Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-30

r. 49, Mn K - li1a't cl'ar osi.
jpGe - 49, % 6ey foun' dat Amos
oAsunk wus dead. Here wus his
chance. IN he done took It."
He bent suddenly forward, his
glance at the edge OF tho log. "Dey
amt took but Just de one boat, sab.
fer do odder am showed under dar
out'r sight"
As I stopped further over saw that
this was true. the small rowboat, with
the oars undisiurbed In It's bottom,
had been pressed In beneath the CON
cealment of the log wharf, almost CONF
pletely hidden from above, yet Ia all
appearances unlnjured. The very fact
that II should have been thus LEFT uuly
added to the mystery OF the affair II
Il had been Kirhy's deliberate purpose
20 leave us there stranded ashore
why had he failed 10 crush In thl
boats plNuklng with rock? Could
ne leaving of the craft iU III Coudi.
on for our use be part of some care.
fully conceived plan; u hair TO draw
US into some set trap? Or did Il ocCu
merely as an incident of their hur
ried flight? These were unanswerable
questions, yet the mere knowledg,
that the boat was actually there an
In navigable condition promised Us a.
opportunity To escape. While hope r.
NAMED, however vague, IL was not my
nature to despair. Whether acciden
or design had been the cause made no
odds--I was willing to match my wits
against Kirby and endeavor to win
And | must deal with facts Just as
they were.
ut Is my guess" I said, that their
only thought was to get away before
the crime was discovered. Rene,
would you be afraid to remain here
alone for a little whilef"
She glanced about into the gloom Of
the surrounding woods, her hesitancy
answering me.
at Is not a pleasant prospect nd.
nit, but there is no possible danger.
Kirby has gone, beyond all question,
but l wish to learn If can the direc-
ton he has taken. All this must have
happened only a short time ago-whilt
we were at the cabin. The keelbon'
can scarcely be entirely out Of sight
yet on either river II we could only
find place to offer us wide view.
"But could not go with you?"
Hardly with me, for l intend t.
10 IL, "A 90 oh Y,
point at the mouth of the Illinois
from where ! can see up and down thu
Mississippi. l am going to send sam
back through the woods there anC
have him climb that ridge. From the
top he ought to have good view NJ
the valley Of the Illinois. l suppose
you might go with him."
"Ah, sure wish yer wud, mlssus, y
broke In the negro pleadlngly. "Ah
amt perzackly feered fer ter go lone,
but Abs an OF man an All reckon as
how a young gal WIS 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 smile.
Eyes. Sam, I'll co." she said, glanc-
ing up into my eyes and holding out
her hand. "You wish me to. do you
not?"
II think It will be fully as well. You
still retain the pistol?"
She nodded her response, and with
out delaying my departure longer !
lowered myself into the water arG
swan toward the opposite shore
creeping forth amid tangle Of roots
and Immediately disappearing In th'
underbrush. ! found n rough passage
for the first few rods, being obliged to
almost tear a way through the close
growth and unable to see yard In
advance. But this ended suddenly at
the edge of the sand fiat, with the con-
verging waters Of the two rivers Wis
ible just beyond. My view from here
was narrowed however. by high ridges
on both sides. and with desire not to
expose myself to any chance eye.
followed the line of forest until able
to climb the slope. and thus attain the
crest Of the bluff.
From this vantage point the view
was extensive, both up and down the
big river, as we'll as across to the OPP
posite bank. Along that entire sur.
face but three objects met my gaze
q small island, green with trees, seem.
ingly 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 headland, as
though curling upward from the stack
of some steamer. I felt no doubt but
what this was the stolen keelboat,
speeding toward st. Louis.
This struck me as the most reason.
able course to pursue-to work our
way quietly up the Illinois by night,
keeping close In shore to avoid any
passing steamer, until we arrived close
to Beardstown. Undoubtedly there
were blacks In the town, both slaves
and free negroes, with whom Sam
could easily establish an acquaintance
BY this means we would soon be able
to Identify that particular preacher
into whose care hoped to contide
Rene. OF course the girl might re.
fuse to enter into the game, might de-
cline to assume the role assigned her,
however innocent I intended it to be-,
indeed. ] felt convinced she would
moot fha auoOestion with indippo tion