The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1920-02-19

| You must believe thlS.
Believe It! Why, you and l are
caught in the same net. l am a slave
to be sold to the highest bidder, and
| you-you have killed man to save
me. Even If l was willing to remain
and face my fate l could not now, for
/ that would mean you must suffer.
And-and you have done this for me-"
My eyes dropped to the upturned
! face Of Kirby, on which the rays of
| light rested. The flesh was no longer
black and horrid, yet remained CHASTITY
enough to increase my belief that the
man was actually dead-had perished
under my hand. He was not a pleas
ant sight to contemplate flung as he
had been in a shapeless heap, and the
sight brought home to me anew the
necessity of escape before those others
Of his party could learn what had oc-
Cured
"FrOm whatever reason the deed
was DONE" l said, steadying my voice,
1--WE must now face the consequences.
AS you say, it is true we both alike
have reason to fear the law If caught.
Flight is our only recourse. VIII you
go with me? Will you trust me2"
"Go-go with you? Where?"
"First across the river into Illinois
there is no possible safety here. In
way your danger is even more seri-
GUS than mine. l have not been seen
even Kirby had no glimpse of my
face-and might never be identified
with the death Of this man. But you
will become a fugitive slave and could
be hunted down anywhere this side
of Canada"
"Then being with me would add to
your danger"
whether 1t will or not counts moth
ing; shall never let you go alone"
She pressed the palms of both her
hands against her forehead as though
in motion of utter bewilderment.
ooh, I cannot seem to eallze," she
exclaimed. Everything is like
dream to me-impOssible in it's horror.
This situation is so terrible; it has
come upon me so suddenly l cannot
decide; l cannot even comprehend
what my duty Is. You urge me to go
away with you-alone"
81 do; there IS no other way left.
You cannot remain here in the hands
of these men the result of such a step
IS too terrible to even contemplate.
! There are no means OF determining
where the others are-Delia and Miss
Eloise. Perhaps they have had warn
ing and fed already" I urged desper-
ately
Her eyes were staring down at
Kirby's body.
Look, he-he is not dead" she
sobbed excitedly. Did you see then
one Of his limbs moved, and-and-
why, he is beginning to gasp for
breath"
"All the more reason why we should
decide at once. If the fellow regains
consciousness and lives, our danger
will be all the greater"
"Yes, he would be merciless." her
lips parted, her eyes eloquent of dis
gust and horror as she suddenly lifted
them to my face. Il must not for
get that II belong to him; am his
slave; he--he, that hldeous thing
there, can do anything he wishes with
me-the law says he can" The indig-
nant color mounted into her face. "He
can sell me, or use me, or rent me:
| am his Chattel. Good Godl tnink Of
It'll Why, l am as white as he is, bet
ter educated, accustomed to everv
care, brought up to believe myself
rich and happy-and now | belong to
him; he owns me, body and soul" She
paused suddenly, assalIed by a new
thought, n fresh consideration. as II
so, Is 1t the law that these men can
take possession Of nothing here until
after Eloise has been found and theh
papers served upon herP
"Yes, / believe 1t is" | SAID. "She
Is the legal heiress of Judge Beau.
caire; the estate is hers by Inberi.
tance, as l am told there was no will
All this property, including the slaves.
would legally remain in her possession
until proper steps had been taken bv
others. Serving of the papers wouId
be necessary. There is no doubt os
to that"
She drew deep breath and stepned
toward me, gazing straight into nv
face.
II believe in you" she said firmly
And | trust you. You look like a real
man. You tell me you serve in the
army-an otiicer?'
"A lieutenant or infantry"
She held out her hand and NV DUN