The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-11-06


her mother, reckon"
Where / crouched in the shadows I
could gain no glimpse of the approach
ing figures, but 1 heard the crunch Of
their boots on the gravel Of the drive
way, and moment later the sound of
their feet as they mounted the. wooden
steps. Kirby must have perceived the
forms Of the other men as soon as he
attained the porch level, and his nat
urally disagreeable voice had a snarly
ring.
"That you, Donaldson? Have either
Of those women come backT
NO. and I thought the sheriff's
answer was barely cordial. 1--WE amt
seen nobody. What did you learn
down at the Landin'?"
Nothing" savagely. Haven't found
a d trace except that Haines
hasn't been home since before dark;
some niger came for him then. Is
that girl safe inside?"
"Sure; just as you left her, but she
won't talk. Tim tried her again, but
It's no use; she wudn't even answer
him."
"Well, by Heaven! I'll find way to
make her open her mouth. She knows
where those two are hiding. They
haven't had no time to get far away,
and I'll bring her to her senses before
am through. Come on, Carver; I'll
show the wench who's master here, If
1 have to lick her like common mig
ger"
The front door opened, and closed,
leaving the two without standing in
silence, the stiffness between them
finally broken by a muttered curse.
I drew back hastily, but In silence.
eager to get away before the sheriff
and his deputy should return to their
seats by the porch rail. Ny original
plan of warning the women Of the
house Of their peril was blocked, COM
pletely overturned by the presence Of
these men. Beyond all question those
had hoped to serve were already
aware Of their position-someone had
reached them before me-and two at
least were already in hiding. Why
the thipl, the one most deeply in
volved, had failed to accompany the
others, could not be comprehended.
The mystery only made my present
task more difficult. Why should Della,
the slave, disappear in company with
Eloise, the free, and leave her own
daughter Rene behind to face stu
alton more terrible than death? I
could not answer these questions; but
whatever the cause the result had
been the complete overthrow Of the
gamblers carefully prepared plans.
Not that believed he would hesitate
for long, law or no law; but Donald
son, the sheriff, refused to be a party
to any openly illegal act, and this
would for the present tie the fellows
hands. Not until Miss Eloise was
found and duly served with the evic-
ton papers would Donaldson consent
to take possession Of a single slave.
This might still give me time for &C
ton.
/ slipped along In the shadow Of
the house, without definite plan Of ac-
ton but with a firm purpose to act.
The side door knew to be securely
locked, yet first Of all 1t was essen
tial that I attain to the interior. But
one means to this end occurred to
me-the unshaded window through
which the glow Of light continued to
stream. I found I could reach the
edge Of the balcony with extended fin
gers, and drew myself slowly up I'M
til 1 chung to the railing, with feet
finding precarious support on the
outer rim. This was accomplished
noiselessly and from the vantage
point thus obtained was enabled to
survey a large portion of the room.
clambered over the rail, assured
by the first glance that the room was
empty, and succeeded in lifting the
heavy sash few inches without any
disturbing noise. Then it stuck, and
even as I ventured to exert my
strength to greater extent to force 1t
upward, the single door directly oppo-
site, evidently leading into the hall,
was flung violently open and I sank
back out of view, yet instantly aware
that the first party to enter was Joe
Kirby. He strobe forward to the table,
striking the wooden top angrily with
his fist and knocking something crash
ing to the floor.
"You know where she is, don't your"
he asked, In the same threatening
tone he had used without.
"Of course 1 do; didn't I help put
her there?" II was Carver who re-
piled, standing In the open doorway.
'Then bring the hussy in here.
will make the wench talk If /
have to choke 1t out of her; she'll
learn what 1t means to be Niger"
I had but a moment In which to
observe the man, for almost immedi-
ately Carver flung the door of the
room open and Kirby swung impa-
tiently about to face the entrance. Tx
cept for possibility of thus attract
ing the attention of the newcomer I
WAS I'm no snqciaI danger of heinz do