The Raymer enterprise., 1920-01-29


b b trust each other. Now l an 20
ing to ask you . question-is that the
best way for ~ to 60. mp the Illinois?s
He was slow to answer. evidently
turning the whole matter over In his
mind. ! waited impatiently. feeling
the delay to be 4 serious loss Of tins.
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 ! knew'd bout SOM gittin'
away-'pears like I did, sah."
"And these escaped by way Of the
IllinoisT"
His dumb. almost pathetic eyes met
mine pleadlngly. but some expression
of my face served to yield him cour-
age.
FL reckon II don't know ouch
bout all dis, Massa Knox" he stum.
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 II q niger
onct gets as fer as a certain white
man up de ribber. bout whar de
mouth OBJ de Illinois Is. he's got q
mighty good chance fer ter reach
Canada. De next place whar he's
most likely ter stop 10 Beardstown,
long wild SOM sorter preacher whut
lives thar. An thet's az fer as dey
ever done toll me, sah."
about this first white nan-the
one near the mouth Of the Ilinols-do
you know his nameT"
Pete rose to his feet, and crossed
the room to where l stood, bending
down until his lips were close 10 my
ear. His answer was spoken in a
thick whisper.
"Massa Knox. I never did 'spect to
say dis ter no white man, but It seems
! just nat'larly got fer ter tell yer.
He's got a cabin hid way back In de
bluffs, whar nobody don't 90, 'cept
dem who know whar 1t Is. l reckon
he don't do nuthin' but hunt an ish
nohow-leastways he don't ruise 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. ! reckon maybe he's Black
Abolitionlst. sah."
"Quite likely, ! should say. And you
could take a boat from here to his
placer
"Sure. the darkest night yer ever
see."
This knowledge greatly sImplifed
matters. II there was already in op-
eratlon an organized scheme by means
of which fugitives from this side of
he great river were taken through to
Canada, protected and assisted along |
he way. then all we would be required |
10 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
)f this Amos Shrunk. Undoubtedly he
,ould be trusted to see to It that they |
we're promptly forwarded to others,
fanatics like himself. who would |
'wiftly pass them along at night |
across the Illinois prairies, until be-
vond all danger of pursuit. The dis
lance to the mouth Of the Illinois
,ould not be far, surely not to exceed
1fty miles as the river ran. It ought |
lot TO prove difficult to batie Kirby
'or that short distance. and then we
would be free to return, and no one
,ould prove any charge against u.
rhe only important fact fronting u
vas that We must act quickly, before
Kirby and his aides. armed with legal
authority, could return--this very
hight.
"Pete." said shortly, my tone un-
one Of authority, I'VE must
,e out Of here before daylight, and
'afely hidden somewhere up the river.
The first thing to he done, and the
hardest. is to explain TO those women
he situation. and persuade them to
accompany us. They may not believe
ny story; that was why ! was so anx.
Gus to have Haines 60 to the house.
They would have confidence In him,
Do they know you?"
Lord love yer-ob course dey do,
'se knowed all OBJ 'em for q long
while. sab. DeyTl sure believe OIL
Pete" |
"Well, we can only try our best.
lave you any conveyance herel"
ANY whut. sah?"
"Any wheeled vehicle in which we
an ride to Beaucaire, and by means
II which we can bring the women
Jack? The distance is too far to
walk"
Use got sorter khart, an an or
mule, sab. Dey's out yonder In do
,ush."
Hitch them up at once. while put
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 frnm ofY tho had and Allod |