Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1919-12-25

SteVe-ney; sorter handy man,
amt yer?"
well, I've done a little OF eyery-
thing in my time. I'm not afraid to
work"
During most of the remaining hours
Of the morning the mate kept me en-
ployed below, in company with num-
Der Of others of the crew, in sorting
over the miscellaneous cargo, which
had evidently been very hastily load
ed. The work was hard and dirty,
and after few hours Of 1t 1 mus
have looked my assumed part to per-
lection. The overseer gave me hat
which added little to my personal ap-
pearance, and by the time we were
called to knock of for the noon meal
was thoroughly tired and disgusted,
feeling as much q roustabout as GER
tainly looked.
The meal was served on an un-
planed plank, the ends resting on kegs
In front of the boilers. I was still
busily munching away on the coarse,
poorly cooked food when Mapes,
prowling about, Glanced to spy me
among the shadows.
"Hullo; is that you, Steve?" he
asked gruffly. well. when yer git
done eatin' got another Job fer yer
on deck. Yer hear me?" -
I signified that did. and indeed was
even then quite ready to go. my heart
throbbing at this opportunity to sur
vey other sections of the boat. l fol-
lowed him eagerly up the ladder, and
ten minutes later was busily employed
with scrubbing brush and bucket of
water, in an endeavor to improve the
outward appearance of the paint of
the upper deck. was engaged busily
scraping at the dingy paint of the pilot
house, when negro. evidently a cook,
from his dress. came up from the
lower deck, bearing tray we'll laden
with food in one hand, and disap-
peared aft. He did not even notice
my presence or glance about, but l
instantly shrank back out of sight, for
became Immediately conscious that
someone was closely following him.
This second man proved to be one of
the fellows in civilian clothing had
previously noticed Mt the table below,
u tall. sallow individual, attired in
suit Of brown jeans, his lean, cracker
face ornamented by grizzled bunch
Of chin whiskers. "g,
Eyer wait minute thar, Jim" he
called out. "till l unlock that thar
door. amt Their kind tibet takes
chances with no Niger"
recognized the peculiar voice in
s.antIy, for had listened to that lazy
drawl before while hidden in the dark
ness beneath the Beaucaire veranda-
the fellow was Tim, the deputy sher-
iff from st. Louis. The negro rested
his tray on the rail, while the white
man fumbled through his pockets for
key, finally locating it and inserting
the instrument into the lock Of the
second cabin from the stern. heard
no words exchanged with anyone with
in. but the negro pushed the tray for
ward without entering, sliding it along
the deck, while Tim, evidently salts.
fled that his charges were quite safe,
promptly reclosed and locked the door,
returning the key to the security of
his pocket. After staring a moment
over the rail at the shore past which
we were gliding he disappeared after
the negro down the ladder. Eager as
l certainly was TO make the poor girl
aware Of my presence on board, the
CHARGE, of being seen, and my purpose
suspected by others, restrained me.
Besides as yet had no plan Of res
cue; nothing to suggest.
Even as hesitated, industriously
scrubbing away at the paint, Kirby
and the captain appeared suddenly,
pausing a moment at the head Of the
ladder in friendly conversation. Part
ing at last, with a hearty laugh over,
some joke exchanged between them,
the latter ascended the steps to the
pilot house. while the gambler turned
aft. stu smiling, cigar between his
lips. I managed to observe that he
paused in front Of the second cabin,
as though listening for some sound
within, but made no attempt to enter,
passing on to the door beyond. which
was unlocked. He must have come to
the upper deck on some special mis-
sion, for he was out Of my sight
scarcely moment, returning imme-
diately to the deck below. This occur
renee merely served to make clearer
in my mind the probable situation
the after cabin was undoubtedly Occur
pied by Kirby, perhaps in company
with the deputy; while next to them,
securely locked away and helpless to
escape. were confined the two slave
women. In order to reach them /
must operate under the cover of dark
ness. and my only hope of being free
to work, even then, lay in the faith
that the gambler might become SO In
volved in a card game below as to
forget his caution. So far as Tim was
concerned felt perfectly capable OF
outwttting him; but Kirby was dan
gerous.