The Hayti herald. (Hayti, Mo.) 1908-1922, 1920-03-04
CHAPTER xiv-continued.

eeive y0u, ana bent FORWARD to tOucn
her hand. "See, am very much alive.
Let me tell you--that will be the quick
est way to understand. In the first
place I did not drown when the boat
was smashed, but was rendered help
less and borne away on the water. The
Adventurer rescued me about daylight
the next morning, and was no sooner
on board than I was told how the keel
boat had been run down below on the
river during the night and that your
party had all been saved--two white
men and two negress slaves. OF course,
I knew you must be one Of them"
'Then-then we were actually to-
gether. on the same boat, all the way
up hereT
"Yes; tried hard to find where you
were concealed on board, but failed.
Kirby guarded you with great care
from all observation. Do you know
whyT
"Yes," she answered, as though fore
frg herself to speak. II do know now.
I thought knew then, but was mis-
taken. supposed 1t might be because
I looked so little like a negress, but
now I realize 1t was his own con-
science. He knew was q white wom-
an; he had become convinced that /
was Eloise Beaucaire. Did you know
that, aisoF"
II learned the truth on the boat,
from the same source where Kirby OBJ
tained his information. Elsie Clark
told me-"
"Elsie Clarki Who is she? How
did she knowT
"A free negress, who had been en-
bloyed by Amos Shrunk. She was the
otner prisoner on the keelboat when
you were captured, kept locked below
in the cabin"
"How could she know who / was?"
"She did not. Only she was positive
that you could not be Rene Beaucaire,
because she knew that Rene, in COM
pany with her mother, had departed
from Shrunk's cabin before those raid
ers came. The two had already started
for Beardstown."
She sat upright. all lassitude gone
from her body, leaning eagerly toward
me. her eyes alight with interest.
"Gonel Rene escaped them!" she
exclaimed, her voice choking. ,"Oh, tell
me that again. Was the girl sure2'
"Qufte sure. She saw and spoke
with both the women before they left
In a wagon. They were on the Under
ground. bound for Canada, and safety"
81 am so glad-so glad" she said
simply. "Now / am strong enough to
hear the rest, Lieutenant Knox. You
must tell me-"
'There is not SO much to tell, that
am cock-sure about" began slowly.
''Kirby had you securely hidden away
somewhere ON the second deck, while
this Clark girl had been locked into a
stateroom above. I possessed such a
growth of beard and was altogether so
disreputable looking as to be mistaken
for a roustabout by the boats officers
who set me at work to earn my pass
age. In this way I managed to talk
with Elsie, but failed to locate your
quarters. The only glimpse gained
Of you was when you were being taken
ashore. Then l followed, and little
later succeeded in getting you out OF
Kirby's hands. That Is about ALL"
''Oh, no, 1t is not-you-you came
zoo late"
''Too lateI Perhaps may know
what you mean"
"D0 you? Surely not to blame me
IL wish to tell you, Lieutenant Knox
but--bnt / scarcely know how. 1t /!
all so dim, indlstinct in my own mint
and yet I remember. Have I beer
-drugged2"
without question. We have beer
riding nll night and you were strappet
30 your horse. Probably you have NJ
recollection of this?"
She shook her head in bewilderment
-'No; the last remember was witt
Kirby and another man. He-he wa
dressed like a minister, but-but h
was half drunk, and once he swore q
me. The place where we were was
little shack In the side OF hill, wit
stone walls. Kirby took me ther
from the steamer, together with q ma
ne called Rale-Jack Rale. The
locked me Ia and left me alone afte
dark. Then this other man. VIII
deceased like a minister. came bac
with Kirby. They had food and some
fhing to drink with them, and lit
lamp 80 that we could see. 1t wa
awf9liy dismal and dark In there.
she pressed her hands TO her hea
6espairiBgiy. II can remember a
this. but later II 10 not SO clear;
fades out. like a dream"
TRY to tell me all you can" I urget
They fed your"
ayes. I managed to eat little, bu
I would not drink. They both becam
angry then and frightened me. bu
they did compel me TO swallow som
OF the stun. Then / became daze
aad partially helpless. had no wi
Of my own. no power OF resistance"
SYOu were married to KirbyD