Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-16
CHAPTER XXI. (Continued.)
Cspyright, Is1ss J

"And you-all think.you can take her
away from here" she speculated. u
amt afraid Of yo' knife-you-all might
use 1t fast enough on man, but not
on me. I'll help you,' she added. Car
rington gave her an 1ncredulous
glance. "You don't believe me? What's
to hinder my calling for help? That
would fetch our men from the keel
boat. No-yo-all's knife wouldn't stop
met"
Don't be too sure OF that" said Car
rington sternly. The girl met the
menace of his words with soft, full
throated laughter. 533
why, yo' hands shakin' now, MT.
Darlington" IA u. .5ss 4.
"You know me?"
Eyes, I seen you once at Boggs.
She made an impatient movement.
.sYou can't do nothing against them TO
men unless help you. Miss Malroy' 8
to 60 down river tonight; they're only
waiting TO- pilot-you-all's got to act
quick" ga N
Darlington hesitated.
why do you want Miss Malroy to
"escape?" he said.
The girls mood changed abruptly.
She scowled at him.
Il reckon that's private matter.
Amt it enough TO- you-all to know that
I do I'm showing how it can be done.
Them four men on the keel boat are
strangers in these parts, they're walt
ing TO- a pilot, but they don't know
who he'll be. I've heard you-all was
river man; what's to hinder yo' taking
the pilots place? Looks like yo' was
willing to risk yo' life TO- Miss Marcy
or you wouldn't be here. .r
I'm ready" said Darlington, MS
hand on the door.
mo, you ain't-jest yet" interposed
the girl hastily Listen to me first.
They's a dugout tied up bout q hun
dred yards above the keel boat; you
must get that to cross in to the other
side of the bayou, then when yo're
ready to come back yo're to whistle
three times it's the signal we're ex-
pecting-and I'll row across 10 you
in one of the skiffs.'''
"Can you see Miss Malroy IN the
meantime?" .
IF 1 want to, they's nothin' to
hinder me-" responded Bess sullenly.
+ "Tell her then" began Darlington
but Bess interrupted him. sE
II know what yo' want. She amt TO
cry out or nothin' when she sees YOU
all. got sense enough TO- that"
Darlington looked at her curiously.
"This may be a serious business for
your people," he said significantly, and
watched her narrowly.
''And you-all may get killed. reckln
IL yo' want TODD a thing bad enough
YOU don,tsmind much what comes
after" she answered with hard little
laugh, as she went from the shed.
1 Gomez said Carringto on to- the
negro, when he i had seen the cabin
door close on Bess and her lantern;
and they stole across the clearing.
Reaching the bayou side they began a
noisless search for the dugout, which
they quickly found, and Darlington
turned to George. "Can you SWIM" ne
asked.
eyes, Mas'r." .s,# IS !.
"Then 20 down into the water and
drag the canoe farther along the shore
and for Gods sake, no sound!' ne
cautioned.
They placed second hundred yards
between themselves and the keel boat
in this manner, then he had George
bring the dugout to the bank. and they
embarked. Keeping within the shadow
Of the trees that fringed the shore.
Darlington padded silently about the
head of the bayou.
GEORGE he at length said. bending
toward the negro; "my horse Is tied
In the woods on the right-hand side
OF the road just above where you were
taken from the carriage last night
you can be at Belle Plain inside OF an
hour" q. M
IS "Look here, Mas'r, Ca'ington, those
folks yonder is kin to Boss Hicks. II
he get his hand on me first don't you
reckon he'll stop my mouth? been
here heap of times fotchin' letters
TO- Mas'r Tom" added George.
t'Who were the letters for?" asked
the Kentuckian, greatly surprised.
"They was TO that Captain Murrell;
seems like him and Mas'r Tom was
mixed up in sight Of business"
sWhen was this-recently? In
ouired Carrington. He was turning this
astonishing statement of the slave
over in his mind.
"well, no, MAST; seems like they
amt so thick here recently" Ii
RI reckon you'd better keep away
from the big house yet a while" said
Darlington. Instead Of going there.
stop at the Belle Plain landing. You'll
find a raft tied up to the shore, it be-
longs to a man named Cavendish. Tell
him what you know. That I've found
Miss Malroy and the boy, tell him to
cast off and drift down here. I'll run
the keel boat aground the first chance
get, so tell him to keep a sharp look
out"
A few minutes later they had separ-
ated. George to hurry away In search
Of the horse. and Darlington to pass
back along the shore until he gained
a point opposite the clearing He
whistled shrilly three times, and after
an interval OF waiting heard the splash
of oars and presently saw skiff steal
out OF the gloom.
"Who's there?" It was Bess who
asked the question.
Darlington" he answered.
Lucky you amt met the other
man" she said as she swept her skiff
alongside the bank.
Lucky for him, you mean. I'll take
tho nnrsn added Darlington as he en-.