The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-11-20
CHAPTER discontinued.

ct is my guess | said, "that their
only thought was to get away before
the crime was discovered. Rene,
would you be afraid TO remain here
alone for q little while?"
She glanced about into the gloom Of
the surrounding woods, her hesitancy
answering me.
1T is not a pleasant prospect / adj
NIT. but there is no possible danger.
Kirby has gone, beyond all question,
but l wish TO learn IL l can the direc-
tion he has taken. All this must have
happened only a short time %ago-while
we were at the cabin. The keelboat
can scarcely be entirely out of sight
yet on either river If we could only
find a place to offer us a wide view."
But could I not go with your
Hardly with me, for / intend to
swim the creek and try to reach the
point ut the mouth of the Illinois.
from where i can see up and down the
mississippi. | am going to send Sam
back Through the woods there and
have him climb that ridge. From the
cop he ought to have a good view up
me valley OF the Illinois. / suppose
you might go with him."
"Ab. sure wish yer wud, missus,"
broke In the negro pleadingly. "Ah
amt p~erzackly feered fer ter 20 lone,
hut Abs an oil man an All reckon as
how a young gal wus likely fer ter see
MORN All wud. Pears like Abs done
los my glasses"
A faint smile lighted up her face
a mere glimmer of a smile.
"Yes. Sam, I'll go." she said. glanc-
ing up into my eyes and holding out
her hand. "You wish me to, do you
not?"
II think 1t win be fully as well. You
still retain the pistoli"
She nodded her response. and with
out delaying my departure longer /
lowered myself into the water and
swan toward the opposite shore.
creeping forth amid a tangle OF roots
and Immediately disappearing in the
underbrush. I found a rough passage
for the first few rods, being obliged to
almost tear a. way through the close
growth and unable 10 see a yard In
advance. But this ended suddenly at
the edge of the sand fat, with the con-
verglng waters of the two rivers Wis
sbis just beyond. My view from here
was narrowed. however, by high ridges
on both sides, and with a desire not TO
expose myself TO any chance eye. I
followed the line OF forest until able
TO climb the slope. and thus attain the
crest Of the blum.
From this yaptage point the view
was extensive. both up and down the
big river. as well as across n the OPP
posite bark. Along that entire sur
lace but three objects met ray gaze
a small island. green with trees. seem
ingiy anchored just beyond the mouth
of the illinois; a numbering barge al
most opposite me. clearly outlined
against the distant shore, and barely
moving with the current: and far
away below a thin smudge of smoke.
arising from behind n headland. as
though curling upward from the stack
OF sfme steamer. / felt no doubt but
what this was the stolen keelboat,
speeding toward ST. Louis.
Zhis struck rue as the most reason
atfe course to p1rsue-to work our
way quietly UP the Illinois by night,
keeping close in shore TO avoid any
passing steamer. until we arrived close
20 Beardsto,.n. Undoubtedly there
were blacks In the towE. both slaves
and free negroes. with whom Sam
could easily establish TN acquaintance.
by this means we would soon be able
TO identify that particular preacher
into whose care / hoped 20 confide
Rene. OF course the girl might re-
euse to enter into the game. nigh. de-
cline to SUI the role assigned her,
however Innocent / intended II 10 be-
indeed. I felt convinced she would
meet the ~srEFept.aa with Indignation.
fsut why worry about that now? Let
this be kept as a last resort. There
was no necessity for me to even mem
ton this pafr of my plan until after
our approach to Beafdstcwn. them the
necessity Of our going forward with
Il might be 10 apparent she could not
f.fusS 70 carry on her part. With this
1 N&