Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-10-31
CHAPTER lx-continu.d.

CHAPTER IN-Continueo.
-10-
''It Is my guess" 1 said, shat their
only thought was to get away before
the crime was discovered. Rene,
would you be afraid to remain here
alone for a little whileY
She glanced about into the gloom of
the surrounding woods, her hesitaney
answering me.
IN Is not a pleasant prospect l ad-
init, but there Is no possible danger.
Kirby has gone. beyond all question,
but I wish to learn II can the direc-
ton he has taken. All this must have
happened only a short time ago-while
we we're at the cabin. The keelboat
can scnrcely be entirely out of sight
yet ON either river II we could only
find a place to offer us n wide view"
~But could not go with your
Hardly with me. for l intend to
swim the creek and try to reach the
point NJ the mouth OF the Illinois.
from where / can see up and down the
Mississippi | am going to send Sam
hack through the woods there and
have him climb that ridge. From the
top he ought to have good view up
the valley of the Illinois. suppose
you might go with him."
@Ah. sure wish yer wud, missus," !"
broke in the negro pleadingly. "Ah
amt perzackly feered fer ter go lone,
but Ah's an OF man an All reckon as
how a young gal wus likely fer ter see
morn An wud. Pears like Abs done
los my glasses"
A faint smile lighted up her face
a mere glimmer Of n smile.
"Yes, Sam. I'll CO." she said, glanc-
ing up into my eyes and holding out
her hand. "You wish me to, do you
nStT"
Il think IT will be fully as well. You
stin retain the plstolf'
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 tangie Of roots
and Immediately disappearing in the
uuderbrush. l found a rough passage
for the first few rods, being obliged to
almost tear way through the close
growth and unable to see a yard in
advance. But this ended suddenly at
thu edge Of the sand fat, with the con
verEing waters Of the two rivers Wis
Ible Just beyond. My view from here
was narrowed, however, by high ridge:
on both sides, and with desire not Il
expose myself to any chance eye,
followed the line Of forest until abl'
to climb the slope, and thus attain tn,
crest of the bluff.
From this vantage point the viev
was extensive. both up and down tn,
big river, as well as across to the op
posite bank. Along that entire SUI
face but three objects met my gaze
a small island, green with trees, seem
ingly anchored just beyond the moutl
Of the Illinois; numbering barge al
most opposite me, clearly outline
asainst the distant shore, and barel
moving with the current; and ia
away below a thin smudge of smoke
arising from behind a headland, a
though curling upward from the stac
~ some steamer felt no doubt bu
what thai was the stolen keeIboa
speeding toward ST. Loms.
This struck me as the most reason
d. able course TO pursue-to work ou
way quietly up the Illinois by nigh
keeping close In shore to avoid an
passing steamer. until we arrived clos
To BeardstOwn. Undoubtedly thel
were blacks In the town. both slave
and free negroes, with whom Sal
.cUuld easily establish an acuuaintanc
By this means we would soon be abb
to Identity that particular preach,
Into whose care l hoped to confC
Rsne. OF course the girl might r
fuse to enter into the game, might d
cline to assume the role assigned he
however innocent | intended II to be
indeed. felt convinced she won
meet the suggestion with indignatio
But why worry about that now? L
this be kept as n last resort. The
was no necessity for me to even me
tiou this part Of my plan until aft
our approach TO Beardstown then d
necessity OF our going forward wi
Il might be so apparent she could n
refuse TO cnrry on her part. With Il
point settled In my own mind l Il
ready to reioln the others.
must have been absent In {
neighborhOod OF two hours, and tn
had returned 20 the bank Of the ere
some time in advance of me. AS
appeared at the edge Of the wo
sam hailed. offering to row the be
across.
-An right" replied confident
were alone. at will save me anott
wetting. You saw nothlngT
-No sab; Ieastways not much. \
cud see up de Illinois MORN ten mi
An reckon. hut dar want no boat
whar. 'cepting an OF scow tied up
De bank"
Il thought so. The keelbOat I
gone down the Mississippi"
"Yer done saw her. sahr'
'I saw her smoke; she was hidt
by a big bend Just below. Don't
there staring at income across"
Rene greeted me W tn a smile a
scrambled up on the slippery log a
asked a number of questions. l
swered these as best could and Il
explained. so far as deemed it
sirable. the general nature Of
plans had made. The Illinois ro
offered the only hope, and we deciC
to venture 1t. although Rene pleat
earnestly that she and the negro
permitted to go on alone. To {
suggestion. however, would not C