The Dolores star., 1920-01-23

is to trust each other. Now I am GO
| ing to ask you questlon-is that the
best way for us to go. up the 1llinois?'
| He was slow to answer, evidently
mind. I waited impatiently. feeling
the delay to be serious loss of tine.
"Well then. let me put this differ
emily. Have you ever assisted any
slaves to run away from Missouri"
"Well, Massa Knox. reckon thet
maybe l knew'd bout som gittin'
away-'pears like did, sah."
"And these escaped by way OF the
| Illinois?"
His dumb, almost pathetic eyes met
mine pleadingly. but some expression
of my face served to yield him cour-
age.
IL reckon IL don't know much
bout all dis. Massa Knox, he star.
mered doubtfully. his hands locking
and unlocking nervously, IL sure
| dom an fer de mattah o dat, ther
| amt no body whut does, sab. All !
does know. fer sure, Is dat If a niger
Onct gets rs fer as Il certain white
| man up de rlbber, 'bou. whar do
mouth OBJ de Illinois is. he's got a
mighty good chance fer ter reach
| Canada. De next place whar he's
most likely ter stop is BeRrdstown.
long Wild SOM sorter preacher whus
lives thar. An thet's as fer as dey
ever done toll me. sah."
| "About this first white iAan-the
one near the mouth Of the Illlno!s-do
you know his name?"
Pete rose to his feet. and crossed
| the room to where I stood, bending
down until his lips were close to my
ear. His answer was spoken IN a
thick whisper.
"Massa Knox. I never did 'specl to
say dis ter no white man. but II see1"s
just nat'larly got fer ter tell y,r.
He's got a cabin hid way back In de
bluffs, whar nobody don't go. 'cept
dem who know whar it is. I reckon
he don't do nuthin' but hunt an fisi,
MISUNDERSTANDING he don't raise no
corn, nor truck fer ter sell. He's a
tall, lanky man, sab. sorter thin. with
long beard, an his name wus Amos
Shrunk. l reckon maybe he's Black
Abolitionist, sah."
"Quite likely, l should say. And you
could take boat from here to his
place."
"Sure, the darkest night yer ever
| see."
This knowledge greatly simplified
| matters. If there was already in Op-
GRAFTON an organized scheme by means
of which fugitives from this side of
the great river We're taken through to
Canada, protected and assisted along
the way, then all we would be required
to do in this case would be to safely
convey the unfortunate Rene ard her
mother in Pete's boat up the river,
and there turn them over to the care
of this Amos Shrunk. Undoubtedly he
could be trusted to see to st that they
were promptly forwarded 10 others,
fanatics like himself. who would
| swiftly pass them along at night
across the Illinois prairies, until be-
yond all danger of pursuit. The dis.
tnnce to the mouth of the Illinois
could not be far, surely not to exceed
fifty miles as the river run. 1t ought
not to prove difficult to battle KIRBY
for that short distance, and then we
would be free to return, and no one
could prove any charge against us.
The only important fact fronting US
was that we must act quickly, before
Kirby and his aides. armed with legal
authority. could return-this very
| night.
Pete" 1 said shortly. my tone un-
consciously one of authority. tive must
be out of here before daylight, and
safely hidden somewhere up the river.
The first thing to ha done, and the
hardest, is to explain 70 those women
the situation, and persuade them to
accompany us. They may not believe
my story; that was why was so anx-
ious to have Haines go TO the house
They would have confidence in him.
Do they know you?"
Lord love yer--ob course dey do.
Use knOwed all oh 'em for n long
while. sab. Deyll sure believe OIL
Pete"
I
"Well, we can only try our best.
Lave you any conveyance here?
ANY whut, sah?"
ANY wheeled vehicle in which we
can ride to Beaucaire, and by mems
of which we can bring the women
back? The distance Is too far to
walk"
Use got 'sorter kAart. an an OF
mule, sab. Dey's out yonder in de
BUSH"
Hitch them up at once, while put
lew things we may need In the bout
Show me how to find it."
He pointed out the path with the
directions necessary, and disappeared,
"hile returned to the cabin, dragged
blanket from off the bed, and filed
IL with whatever miscellaneous ar.
Il