Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-11-07
Continued from last week

''NOw see here, Pete" began ear
nestly. "How did you learn what my
name WASP"
"De doctah he foun' dat out, sab.
He done looked through yer pockets,
sab, an he took two papers whut he
foun' dar away wild him. He done toll
me as how yer wuS an Offercer in de
army-a leftenant err sumthin'-an
tibet dem papers ought fer ter be stint
ter de gOv'ner at onct. De las time
he WuS yere he tol' me tibet he whit
down ter st. LOuee hisself, an done
gif bOf dem papers ter Gov'ner Clark.
So yer don't need worry none bout
dem no NOR"
l sank back onto the hard pillow,
greatly relieved by this information.
The burden of official duty had been
taken from me. | was now on fur
Tough and free to act as I pleased.
Have you picked up any news late
ly from Beaucaire plantationY
II heerd dey done brought de body
OBJ de OF jedge home, sah-he died
mighty sudden sumwhar up de ribber.
Thet's bout all know"
when was this?"
"Bout week, maybe morn dat,
ago. De Warrior brought de body
down, sah."
"The Warrior? Did anyone go
ashore with it?''
"'Pears like thar wus two men
stopped off at de Landin'. I disre-
member de names, but one OBJ EZRA wus
an OF friend OBJ de jedge'S."
I turned my head away silently, but
only for a moment. The two men were
in all probability Kirby and his satel-
lite, Carver. Doubtless the Beaucaire
property was already legally in Kir-
by's possession, and any possible
chance 1 might have once had to foil
him in his nefarious purpose had now
completely vanished.
To be sure I had reasoned out no
cumvent his theft, except to take legal
advice, confer with Governor Clark,
and warn those threatened girls of
their danger But now it was too late
even to do this. And yet it might not
be. If Kirby and his confederate be-
lieved that I was dead, were con-
WINGED that l had persisted beneath
the waters of the river, they might
feel safe in taking time to strengthen
their position; might delay final ac-
ton, hoping thus to make their case
seem more plausible. If Kirby was
really serious in his intention of mar
rying Beaucaire's daughter he would
naturally hesitate Immediately to &C.
knowledge winning the property at
cards, and thus indirectly being the
cause of her fathers death. He would
be quite Likely to keep this hidden
from the girl for while, until he
tried his luck at lOve.-f love failed,
then the disclosure might be made to
drive the young woman to him-a
threat to render her complaisant.
"Do you know a lawyer named
Haines?"
''Livin' down at de Landin'? Vas.
sah."
l lifted myself up in bed, too deeply
interested to lie still any longer.
"Now listen, Pete" 1 explained ear
nestly. 'Pve got sufficient money to
pay you well for all you do, and just
as soon as you get me something to
eat / want you to go down to the
Landing and bring Lawyer Haines
back here with you. Just tell him a
sick white man wants to see him at
once, and not a word to anyone else"
"Yas, sah," the whites of his eyes
rolling. "He done know OF Pete, an
I'll sure bring him back yere."
1t was dark when they came, the
fire alone lighting up the interior of
the dingy cabin with fitful glow of
red flame. / had managed to get out
of bed and partially dress myself, feel
ing stronger, and in less pain as ex-
ercised my muscles. Haines was a
small, sandy-complexioned man, with
a struggling beard and light blue
eyes. He appeared competent enough,