The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-12-18

done shu, Ds up in Dc eAbiA An Aon
know much whut did happen after
dat. til bout de time de steamboat
done hit us; an bout de next thing
All wus yanked up yere on deck"
But there was another woman on
the keelboat when II was sunk--a pris.
oner also. Surely you must have seen
her." / insisted.
"Ah saw her-yas." eagerly. "But
All don't know who she wus. sab. nor
whar she ever cum frum."
"Then she is not there with your
"No. sab; Abs yere all lone. Al
reckon, tho, she sure mus be on board
sumwhar. All what All does know Ia
dat de gal called Rene Beaucaire sure
amt on board; fer she, an her NAH.
am at Beardstown long fore dis. an
headin' right smart for Canady; while
| Abs headin' fer down soufe. Abs jus,
! told yer all dis. Mister White Man
cause yOus a frien' oh de Beaucairef
yer wus, wusn't yer?"
"Yes." I said soberly. ST am; and, II
l can find any chance to help you,
am going to do II, Elsie. Don't talk
any more-the captain Is Just coming
cat of the pilot house"
As greatly as this brief, hastily
| whispered CONVEX sation had served to
clear up certain puzzling matters In
my mind, the total result of the infor
nation thus impaired by Elsie Clar
| only rendered the situation more con
| pick and puZzling. Evidently the othe
| prisoner had aot been confined on tn.
| upper deck, bGf had been more secure
ly hidden away r~-.cw, where her pres
ence on board woCld better escape de
| lection. For what purpose7 A ssois
| ter one, beyond all doubt-the expires
sion OF vague fear in Kirby's hear"
that, through some accident, hei
| Identity might be discovered, and hi.
plans disarranGed. ] comprehendet
the nart he intended Eloise Beaucair
to play in his future, and realized tina
he cared more to gain possession o.
her, TO get her into his power, than 1t
did to obtain control of the slave. This
knowledge helped me 10 understand
the predicament which this revelat on
put him into. and how desperately he
would strive to retain the uppe, hsnd
If, in very truth, she was Judge Beau
CARES white daughter, and could gain
communication with others of her
eiass, bringing to them proof OF her
| identity, there would be real men
| enough on board The Adventurer 10
rally to her support. We were already
sailing through free territory, ard even
now he held on to his slaves rather
| through courtesy than law. Once II
was whispered that one of these slaves
was white, the daughter of a wealthy
| planter, stolen by force, the game
would be up.
But would she ever proclaim her
right to freedom? II Ehe was indeed
| Elose Beaucaire-ane even as TO this
l was not as yet wholly convinced
| she had deliberately assumed to be
Rene, doing so for specific purpose
| that object being to afford the otkeI
an opportunity for escape. Why. she
had not so much as trusted me. From
the very beginning she had encouraged
me in the belief that she was a AZ
gress, never once arousing the faintest
suspicion in my mind. Nothing, then.
| | was convinced, short Of death or dis
| grace, could ever compel her to cup
fess the truth yet. Kirby might sus.
pect, might fear, but he had surely
never learned who she was from her
lips-that she was Eloise Beaucaire.
The conviction that this young worn
an was white, educated. refined. the
daughter of good blood-no fleeing no
| gress, cursed with the black strain NJ
| an alien race, nameless slave
brought to me sudden joy In discov
| cry l made no attempt to conceal
| "Eloise Beaucaire, Eloise Beaucaire"
the name repeated itself on my lips
| as though Ii were refrain. l knew
| instantly what ii all meant-that some
| divine. mysterious hand had led from
the very hour of my leaving Fort Arm
strong and would continue to lead I'm
| til the will of God was done. 1t was
not in the stars Of Fate that such vii
lainy should succeed; such sacrifice as
hers fail of its reward.
Nevertheless, In spite Of this re
solve, and the fresh courage which had
| been awakened within me by the faith
that from now on battled for the love
Of Eloise Beaucaire, no immediate or
portunity for service came. l coult
only wait patiently and observe
was convinced that Kirby wha,
ever might be his ultimate purpos,
regarding the girl had no present In
tention Of doing her further injury. HI
contemplated no immediate attempt nj
forcible possession, and would be well
satisfied if he could only continue 10
hold her in strict seclusion. The thing
he was guarding against now, and
while they remained on board, was es
cape or discovery.
(TO BE CONTINUEDl