The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-02-13

: black and horrid, yet remained ghastl
{ enough to increase my belief that tn
t man was actually dead-had perishe,
under my hand. He was not a pleas
| ant sight to contemplate, flung as h
had been in shapeless heap, and tn
sight brought home to me anew tn,
!. necessity of escape before those Others
!, of his party could learn what had oc
Cured.
"From whatever reason the deet
was DONE" I said, steadying my voice
1--WE must now face the consequences
AS you say, it is true we both alike
have reason to fear the law If caught
Flight is our only recourse. Will you
go with me? Will you trust me?"
"Go-go with you? Where?"
"First across the river into Illinois
there is no possible safety here. In a
way your danger is even more seri.
GUS than mine. l have not been seen
even Kirby had no glimpse of my
face-and might never be identified
with the death of this man. But you
will become fugitive slave and could
be hunted down anywhere this side
of Canada"
'Then being with me would add to
your danger"
whether it will or not counts moth
ing; shall never let you go alone"
She pressed the palms of both her
hands against her forehead as though
in motion of utter bewilderment.
"Oh, l cannot seem to realize" she
exclaimed. Everything is like a
dream to me-impossible in its horror.
This situation is so terrible; it has
come upon me so suddenly l cannot
decide; | cannot even comprehend
what my duty is. You urge me to go
away with you-alone?"
II do; there is no other way left.
You cannot remain here in the hands
of these men; the result of such step
is too terrible to even contemplate.
There are no means of determining
where the others are-Delia and Miss
Eloise. Perhaps they have had warn
ing and fled already" 1 urged desper-
ately.
Her eyes were staring down at
Kirby's body.
Look, he-he is not dead" she
sobbed excitedly. ibid you see then
one of his limbs moved, and-and-
why, he is beginning to gasp for
breath"
"All the more reason why we should
decide at once. If the fellow regains
consciousness and lives, our danger
will be all the greater"
Eyes, he would be merciless," her
lips parted, her eyes eloquent of dis
gust and horror as she suddenly. lifted
them to my face. 81 must not for
get that II belong to him; am his
slave; he-he, that hideous. thing |
there, can do anything he wishes with |
law says he can." The indig- |
nant color mounted into her face. "He |
can sell me, or use me, or rent me |
am his chattel. Good God, think of |
It! Why / am as white as he is, bet
Ter educated, accustomed to every
care, brought up to believe myself |
itch and happy-and now belong to
lim; he owns ne, body and SOUL" She
paused suddenly. assailed by new
thought, a fresh. consideration. SIS it
10, is 1t the law that these men can
AXE possession of nothing here until
lfter Eloise has been found and theil
papers served upon her?"
eyes, I believe it u.s." 1 said. "She
S the legal heiress of Judge Beau
,aire; the estate is hers by inheri-
ance, as am told there was no will.
Nj this property, including the slaves,
would legally remain in her possession
Until proper steps had been taken by
'thers. Serving of the papers would
e necessary. There is no doubt as
0 that"
She drew deep breath and stepped
oward me, gazing straight into my |
ace.
81 believe in you" she said firmly.
And trust you. You look like real {
nan. You tell me you serve In the !
rmy-an officer?" 4
"a lieutenant of infantry"
She held out her hand and my own I
lOsed over 1T, the firm. warm clasp {
her fingers sending strange thrill
through my whole body. An instant 9
he looked directly into my eyes, down
Ito the very soul Of me, and what / e
cad In the depths Of her brown orbs s
ould never find expression In words. Il
have thought of it often since-that
reat dimly lighted room, with the II
uard at the outer door; the inert, Il
lmost Hfeless body huddled on the Il
DOR beside us, and Rene Beaucaire, III
er hand clasped in mine. II
Lieutenant Knox she said softly,
ct with note OF confidence in the
W voice, II am going to trust you
there are reasons why / :
decide which cannot explain at Z
lis time. have not known you long t
Tough to venture that far. You must q
,cept me just as / ana runaway d
ave and a negress, but also a woman. b
IN You pledge such rs l your word b
honor the word Of soldier and i Il
II
Il pledge It to you. Rene Beau- IL
ire" answered soberly. n
"And accept the pledge in all faith. 4
ON now on whatever Jon ~ I win =
81