The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-12-25

the man Confronting 1icr.
MAY / ask, sir, what this outrage
means? I presume you are respon-
sfble for the insolence of this fellow
who brought me hereY"
Kirby laughed but not altogether at
ease.
"Well, not altogether" he answered,
las his methods are entirely his Own.
I merely told him to go after you"
For what purpOse?"
so pretty a girl should not ask
that. Carver, close the door and wait
outside"
I could mark the quick rise and fall
of her bosom and the look OF fear she
was unable to disguise. Yet not a
limb moved Is the door closed, nor did
the glance Of those brown eyes waver.
"YOu are not the same man / met
BEFORE she began doubtingly. HE
said he was connected with the sher-
IFS Office. Who are you?"
my name is Kirby; the sheriff is
here under my orders"
"Kirby !-the-the gambIerY"
swell, l play cards occasionally, and
you have probably heard of me be-
fore. Even if you never had until to-
night it is pretty safe to bet that you
do now"
II know" she admitted, "that you
won this property at cards and have
now come to take possession. Is that
4 what you mean?"
THAT, at least, is part of it,"'and
he took a step toward her, his thin
lips twisted into a smile. But not all.
Perhaps Donaldson failed to tell you
the rest, and left me to break the
news. Well, it went hurt me any.
Not only this plantation is mine, but
every niger on it as well. You are
Rene Beaucaire?"
Eyes," she replied, slowly, almost
under her breath, and hesitating ever
SO slightly, II am Rene Beaucaire."
"An4 you don't know what that
means, I s%uppose?" he insisted saw
agely, angered by her GOODNESS. "Per-
haps the sheriff did not explain this.
Do you know who and what you are?'
She rested one hand on the table in
support, and I could note the nervous
trembling of the fingers, yet her low
voice remained strangely firm,
II know" she said distinctly, II am
no longer a free white woman; I 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 will be we'll
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
CARER"
"Why do you seek to find herr There
Is no slave blood in her VEINS"
ITO serve the necessary papers, Of
course"
He spoke incautiously, urged on by
his temper, and I marked how quickly
her face frightened at this intelli-
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 I
am not really your slave-yet?" her
voice deepening with earnestness and
understanding. "Oh, so that is how
1t is-even if 1 am a negro I do not
belong to you until those papers have
been served. If you touch me now
you break the law. I may not be
free but I am free from you. 1 am
glad to know that"
"And dn 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 I adj
wise you to keep a grip OF that tongue
Of yours. Do you think l am going to
be foiled altogether by a technical
point Of law? Possession is the main
thing, and I have you where you can't
get away. You hear met"
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 squarely in the face.
II certainly hear" she replied
calmly. "Your voice is sufficiently
distinct. I am a slave, I suppose, and
in your power; but I despise you,
hate you-and you r 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."
ut 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
tion. Her hand had suddenly disap-
I nno vsod vp}%hirt %hn FrJle ~ ho- cvrf~k.