Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-09-19

bluffs, whar nobody don't go. 'cepr
dem who know whss 1t is. reckon
ne don't do nuthin' but hunt an fish
nohow-leastways he don't raise no
corn, nor truck fer ter sell. He's a
sall. lanky man, sab, sorter thin, with
a long beard, an his name wus Amos
Shrunk.' 1 reckon maybe he's a Black
Abolitionist, sah."
"Quite likely, l should say. And you
could take boat from here to his
placer"
"Sure, the darkest night yer ever
see"
This knowledge greatly simplified
matters. If there was already in op-
GRAFTON an organized scheme by means
of which fugitives from this side of
the great river were taken through to
Canada, protected and assisted along
the way, then all we would be required
to do in this case would be to safely
convey the unfortunate Rene and her
mother in Pete's boat up the river,
and there turn them over to the care
of this Amos Shrunk. Undoubtedly he
could be trusted tn see to it that they
were promptly forwarded to others,
fanatics like himself. who would
swiftly pass them along at night
across the Illinois prairies, until be-
yOnd all danger of pursuit. The dis
tance to the mouth of the Illinois
could not be far, surely not to exceed
fifty miles as the river ran. 1t ought
not to prove difficult to battle Kirby
for that short distance, and then we
would be free to return, and no one
could prove any charge against US.
The only important fact fronting US
was that we must act quickly, before
Kirby and his aides, armed with legal
authority, could return-this very
night.
"Pete," l said shortly, my tone I'M
consciously one of authority, 1--WE must
be out of here before daylight, and
safely hidden somewhere up the river.
The first thing to be done, and the
hardest, is to explain to those women
the situation, and persuade them to
accompany US. They may not believe
my story; that was why 1 was so aHx-
ious to have Haines go to the house.
They would have confidence in him.
Do they know yeu?"
Lord love yer-ob course dey do.
Use knowed all OBJ 'em for a long
while, sab. Dey'H sure believe oil
Pete"
"We1l, we can only try our best.
Have YOU ary conveyance here?"
"Any whut, sah?"
ANY wheeled vehicle in which we
can ride to Beaucaire, and by means
of which we can bring the women
, back? The distance is too far to
walk
use got sorter khaft, an an OF
mule, sab. Dey's out yonder in de
BUSH"
Glitch them up at once, while I put
few things we may need in the boat.
Show me how to find it."
He pointed out the path, with the
2 directions necessary, and disappeared,
r while / returned to the cabin, ragged
l a blanket from off the bed, and filed
r it with whatever miscellaneous or
e ticles of food. was able TO discover
g about the place. My wound, now that
a I was busily engaged, troubled me
d very little, and 1 easily transported
S this stock of provisions to the rivel
|, bank, and safely slowed them away II
t the boat found there. I returned tt
J discover the mule and cart ready, ant
a few moments later we were creakinl
e slowly along gloomy wood road, jolt
o ing over the stumps, with Pete walk
ing beside the animals head, whisper
d ing encouragement into the fappini
g ear. The great adventure had begun.