The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-03-12
CHAPTER discontinued.


'Tt is my guess" I said that theii
only thought was to get away before
the crime was discovered. Rene
would you be afraid to remain here
alone for a little while?"
She glanced about into the gloom Of
the surrounding woods, her hesitancy
answering me.
at Is not pleasant prospect / ad
nit, but there is no possible danger
Kirby has gone, beyond all question,
but I wish to learn If l can the dlrec-
ton he has taken. All this must have
happened only short time agO-while
we were at the cabin. The keelboat
can scarcely be entirely out of sight
yet on either river If we could only
find a place TO offer US wide view"
But could not go with your"
Hardly with me, for l intend to
swim the creek and try to reach the
point at the mouth of the Illinois.
from where can see up and down the
Mississippi. | am going to send Sam
back through the woods there and
have him climb that ridge. From the
top he ought to have a good view up
the valley Of the Illinois. | suppose
you might go with him."
"Ah. sure wish yer wud. missus,"
broke In the negro pleadingly. "Ah
amt perzackly feered fer ter go lone.
but Abs an oil man an All reckon as
how a young gal wus likely fer ter see
morn All wud. Pears like Abs done
los my glasses"
A faint smile lighted up her face
a mere glimmer of smile.
Eyes, Sam. I'll CO." she said. glanc-
ing up into my eyes and holding out
her hand. you wish me to, do you
1ot?"
II think 1t will be fully as we'll You
sdii retain the pistol?"
She nodded her response. and with
cut delaying my departure longer
lowered myself into the water and
EVAN, toward, the opposite shore. |
creeping forth amid tangle of roots |
and Immediately disappearing in the
underbrush. | found a rough passage |
for the first few rods, being obliged to I
almost tear G. way through the close (
growth and unable to see a yard In
advance. But this ended suddenly at
she edge of the sand fiat. with the con-
yerging waters OF the two rivers Wis
ibie just beyond. My view from here
was narrowed. however, by high ridges
on both sides, and with desire not to
expose myself to any chance eye. |
followed the line of forest until able
10 climb the slope, and thus attain the
crest of the bluff.
From this vantage point the view
was extensive. both up and down the
big river. as well as across TO the op-
posite bank. Along that entire sur
face but three objects met my gaze
l small island, green with trees. seem
ngly anchored just beyond the mouth
If the Illinois; numbering barge al
most opposite me. clearly outlined
against the distant shore, and barely
moving with the current and far
away below thin smudge of smoke,
arising from behind a headland. as
hough curling upward from the stack
II some steamer. l felt no doubt but
what this was the stolen keelboat 1
speeding toward st. Louis.
This struck me as the most reason
lble course to pursue-to work our
vay quietly up the Illinois by night
leeping close in shore TO avoid any
PASSING steamer, until we arrived close
o BeardstOwn. Undoubtedly there
we're blacks ia the town. both slaves !
md free negroes, with whom Sam
ould easily establish an acquaintance :
BY this means we would soon be able
0 identify that particular preacher
Bto whose care hoped to confide
,ene. OF course the girl might re- |
use to enter into the game. might de- q
line TO assume the role assigned her, S
Owever innocent intended it TO be- t
ldeed, / felt convinced she would Il
leet the suggestion with indignation.
ut WIN worry about that now? Let $
his be Kept as last resort. There b
'as n, necessity for me to even men h
on this part Of my plan until after d
&c approach TO Beardstown; then the o
ecessity of our going forward with il
might be 40 apparent she could not y
fuse 70 carry on her part. WiIb this Z