Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-22
CHAPTER vi.
Tho Home Of Judge eeaueairs.

The ROAD we followed appeared 10
be endless, and so rough that soon
climbed down from my seat, an I'M
planed board, uncomfortable enough
under any conditions. in the swaying,
humping cart. and stumbled blindly
along behind. tripping over .stumps in
the darkness, and wrenching my
ankles painfully in deep ruts.
It was considerably after ten
o'clock when we emerged upon an open
plateau, and q glimmer Of stars over
head revealed to me afar OF the silver
thread Of the great river. Pete
stopped the straining mule. q feat not
at all difficult Of accomplishment, the
animals sides rising, and falling as he
wheesed for breath. and came back
to where I stood. staring about at the
dimly perceived objects n The fore
ground. 1,it.1
"Out dar am dc Beaucsife place"
he announced, a. soon as he could dis.
tinguish my presence, waving his arm
to indicate the direction. "An' I
reckon We bettah not ride no further.
fer II Alick shud smell corn. he'd
nat1arly raise dis who'll neighborhood
he's got Q powerful voice, sah."
Equal to his appetite, no doubt"
"Yas, sab; that's mostly whut Alex
am"
"How far away Ii the houser'
Likely bout q hundred yards. Yer
see dat light out yonder; well OATS 1t,
an reckon de ladies mus be up yet,
keepin' de lamp burnin'. Here's de
slave cabins long de edge oh De
woods but dey's all dark. What's yer
a soin' fer ter do now, Massa Knoxi"
was conscious that my heart was
beating rapidly. and that my mind was
anything but clear. The problem front
ing me did not appear SO easily
solved, now that was fairly up
against 1t, and yet there seemed only
one natural method Of procedure. ]
must 20 at my unpleasant task bold.
", and in this case only the truth
would serve. I was an officer in the
United States army, and had In my
pocket papers to prove my identity
These would vouch for me as gen.
tleman, and yield me measure Of au.
thority. And this fact, once estab-
lished, ought to give me sufficient
standing in the eyes Of those girls to
compel from them respectful hear.
Ing. would tell the story exactly a.
I knew 1t, concealing nothing, and add
ing no unnecessary word, outline my
plan Of action, and then leave them tc
decide what they thought best to DO
Strange. unbelievable as the situation
was, proof was not lacking. Della
could be compelled to acknowledge
that Rene was her child--she would
scarcely dare deny this truth In face
Of my positive knowledge-and she. al
least. must know that Judge Beau
caire had never during his lifetime
given her her freedom This fac
could be established beyond question
and then they must surely all compre
bend the necessity Of immediate fight
that there remained no other pos
sible means Of escape from hopeless
slavery. Desperate as the chance ap
peared. It was the only one.
It dawned upon me now with more
intense force than ever before, tho 20
sition In which l stood, and shfani
from the ordeal. A perfect stranger
| not sven 4 chance acquaintance o
those directly involved In this tragedy
I would have to drag out from TN
closet where 1t had been hidden ava!
for years, this old Beaucaire skeleton
ard rattle the dried bones Of dishtn no
before the Mortified understanding o
these two innocent, unsuspecting girls
The conviction came 10 me that ha
best do this alone; that the presenc
Of the negro would hinder, rather thai
help the solution Of the problem.
| -Pete." I said. measuring my word.
my plan Of action shaping Itself eve
~ I spoke. "What lies Ia there bl
tween 40 and the house7"
"A truck patch mostly. wild fenc
round It. Den thar comes SOM lowe
beds.r
"No path1"
/ "Wsll, I done reckon ~ how tina
might bs sorter path, sab, but YOU
hardly And It In de dark. De bel
way'd be ter sortsr feel long d
fence. I'll ysr ut sight o d tron
| porch"