The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-04-16

Her hands chung to me. as thCugl
she dare not let go, her eyes wer,
filed with a mingling of wondermen
and pain.
"Why, of course. We thought i
best not to go until after we could see
the lawyer. 1 could not believe my
tfather had neglected to set those two
free-he-he loved them both. Della
and Rene had gone down to the Land
ing that night to see if he had re.
turned. We were both of us afraid to
leave Rene alone-she was so despon-
dent, so unstrung. 1t was dark and
was all alone in the house. Then these
men came. They did not know me
and | did not know them, but / was
sure what they came for. I was ter
ribly frightened, without an idea what
to do-only / refused to talk All !
could do was to pray that the others
might be warned and not return. They
searched the house and then left this
man Tim to guard me. He told me he
was a deputy sheriff from st. Louis,
and-and I encouraged him to explain
all he knew about the case. Then /
made up my mind what to dol would
pretend to be Rene, and let them carry
me off instead of her.
"But did you not realize the danger
to yourself?"
"No, suppose I didn't, or, rather, l
did not care. All thought about was
how to save her. These were law Off
GERS they would take me to ST. Louis
before a court. Then | could make
myself known and would be set free.
They couldn't do anything else, could
they? There was no law by which I
could be held, but-but, don't you see?
The delay might give Rene time to es-
cape. That was not wrong, was it?"
''Wrong! 1t was one of the bravest
things l ever heard of. And / know
the rest-your encounter with Kirby
in the library. I overheard all of that
through the open window, and how
you learned from him that certain
legal papers would have to be served
on Eloise Beaucaire before any of the
slaves could be touched, or removed
from the estate. That knowledge only
Brought you new courage to play out
your part. But why did you trust me
enough to go with me? And, after
trusting me so fully, why did you re-
fuse to tell me who you really were?"
Her eyes fell before mine, and her
cheeks were flushed.
you think that strange? did trust
you, Lieutenant Knox, and l trusted
you more completely the longer we
were together. But-but | did not
wholly understand. You were endeav-
oring to rescue Rene from slavery. /
could not conceive what interest you
might feel if l shSuld confess myself
Eloise. You were strange to me; we
were there alone with the negro, and
and somehow it seemed a protection
to me to claim a drop of black blood.
TwiceI thought to tell you-the words
were ION ms lips-but something
stopped them. Possibly, just little, l
was afraid of you"
'Then-but not now"
No, not now-not even little; you
nave proven yourself all / ever hoped
you would be. am glad-so glad-to
Jay to you now, 1 am EIoise Beau"
She stopped suddenly, the word
lalf uttered, the smile fading from her
fps. my God!" she burst forth.
But I am not! I am not Why, /
lCver felt the horror of it all before-I
M not Eloise Beaucaire! -
A moment | stood motionless, seem
ne to hold my breath, my eyes open,
truck silent by the intense bitterness
f that cry. Then the reaction came,
he knowledge that l must turn her
houghts elsewhere.
do not say that, or even think it,"
urged, scarcely able to restrain my
elf from grasping her in my arms.
Even if it shall prove true-legally
rue-some way of escape will be
ound. The others are safe, and you
re going to need all your courage.
ledge me to forget, to ignore this
ling. | need you.'
Her hands fell nerveless and her d
uestioning eyes sought my face.
you are right; Lieutenant Knox"
ne said frankly. 81 owe my loyalty
DIV to you. l shall not yield again to
espair; you may trust me-my
lend"
The day was not ended when we
nally retraced our way across the
arrow dixie to the mainland, pre-
ared to resume our Journey The \
assage was slow and dangerous, and !
e made it on foot, leading the horses. II
he woods were already beginning to i
lrken as we forded the north branch
the creek and came forth through a
inge of forest trees into country
rolling hills and narrow valleys. Z
he two girls were already mounted,
Id Tim and l were busily tightening :
e straps for a nights ride, when,
ON behind us, back in the direction 9
the peninsula we had just Quilted q
ere sounded the sharp report of 9
de. We Strengthened up, startled, and u
If eyes met. There could be but one IL
nclusion-our pursuers had found
e trail. Ii
CHAPTER XIV. b'
ii