Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-10-24

were pat ashore at the mouth OF the
Illinois. And, now that 1 thought
about 1t, why not? 1t was no accident,
and i 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. It was common
talk as far down as StHLouis, 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 that
suspicion. Even If this had not oc-
Cured to him at first, the steamer
would have brought news that no keel
boat had been seen on the lower river,
while the captain Of the John b.
Glover, or someone else on board,
would have been sure to have men,
toned the negro helper and suggest
that he might have had a. hand in the
affair. To follow that trail was, In
deed, the most natural thing for Err
by to do. He had not overtaken Rene
because she was not yet there, but ne
had unexpectedly come upon the other
fugitlves, and, even though the en-
counter had cost the life of his hench.
man, Carver, it also resulted in the
death of two men who had come be.
tween him and his prey-the negro
and the abolitionist. The scene
cleared in my brain. and became vivid
and real.> could almost picture in de-
tail each act of the grim tragedy. The
two revengeful trackers-lf there vert
only two engaged, for others might
have been recruited on the steamer
must have crept up to the hut in tho
night or early morning. Possibly
Kirby had learned Of some othel
means of approach from the big river,
Anyway the fact that Shrunk haO
been trapped within the, cabin would
indicate the final attack was q sur.
prise. The negro might have beer
asleep outside and met his death 10
an attempt at escape, but the old
white man, finding flight impossible
had fought desperately to the last and
had killed one antagonist before re
ceiving his death blow. This was all
plain enough, but what had become OF
Kirby, of the two women-Eloise and
the quadroon mother? 10
Uncertain what to do or how to act
could only turn to the waiting girl
and the negro to tell them what / had
found. ~ Tgtl. ~
They listened as though scarcely
comprehending, Sam uttering little
means of horror, and appearing help
less from fright. but Rene quiet, mere.
ly exhibiting her emotion in the white
ness f her face and quickened breath
ing. Her eyes, wide open, questioning
seemed to sense my uncertainty. AS
ended the tale and concluded with my
theory as to what had occurred FOL
lowing the deed Of blood, her quick
mind asserted itself. -
"But this must have happened very
lately; the fire still smoldered, you
said. When do you think that steamer
could have landed here?"
"Why, perhaps early last evening
"And It has not occurred to you that
the boat might have waited here while
the man Kirby went ashoreT
"No; that could scarcely be true, \;
the steamer was transporting troops
what was it you were thinking about?'
"It is all dark, Of course" she sale
slowly, 1--WE can only guess at wha'
happened. But to me 1t seems impos
sible that the man Kirby could have
accomplished this alone-without as
sistance. The boat we saw at the
landing was not his; 1t must have
been Pete's, and there is no evidence
Of any other trail leading here from the
river. If, as you imagine, he knew
the captsin Of that steamer, and some
Of the other men aboard were Missou
rians and defenders of slavery, he
would have no, trouble in enlistine
their help to recover his runaway
slaves. They would be only too glad
to break up an abolitionist's nest
That is what believe has happened
they came ashore in q party, and the
steamer waited for them"
"And you think the prisoners were
taken along? Yet Kirby would not
want to transport them up the river
"As to that" she insisted, 'he could
not help himself. He needed to get
away quickly, and there were no other
means available. He could only hope
to connect later with some craft south
bound on which to return"
"You may be right" l admitted, i'm
pressed, yet not wholly convinced
"But what can we dol"
She looked at me reproachfully.
"You should not ask that Of girl
The words stung me.
mo; this is my task. was
thoughtlessly cruel. Neither can we
remain here, only long enough to bury
those bodies. 1t would be inliunan
not to do that. Sam, there Is an old
spade leaning against the cabin wall
go over and get It."
He started on his mission reluc'