The Arvada enterprise., 1920-01-29

ID 70 tEuSt edCu OtucE. 3>O" 0AA 6O
ing to ask you a question-is that the
best way for us to 60, up the Illinois7'
He was slow to answer, evidently
turning the whole matter over in his
mind. waited impatiently, feeling
the delay to be serious loss Of time.
"Wen then. let me put this differ
emily. Have you ever assisted any
slaves to run away from Missouri"
swell, Massa Knox, I reckon thet
maybe I knew'd bout SOM gittin'
away-'pears like I did. sah."
"And these escaped by way Of the
nlinois?"
His dumb. almost pathetic eyes met
mine pleadingly. but some expression
Of my face served to yield him cour-
age.
"I-I reckon II don't know much
bout all dis, Massa knox," he stur'
mered doubtfully. his hands locking
and unlocking nervously, I'll sure
dom; an fer de mattah O. dat. ther
amt no body whut does, sab. All l
does know, fer sure. is dat If niger
Onct gets as fer as certain white
man up de ribber, bout whar de
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 BeardstOwn.
long wild SOM sorter preacher whut
lives thar. An thet's as fer rs dey
ever done toll me, sah."
"About this first white nan-the
one near the mouth Of the Illinois-do
you know his name?"
Pete rose to his feet. aud 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 It seems
I just nat'larly got fer ter tell yer.
He's got a cabin hid way back in de
bluffs, whar nobody don't go, 'cept
dem who know whar 1t 10. l reckon
he don't do nuthin' hut hunt an nsh
nohow-leastways he don't raise no
corn, nor truck fer ter sell. He's .
tall. lanky man, sab, sorter thin. with
. long beard, an his name wus Amos
Shrunk. I reckon maybe he's Black
Abolitionist. sah."
"Quite likely, should say. And you
could take q boat from here to his
place1"
"sure, the darkest night yer ever
see."
This knowledge greatly simplifed
matters. If there was already in op-
Grafton an organized scheme by means
Of which fugitives from this side Of
the great river were 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 and 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 It that they
were promptly forwarded to others,
fanatics like himself. who would
swiftly pass them along at night
across the Illinois prairies, until bs.
yond all danger Of pursuit. The dis
tance to the mouth of the Illinois
could not be far. surely not to exceed
fifty miles as the river nn. It ought
not to prove dificult to bafae Kirby
for that short distance. and then We
would be free to return, and no one
could prove any charge against m.
The only important fact fronting ~
was that we must act quickly. before
Kirby and his aides. armed with legal
authority. could return-this very
night.
"Pete." said shortly. my tone un.
consciously one Of authority. I'VE must
be out Of here before daylight, and
safely hidden somewhere up the river.
The first thing to 10 done. and the
hardest. 10 to explain 10 those women
the situation. and persuade them to
accompany US. They may not believe
my story: that was why I was 20 anx.
ious to have Haines 20 to the house.
They would have confidence In him.
Do they know youi"
Lord love yer-ob course dey do.
Use knowed all oh 'em for q long
while. sab. Dey'll sure believe ol'
Pete"
"well. vi can only try our best.
Have you any conveyance hsrer
"Any whut. sah1'
"Any wheeled vehicle In which we
can ride to Beaqcaire. and BY means
Of which We can bring the women
back! The distance 10 too far to
walk"
Use got q sorter khart. an an OF
mule. sab. Dey's out yonder In do
BUSH"
Hitch them up at once. while I pat
a few things We may need In the boat
Show me how to find It,"
He pointed out the path. with the
directions necessary. and disappeared,
while ! returned to the cabin, dragged
blanket from OF the bed. and flled
II with whatever miscellaneous ar
ticles Of food I was able to discover
about the place. Ny wound, now that
I was husily engaged. troubled me
very little. and I easily transported
this stock Of provisions to the river