:
"Who am YOU"
"Don't you know me, Peter" I axked,
shifting my pose so as to permit the
star CLEAN to fall Oh my features. The
spcotacles moved first on one side and
then on another as be peered into my
countenance. Curious to learn bis rea-
son, asked:
Don't you know Hank Boyer, Peter"
II hab knowed him eber since be was
b pickaninny. Yo' look a good deal like
him, but 20 amt him; dat's sartin."
I was astonished. Under the glare Of
the lamps and when the sun was shin
ing every white man whom I encoun.
tered was unshakably convinced that
was Hank Boyer, the criminal. And
now in the dim obscurity of a Missis-
sippi swamp an old negro wearing horn
spectacles read the truth. With my vir-
tual declaration that was Boyer be de.
clared such not to be the fact.
"Well, Pete, you are right" I said.
II am not Hank Boyer. I am from the
north, and until short time ago had
never set foot in Mississippi. Every one
whom I have met with the exception of
you believes I am Hank Boyer"
"'Cause dey am a set OBJ blasted
FOOLS" was his contemptuous reply.
"Yo'r voice don't sound like his. Dat
is not much, dough it's a little, and
and-somehow Or oder yo' don't seem
like Hank, and yo' amt him."
That was probably the best way of
1t.
It looked as il Pete might be made
the valuable ally Of which I stood in
need.
II have been taken for Hank Boyer"
added. las l told you, by every one
but you. Hank stole a horse and then
slipped away, and the mob made me
prisoner. They would have hanged me
II hadn't escaped last night, but they
are hunting through the swamp for me-"
"War dat 20 gun dat heerd 60 of
Awhile agop"
ut was my pistol. I shot the blood
hound that sprang at me. Tomorrow
here will be 40 men hunting through
his swamp for me with lots Of dogs.
Pete, were you ever slave2'
Reckon I war;" he chuckled.
Ruined away befo' de wah and hid
n dis very swamp, and I helped oders
o hide. I staid heah for more dan a
'eah, and den wouldn't hab come out if
hadn't wanted to-"
"You are the man I am looking for.
Will you give me hiding place till
m able to get out Of this internal neigh
orhood?'
expected an instant compliance with
ny request, but the African, holding
be PROV Of his dugout against the
ank, remained silent. didn't under.
land it.
II will pay you good sum of money,
lore than you ever made in a years
'ork."
ut amt dat boss. I doan' want no
,oney. but 20 see I may as we'll tole
. truf-wheneber anything goes wrong
| desc parts dey lays it to ole Pete. De
,st ting dem folks will do tomorrer
ill be to come to me and ak wheder I
ab seen 20. Oh course it will glib me
'eat pleasure, boss, to lie like. de deb
i, but I'm afeard II won't help yo'."
II have no wish to involve you in
ouble, but you can give me directions
tell me where I can hide until there
a show for getting out Of the swamp.
fter that III take my chances.
II guess dat kin be done, but it's
and'lus de way ebsryt'ing am laid
to ole Pete. Why. il some folks seen
It bag a-layin dere in de dugout with
} end tied up, dey would be mean
ough TO 'sinooate dat Pete had been
isitin some oh de henroosts oh de
bite folks Shet upl'
Just then there was a futter inside
Q bag and the sound Of clucking The
sgusted Pete gave the recalcitrant
icken kick as he uttered his sharp
and then be looked up in my
CO, the picture of innocence.
Twill your dugout hold both Of us?"
"Yaas, il yo' sots keerful."
I adjusted myself as skillfully as I
uld and brought the structure down
its gunwales. But there was no dan
r. for the water was calm as we'll as
lggish, and Pete knew every obstruc.
N. He gave me a suggestion or two
d then dipped his paddle into the
cam. 1t will be remembered that our
nrse was the opposite of that taken
the three men. But for this there
'uld have been less tagging and talk
! on our part. Still the African pad