Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1919-10-24
CHAPTER VI-continued.

" know" she said distinctly, II am
no longer a free white woman; am
a negro and a slave"
"Oh you know that, do you? Then
you must also be aware that you are
my property. Perhaps it viii be well
for you to remember this in answer
ing my questions Now tell me who
informed you Of all this?"
II cannot answer"
Cannot! You mean you will not.
Well, young woman, I'll find means to
make you, for l have handled your
kind before. Where is Eloise Beau
caire?"
why do you seek to find her? There
is no slave blood in her veins"
ITO serve the necessary papers, of
course"
He spoke incautiously urged on by
his temper, and marked how quickly
her face frightened at this intelll-
gence.
ITO serve papers! They must be
served, then, before-before you can
take possession? That is what + I'M
derstood the sheriff to say. Then /
am not really your slaye-yetY her
voice deepening with earnestness and
understanding. "Oh, so that is how
it is-even if am a negro do not
belong to you until those papers have
been served. If you touch me now
you break the law. / may not be
free but I am free from you. l am
glad to know that!"
"And d-n little good it is going
to do you" he growled. SHERIFF or no
sheriff, my beauty, you are going to
st. Louis with me tonight; so l adj
wise you to keep a grip on that tongue
of yours. Do you think am going to
be foiled altogether by q technical
point of law? Possession is the main
thing, and l have you where you can't
get away. You hear me?"
She had not moved, although her
form had Strengthened and her hand
no longer rested on the table. Kirby
had stepped close in front of her, his
eyes glowing with anger, his evident
intention being to thus frighten the
girl into compliance with his wishes,
but her eyes, defiant and unafraid,
looked him sGuarely in the face.
81 certainly hear" she replied
calmly. 'Your voice is sufficiently
distinct. I am a slave, suppose, and
in your power; but | despise you,
hate you-and you are not going to
take me to ST. Louis tonight"
"What can stop me? The sheriff.
Pub a few dollars will take care of
him. The judge is a friend of mine"
1T is not the sheriff-nor the Judge;
I place reliance on no friend of
yours"
He grasped at her arm, but she
stepped back quickly enough to avoid
contact, and the red lips were pressed
together in a thin line of determine
ton. Her hand had suddenly disap-
peared within the folds of her skirt ];
but the angry man, apparently blinded
by the violence of his passion, his
eagerness to crush her spirit, thought |
only that she counted on outside aid
for deliyerance.
"You silly little FOOL" he snapped, |
his mustache bristling. "Why, what
could you do to stop me? I could
break your neck with one hand. So
you imagine someone is going to save
you. Well, who will it be? Those
yokels down at the Landing? Haines
the lawyer You have a surprise up
your sleeve for me, suppose! HI! |
it makes me laugh; but you might as
well have your lesson now as any
other time. Come here, you weach! -
He caught her arm this time, bru-
tally Jerking her toward him. but as
instantly staggered backward, grasp
ing at the table the flash of anger in
his eyes changing to look of startled |
surprise. A pistol was leveled full in
his face, the polished black barrel |
shining ominously in the light of the
overhead lamp,
''Now perhaps you know what /
mean" she said "If you dare to touch
me / will kill you like a dog. That
Is no threat; it is true as Gods Cos
pei" and the very tone Of her voice
carried conviction. you may say !
am q slave-your slave That may be
so, but you will never possess me
never! Life means nothing TO me
any more. and never expect to go
out of this house alive; I do not even
care to. So 1 am not afraid of you. Do
not drop your arms, you low-lived cur,
for you have sever been nearer death