Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-05

dropped when he saw them. There isn't
slave in this whole swamp; they're gone
somewhere, sure; they are not here. and
he turned for home.
This was the end of Mr.. Coverly's negro
hunt"
Time passed and the LIST of May came
without news from George. / took New
Orleans daily paper, and thoroughly eX-
anlined every issue. Had the fugitives been
apprehended, the first news would have
been in the New Orleans papers. Coverly
had a standing advertisement in tn I'm Of
fering 81. 900 for any information that would
lead to their capture, and $1,000 for their
detention, so he could get them before
August, with a separate reward of $1,000
for Lucy. dead or alive.
Until 1 had enlisted as practical aboli-
tiCniSt l had never especially noticed the
runaway departments of the newspapers,
nor had ] cared about them, but now every
item | carefully eyed, and 1t became APP
parent to me that the system was not so
pleasant as its supporters represented L
was not much given to moralizing in those
days q had seen the negro in his native
country, and did not waste much time
philosophizing upon the morality of Ameri-
can slavery. My ambition was to get my
partner and myself well out OF the affair
and well into another.
May Is came the first news from George.
The letter was very brief, but enough. Here
t. is:
CAIRO, Ill, May 3, 1855.
Friend Bradley: Arrived here all right to-
day. Have sold CUR cotton to eastern
srties. Shall see them personally, and not
trust to brokers. WESNER
That was enough, for it told me they were
at Cairo and that he should accompany
them himself until they were safe. i few
DAYS later l receiI ed another letter from
some interior town in Illinois, relating to
other business. There was quite crowd in
! our store when my mail came, and as this
vas from George, some of his friends be-
gan asking questions about him. l read
the letter, and as there was nothing about
the fugftives in 1t, could not understand
its import. The last sentence read like this:
p. Slave been detained by sickness;
had to see a physician. l am better and
will resume my journey.
This | did not quite understand, and l
, was doubly anxious.
One day not long after I received tele
graph dispatch forwarded by mail from
New orleans. This was:
1 breathed free; we were safe for this
time | anxiously awaited my partners re-
turn, being very impatient to hear the par
ticulars of his adventure. Where every
day was fraught with peril and any hour
might bring the hunter or sheriff upon him,
the mental strain must have been very
wearing, and felt that l was not doing my
share of the work. l had been compare
lively idle. although. of course, ! was TO
share In the spells.
| The 21st of June I had business at the
town of Franklin, and was at the steam
| boat landing when the boat arrived. There
were but few deck passengers upon the up
/ per deck, but as l glanced about my eyes
rested my friend Wesner, leaning over
the guards smoking the never-absent ciga-
| rette. His eyes sparkled, and a quiet smile
/ of triumph rested on his face as he nodded
to me.
Got your buggy. Brad?"
yes" replied.
'HThen 1 will ride with you. and let my
| baggage go 20 New Town with the goods.
| There is heavy invoice billed there"
| On the ride home George refused to talk.
| THE story" said he, lis long one. 1
| kept brief diary of every important occur
l renee went along, and also where we
| were at the time. 1 am tired and pretty
| well tagged out. and all 1 will say is that 1
\ received from the Anti-Slavery Society just
| $500 for the venture and 800 more for ex-
| penses.
/ Il thought, George. you took ten, eight
| grown men and women and two children"
l so did. but preferred to bear Lucy's
| expenses myself
| Where is she?'
| Il placed her in a school at Andover
| Mass, deposited 500 to her credit, paid a
| years board in advance and left her deep in
/ books and study. Brad, you would have
| been pleased could you have seen the ex-
| preston on the faces of those Yankee
| schoolmarms when 1 introduced Lucy to
/ them But there. let US talk of something
else until l get rested 1 have whole IL
! brary OF adventure to relate"
\ Adjoining our store We had a little cottage
| ouiit, containing two rooms where one and
| sometimes both OF us occasionally Silent
| When George was at home he usually stop
ped here, as We did not feel safe to leave