The Raymer enterprise., 1920-02-19


1t was In my heart to speak to her.
In effort to strengthen her faith, but !
hesitated. scarcely knowing what to
say. deeply touched by the pathetic
droop Of her figure. and In truth un-
certain In my own mind as to whether
or not we had chosen the wiser
course. All dared do was to silently
reach out one hand and rest 1t gently
on those fingers clasping the rail. She
did not remove her hand from beneath
mine, nor indeed give the slightest evi-
dence that she was even aware Of my
action.
"Wus All to turn nor, sahf' asked
the negro suddenly.
"Yes. upstream but keep In as close
to the shore as you think safe. There
is no settlement along this bank. is
thereT
mo. sab: dars Jus one cabin. bout
a mile upstream, but dar amt nobody
livin' thar now. Whar yer all aim
fer ter GOT"
I hesitated an instant before an
swered, yet almost as quickly decided
that the whole truth would probably
serve US best. The man already had
one reason to use his best endeavors: !:
now l would bring before him q Sec
ond.
"Just as far up the river before day
light as possible. Sam. Then hope
to uncover some hiding place where
we can lie concealed until It IL dark
again. Do you know any such placer"
"On de Illinois shore, sahi Les see:
thar's Rassuer creek, bout twenty
mile up. All 'spects you all knows
whut yer a headin' fer7'
ITO a certain extent-yes; but we
had to decide on this action very
quickly. with no chance to plan 1t out.
am aiming at the mouth Of the nli-
nois."
He glanced about at me, vainly en-
deavoring to decipher my expression
In the gloom.
"De Illinois ribber, boss: what yer
hope fer ter find tharf"
"A certain man I've heard about.
Did you ever happen to hear white
man mentioned who lives near therei
His name Is Amos Shrunk."
could scarcely distinguish his eyes.
but I could feel them. I thought for
q moment he would not answer.
"Yer1l surely excuse me. sah," be
said at last. humbly, his voice with a
note Of pleading 1t II. "Ah's feelin'
friendly 'nough an all dat. sab, but
still yer mus member dat Abs talkin'
ter a perfect stranger. II yer wud
sure tell me furst Just whut yer was
aimin' at. then maybe Aid know q
heap morn All do now"
II guess you are right, Sam. I'll tell
you the whole Of 1t. l am endeavor-
Ing to help this young woman to
escape those men back yonder. You
must know why they were there; no
doubt yon overheard them talk coming
upi"
"Yas. sab: Massa Donaldson he was
goin' up fer ter serve sum papers fer
Massa Kirby. so he cud run OF de
Beaucaire niggers. But dis ysre gal.
she ain't no nigger-she's just q white
pusson."
"She Is a slave under the law" l
said grayely. as she made an effort to
move, "and the man Kirby claims her." :"
I could see his mouth fly open. but
the surprise of this statement halted
his efforts at speech.
''That explains the whole situation" :"
I went on. "Now will you answer
mel"
"'Bout dis yere Massa ShrunkT'
"Yes-you have heard Of him be-
foreT
"Ah reckon as how maybe All has.
sah."
"Do you know where he can be
foundT"
"Not perzackly. sab. All amt never
onct bin thar, but All sorter seems fer
ter reeollec' sum'thln' bout whar he
mought be. All reckon maybe All cud
go thar. II All just he'd to. All reckon
II yer all held dat pistol plum 'gainst
nah he'd. Aid mos likely find dis
Amos Shrunk. Good Lord, sah!" and
his voice sank to a whisper. "Ah Just
can't git ho' o all dis-Ah sure can't.
sah-'bout her beln a nigger."
Rene turned about. lifting her face
into the starlight.
"Whether l am white or colored.
SAM" she said quietly, "can make
little difference to you now. l am a
woman and am asking your help. I
can trust you, can I notf"
The negro on his knees stared at
her, the whites Of his eyes conspicu-
GUS. Then suddenly he jerked of his
old hat. ..-.
"Ah 'spects yer kin, missus," he
pledged himself In q tone Of convic-
ton which made my heart leap. "Ah's
bin slave-nigger fer forty-five years,
but just de same All amt never bin
mean ter no woman. Yas, sab, yer
don't neither one OBJ yer eber need ter
ask Sam no mor'-he's a-goin' thro'
wild yer all ter de end-he sure am,
ma'am."
Silence descended upon Us, and
slipped the pistol back into my pocket.