Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-01-02

amt perzackly feered fer ter go lone,
but Ans an OF 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
q mere glimmer of "a 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
nOt?"
Il think it will be fully as well. You
still retain the pistol?"
She nodded her response, and with
out delaying my departure longer |
lowered myself into the water and
swan toward the opposite shore,
creeping forth amid a tangle of roots
and Immediately disappearing in the
underbrush. / found rough passage
for the first few rods, being obliged to
almost tear Il way through the close
growth and unable to see yard in
advance. But this ended suddenly at
the edge of the sand fiat, with the CON
ibe 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
to 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 OPP
posite bank. Along that entire sur
face but three objects met my gaze
a small island, green with trees, seem
ihgly anchored just beyond the mouth
of 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
though curling upward from the stack
'ot some steamer. / felt no doubt but
what this was the stolen keelboat.
speeding toward st. Louis.
This struck me as the most reason
able course to pursue-tO work our
way quietly up the Illinois by night,
keeping close in shore TO avoid any
passing steamer, until we arrived close
to BeardstOwn. Undoubtedly there
were blacks in the town, both slaves
and free negroes, with whom Sam
could easily establish an acquaintance.
By this means we would soon be able
to identify that particular preacher
into whose care | hoped to cCnfide
Rene. OF course the girl might re-
cline to assume the role assigned her,
however innocent I intended it to be
indeed, | felt convinced she would
meet the suggestion with Indignation.
But why worry about that now? Let
this. be. kept as a last resort. There
was no necessity for me to even men
ton this part of my plan until after
our approach to Beardstown then the
necessity of our going forward with
it might be so apparent she could not
refuse to carry on her part. With this
point settled in my own mind I felt
ready to reioIn the others.
1 must have been absent in the
neighborhoOd of two hours, and they
had returned to the bank of the creek
some time in ADVANCE Of me. AS
appeared at the edge of the wood
Sam hailed, offering to row the boat
across.
''All right" [ replied, confident we
were alone. at will save me another
wetting. You saw nothing?"
mo, sab; leastways not much. We
cud see up de Illinois morn ten mile,
All reckon, but dar want no boat no.
whar, 'cepting an OF scow tied up to
de bank"
II thought so. The keelboat has
gone down the Mississippi"
"Yer done saw her. sah?'
81 saw her smoke; she was hidden
by big bend just below. Don't sit
there staring at income across"
Rene greeted me with a smile rs l
scrambled UP on the slippery log, and