Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-11-28

JCStlUu. anu stepping dLLcI uC luIOuSu
the open window onto the narrow bal
cOny without. / reached up and drew
down the shade, leaving us in COM
parative darkness The night was
soundless and our eyes, straining to
pierce the black void, were unable to
detect any movement.
"You see nothing?" I whispered,
touching her hand in encouragement.
mo evidence of guard anywhere?"
"NO-the others must still be out
in front waiting"
''There were only the four of them,
them
80 l understood ! was told they
came up the river in small keelboat,
operated by an engine, and that they
anticipated no resistance The engi-
neer was left to watch the boat and
be ready to depart downstream at any
moment
Good; that leaves us clear pas
sage. Now / am going to drop to the
ground; it is not far below. Can you
make it aloney'
~ have done so many time.''
We attained the solid earth almost
together and in silence.
"NOw let me guide you," she sug-
gested, as hesitated. II know every
inch of the way about here. Where is
the negro waiting?"
"At the edge of the wood where the
wagon road ends, beyond the slave
quarters"
Eyes, l know; 1t will be safer for
us to go around the garden
She fitted forward, sure-footed,
confident, and / followed as rapidly as
possible through the darkness, barely
keeping her dim figure in sight. Our
feet stumbled over the ruts of road,
and seemed to vaguely recognize the
spot as familiar. Yes, away off yOn-
der was the distant CLEAN of the river
rejecting the stars. This must be the
very place where Pete and had part
ed, but-where had the fellow gone?
"Here is where he was directed to
watt I explained hurriedly. Il am
sure l am not mistaken in the spot"
"Yet he is not here. and there is
no sign of him. You left no other
instructions except for him to remain
until your return?"
81 think notch, yes, did tell him
If you women came without me he was
to drive you at once to the boat and
leave me to follow the best way l
could. Do you suppose it possible the
others reached here and he has gone
away with them?"
She stood silent and ] strove by
peering about to discover some marks
of guidance, only to learn the use
lessness of the effort. Even a slight
advance brought no result, and it was
with some difficulty / even succeeded
in locating her again in the darkness
indeed, only the sound of her voice
made me aware of her immediate pres
ence.
1.-THE negro's boat Is some distance
away, is it nOtT
"FOur miles, over the worst road
ever travelled" A sudden remembrance
swept into my mind, bringing with it
inspiration.
"Have you ever visited the mouth of
Saunders creek? You have! How
far away is that from here?"
"NOt more than half mile; it en-
tiers the river just below the Land
ing"
"And, if I understood you rightly
/ urged eagerly, ''you said that these
fellows left their keelboat there; that
it had been rugged up to run by steam,
and had no guard aboard except the
engineer; you are sure of this?"
:'That was what the man who talked
to me first said--the deputy sheriff.
He boosted that they had the only
keelbOat on the river equipped with
an engine and had come up from st.
Louis in two hours. You-you think
we could use that?'
''It seems to be all that is left us.
I intend to make the effort, anyway.
You had better show me the road"
Continued next week.