The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-10-30

IN cAoit 10 neF lalIn, Dut L
hesitated. scarcely knowing what to
say, deeply touched by the pathetic
droop Of her figure, and In truth I'M
certain In my wi mind as to whether
or not we had chosen the wiser
course. All / dared do was to silently
reach out one hand and rest 1t gently
on those fingers clasping the rail. She
did not remove her hand from beneath
mine, o indeed give the slightest evil
dence that she was ever aware OF my
action.
"Wus Ali to turn nor, sah?" asked
the negro suddenly.
Eyes. upstream; but keep In as close
to the shore as you think safe. There
is no settlement along this bank, Is
there?"
mo. sab; dar's JUS one cabin, bout
q mile upstream. but dar amt nobody
Twin thar now. Whar yer all aim
fer ter go?"
/ hesitated an instant before l an
swered, yet almost as quickly decided
that the whole truth would probably
serve us best. The man already had
n reason to use his best endeavors I;
now I would bring before him a Sec
ond.
Just as far up the river before day
light as possible, Sam. Then I hope
to uncover some hiding place where
we can lie concealed until 1t Is dark
again. Do you know any such placer"
ION de Illinois shore, sab? Les see:
thar's Rassuer creek, bout twenty
mile up. All 'spects you all knows
whit yer n headin' fer?"
ITO a certain extent-yes; but we
had to decide on this action very
quickly, with no chance to plan 1t out.
/ am aiming at the mouth of the ILL.,
nois."
He glanced about at me, vainly en-
d~eavoring to decipher my expression
in the gloom.
"De Illinois ribber. boss; what yer
hope fer ter find thar?"
"a certain man I've heard about.
Did you ever happen to hear a white
ms mentioned who lives e there?
His name Is Amos Shrunk."
/ could scarcely distinguish HIS eyes.
but I could feel them. / thought for
a moment he would not answer.
"Yerll surely excuse me. sab" he
said at last, humbly, his voice with a
note of pleading 1t 1t. "Ah's feelin'
friendly 'nough an all dat, sab, but
still yer mus member dat Abs talkin'
fat- a n0rfnNf cfronrnp TO xxv,td
sure tell me furst just whit yer was
amin at, then maybe Aid know a
heap MORN All do now"
IL guess you are right. Sam. I'll tell
you the whole OF 1t. l am endeavor-
ing to help this ycnag woman to
escape those men back yonder. You
must know why they were there; no
doubt you overheard them talk coming
up?"
"Yas. sab ; Massa Donaldson he was
goin' up fer ter serve sum papers fer
Massa Kirby. so he cud run off de
she amt no nigger-she's just q white
pusson."
"She Is a slave under the law" I
said gravely. as she made an effort to
move, "and the man Kirby claims her."
I could see his mouth ny open. but
the surprise of this statement halted
his efforts at speech.
THAT explains the whole situation"
I went on. snow will you answer
me?-
Bout dis we're Massa S1srunkT"
"Yes-yOu have heard of him be-
fore?"
"Ab reckon as how maybe All has.
sah."
do yoa know where be can be
foundY'
mot perzackly. sab. All ain't never
onct bin thar. but Ali sorter seems fer
ter recolIec' sum-thin' bout whar he
mought be. All reckon maybe All cud
go thar. II All just he'd to. All reckon
II yer all held dat pistol plum 'gainst
NAH he'd. Aid mos likely find dis
Amos Shrunk. Good Lord. sab I" and
his voice sank to a whisper, .Ah just
can't sit AcI' o. NIL dis-Ah sure can't.
sah-Tbout her bein' a niger"
meme saTutu aSous, iilu7S ner Iuce
into the starlight.
whether I am white Or colored.
SAM" she said quietly, -can make
little difference to you now. I am a
woman and am asking yeur help. I
can trust you. can l notr-
The negro on his knees stared at
her, the whites of his eyes ~conspicu-
ous. Then suddenly he jerked Off his
old hat.
"Ah 'spects yer kin. missus," he
pledged himself in q tone Of convic-
tion which made my heart leap. "Ah's
bin a slave-nieger fer f~orty-ive years.
hut Just de same An amt never bin
mean ter no Vas. sab, yer
don't neither one Oh yer cher need ter
ask Sam no mor-he's a-goin' thro'
wild yer all ter de end-he sure am.
mn'am.~
Silence descended upon us. and I
slipped the pistol back into my pocket.
Rene rested her cheek on her hand
and gazed straight ahead into the
night. Far or to the left q few wink
Ing lights appeared. barely perceptible.
and l touched the negro. pointing them
ont to him and whispering my Ques-