The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-12-25

taN JVht HhNA bthN FShN
her hand. See, | am very much alive.
Let me tell you-that will be the quick
est way TO understand. In the first
place l did not drown when the boat
was smashed, but was rendered help
less and borne away on the water. The
Adventurer rescued me about daylight
tho next morning, and | was no sooner
on board than l wac told how the keel
boat had been run down below on the
river during the night and that your
sarty had all been saved--twO white
men and two negress slaves. OF course,
I knew you must be n Of them"
"Then-then we were actually to-
gether, on the same boat, all the way
up hefe?"
Yes ] tried hard to find where you
we're concealed on board, but failed.
Kirby guarded you with great care
why2"
Yes" she answered, as though fore
lug herself to speak. II do know now.
1 thought I knew then, but was mis-
esken. | supposed il might be because
\ looked so little like n negress, but
l realize It was his own con.
science. lie knew ] was n white wom~
an he had become convinced that l
was Eloise Beaucalre. Did you know
that, alsoT'
IL learned the truth on the boat,
from the same source where Kirby OBJ
tanned his information. Elsie Clark
) told me-"
"Elsie Clark! Who Is shef How
did she know2"
"A free negress. who had been EN-.
pioyed by Amos Shrunk. She was the
Othsr prisoner on the keelboat when
you we're captured, kept locked below
In tho cabin"
"Ho.s could she know who I wasp
SShe did not. Only she was positive
chat you could not be Rene B~eaucaire,
because she knew that Rene. In COM
pany with her mother. had departed
from Shrunk's cabin before those raid
ers came. The two had already started
for Beardstown."
She sat upright. all lassitude gone
from her body. leaning engerly toward
me, her eyes aiight with interest.
"Gonei Rene escaped themt r. she
exclaimed. her voice choking. 'Oh, tell
me that again. Was the girl sure?'
Quite sure. She saw and spoke
With both the women before they left
In I wagon. They were on the Under
ground. bound for Canada. and safety"
Il am s. giad--so glad" she said
etmpsY. snow | am strong enough TO
hear the rest, Lieutenant Knox. You
must tell me-
There Is not SO much to tell. that I
am cock-sure about" l began slowly.
Kirby had you securely hidden away
somewhere on the second deck, while
thts- Clark girl had been locked into a
stateroom above. I possessed such n
growth of beard and was altogether so
dlsreputable looking as to be mistaken
for a roustabouf by the boats officers.
who set me at work to carr my pass
age. In this way I managed to talk
with Elsie. but failed to locate your
quarters, The only glimpse ] gained
Of you was when you were being taken
lnshore. Then I followed. and q little
tster succeeded In getting you out of
ixirby's hands. That is about ALL"
sOh. no. 1t Is not--you--you came
eooo late"
100 latei Perhaps I may know
what you mean."
do your Surely not to blame me
III wish to tell you. Lieutenant Knox.
'but-but I scarcely know how. 1t Is
all so dim. indlstinct In my own mind
and YET I remember. Have I been
druggedts
without question. We hare been
riding nil hight and you were strapped
20 your HORSE. Probably you have no
seecailectles 81 sh.sg,
She shook her head In bewildsrment.
mo; the last I remember I was with
Kirby and another man. He-he was
dressed like n minister. but-but he
waa half drunk. and once he swore at
sne. The place where we were was a
hittle shack In the side of u hill, with
i-.cne walls Kirby took me there
From the steamer. together with a man
ne called Rafe-jack Raie. They
locked me Ia and left me alone after
dark. Then this other man, who
dressed like a minister. came back
with Kirby. They had food and some
thing to drink with them, and ne a
1amp so that we could see. II was
ewfuily dismal and dark in there"
she pressed her hands to her head
deapairingiy. II cnD remember all
this. but later Il is not so clear; It
fades out like a dream"
TRY to tell me all you cnn." / urged.
F--Ihey fed your
Eyes. l managed TO eat a little, but
Z would not drink They both became
angry then and frightened me. but
fhcy did compel me to swallow some
lof. the stun. Then 1 became dazed
~nd partially helpless. I had no win
~ my own, no power Of resistance"
you were married to Kirby"
sOb. 0odl--was IN 1 wondered; I
d4d not really know: truly l did not
lun0w. seem to remember that /
skood up. ard then signed some paper.
hut rothlna had any meaning t. me.
n W|