The National tribune., 1903-12-10
CHAPTER XVIII.
UNCLE OWEN AND THE BLACKSMITH.

UNCLE OWEN AND THE BLACKSMITH.
Two weeks have elapsed since the
events of that terrible night that changed
Uncle Owens home from paradise into
a perdition. The Redgrave homestead
stands grand, stately and gloomy on the
hill, but all life and joy seems to have
gone out of it. Even the negroes have
lost their gay voices and Gght-hearted
songs. All the servants save a few of the
most faithful have abandoned the place,
and rumor isNcurrent that the ghost OF
the murdered woman is seen in the be
witching hours of the night stalking about
the house, groaning and signing, because
her murder goes unavenged.s With such
q story but few of the superstitious
negroes could be induced under any cir
cumstances to remain in or near the old
house, grand and imposing as it was.
No one had seen Uncle Owens wife
since her escape. There was an unau-
thenticated rumor that a person answer
ing her description had been seen some
where in the "Oak Knob" region of Ken
tucky.
Uncle Owen was so completely broken
down by the shock that he hay for days
I'll Of brain fever. He was now able to
sit in his chair.
The officers were still clrsing them
selves for allowing the prisoner to slip
through their fingers.
What course Uncle Owen was going
TO pursue no one knew. In his wild de-
lirium he had called frantically, piteously
for his wife, asserting her innocence, but
now that he was convalescent, he was
silent. For three days her name had not
passed his lips.
Uncle Owen was a changed man. The
eoftness and gentleness seemed to have
l.,
once 80 kind now flashed with fire and
eagerness. He went TO his safe and took
large number Of bills from it, then
packed a travelling bag. He put a brace
Of revolvers in his belt and buckled it
about his waist, and just as the upward
bound steamer whistled at the landing he
was whirled in his carriage to the dock
and went aboard the vessel.
1.-THE doctor will be furious when he
hears what / have done," he thought.
'fbut ! can but die in the attempt, and
inactivity would be my death now."
On the steamer he overheard two men
who were sitting on the deck talking of
q murder. He soon learned that the mur-
deress had escaped, and was in wild
region of Kentucky, supposed to be in hid
ing among the sQuatters of the Oak
Knobs"
"Its said by some" one of the men
remarked, that she's with Black
Powell"
Black Powell was sort of mytho-
logical parsonage TO whom number Of
murders and robberies had been attributed
There was some doubt as TO the existence
Of such a person as Black Powell. He
was said to be sort Of inn keeper of a
lonely roadside tavern, who beguiled un-
fortunate travellers TO his home and muir
dered and robbed them. Though the off.
GERS had searched the country thoroughly
neither Black Powell nor his inn had yei
been discovered.
At the landing so miles above Collins
Vile, Uncle Owen disembarked and wen'
TO the poor little tavern Of which the place
boasted, and engaged room. He re
manned over night at the inn. and mex
morning engaged a mar 10 drive him il
his buggy to the home of Albert Rey
nolds, famous horse grower in Ken
lucky.
Mr.. Reynolds was an acquaintance o.
Uncle Owen. He had heard his sad story
and was astonished when he saw hi
friend TT his gate.
''Why, Owen Redgrave, where on eartl
are you goin'?' be asked as he led hin
into the house.
II do not know where my Journey will
end. Albert"
You are going to search for her?"
Yes, Albert Reynolds, and find her, o
viii spend my life searching. l will fine
her and tell her that l hei:eve her limo
cent. though all the world should thinl
her guilty."
''Do You know where you will go from
here?" he asked. after an awkward
silence