Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-29
CHAPTER TX.
The Trail Of the Raj


Shocked and unnamed ms | NaS at
this discovery, to pause there staring
at those gruesome figures would have
only brought fresh alarm to the two
watching my every movement from
the edge of the clearing. Gripping my
nerves, / advanced over the first body,
watching for any sign of the presence
Of life within the cabin. There was
none-the work Of the murder had
been completed. and the perpetrators
had fled. The dead man, with CHASTITY
countenance upturned to the roof raf-
ters, and the snowy beard, was I'M
doubtedly the negro helper, Amos
Shrunk. Pete's description of the APP
pearance Of the man left this identiti-
cation beyond all dispute. He had
been stricken down by Il savage blow
which had literally crushed in one
side Of his head, but his dead hands
yet gripped rifle, as though he had
fallen fighting to the last.
The other man, the one lying across
the threshold, had been shot, although
L
l turned the body over sufficiently to
reveal the face. This was dstgured
by the wound and covered with blood
so that the features could scarcely be
seen, yet I instantly recognized the
fellow-Cnryer. Surprised out of all
control by this unexpected discovery
l steadied myself against the log wall
fully aroused to the sinister meaning
Of his presence. To degree the com
plete significance Of this tragedy in
stantly gripped my mind. If this fell
low Carver had been one Of the assail
ants then 1t was absolutely certain
that Kirby must also have been pres
ent-the leader of the attack. This
inevitably meant that both men had
been aboard the steamer. and later
were put ashore at the mouth Of the
Illinois. And, now that l thought
about 1t, why not? 1t was no accident
and l wondered that the possibility
had never occurred to me before. The
gambler naturally knew all the gossip
of the river, and beyond question he
would be aware Of the reported eX'
istence Of this underground station
for runaway slaves. 1t was common
talk as far down as st. Louis, and his
mind would instantly revert to the
possibility that the fleeing Rene might
seek escape through the assistance OF
Shrunk. The mysterious vanishing OF
the boat would serve to increase thnt
suspicion. Even If this had not oc'
Cured to him at first, the stcam"r
would have brought news that no keel
boat had been seen on the lower river
while the captain Of the John Il
Glover, or someone else on board
would have been sure to have men
toned the negro helper and suggest
that he might have had hand in the
affair. TO follow that trail was, In
deed, the most natural thing for kir.
by to do. He had not Overtaken Rene
because she was not yet there, but hC
had unexpectedly come upon the Other
fugitlves, and, even though the en-
counter had cost the life of his bench
man, Carver. 1t also resulted in the
death Of two men who had come be
tween him and his prey-the negro
and the abolitlonlst. The scene
cleared in my brain and became vivit
and real. could almost picture in de
tail each act Of the grim tragedy. The
two revengeful trackers-if there were
only two engaged, for others nigh
nave been recruited on the steamer
must have crept up to the hut in thu
night or early morning. Possibl!
Kirby had learned of some otheI
means of approach from the big river
Anyway the fact that Shrunk hnt
been trapped within the cabin woult