The Arvada enterprise., 1920-02-19

SeSe9eSeSSe9e9 e9e99e9e99e
swell. Sam. I understand you are an
engineer. Now, It happens that I want
to use this boat. and you are going to
run 1t for me. do you understandf Il
am going to sit down here on the
edge Of this cockpit and hold this
loaded pistol Just back Of your ear.
1t might 60 of at any minute. and
surely will II you make q false move
or attempt to foul the engine. Any
trick. and there u going to be q dead
Niger overheard. I know enough
about engines to tell II you play fair
- don't Jake any chances, boy"
"Ah-Ah-seckon a. how I was
Eoin' fer ter run her all right, sab
shes sum consid'ble contrary ct timss,
sab. but Ah'll surely run her. II thar's
eny run In her. sab. All amt earin'
bout bsin' NO CORPSE"
n thought not; you'd rather b q
free nigser. perhaps1 Well. Sam. II
you viii do this Job al right fer me
tonight m put you where the sheriff
will never SO hide nor hair Of you
again-no, not yet; walt . moment,
there u another passenger"
She came instantly in answer to my
low call. and through the gloom the
startled negro watched her descend
the bank, mere moving shadow. yet
with the outlines Of Q woman. I half
believe he thought her . ghost, for I
could hear him muttesing inarticu-
lately to himself. dared not remove
my eyes from the fellow. afraid that
his very excess Of fear might impsl
him to some reckless act, but ! a.
tended one hand across The sids Of the
boat 10 her assistance.
~Take my hand. Rene" I said pleas
antly. to reassure her. ~a.d come
aboard Yes, everything 70 ali right.
I've Just promised Sam hsee . ticket
for CAnada."
I Aslpsd her across int the cock
pit and seated her on tie bsoeh, but
never venturing to remove my eyes
from the negro. His actions and what
ever was able to observe o6 the ex-
pressioo Of his face only served to
convince me Of his trustworthiness.
yet I could take no chances.
"She's Just q real. live woman. sahf'
he managed to ejaculate, half In
doubt. "She sure amt NO ghost. sahr
by no means, Sam; she II Just -
real a either You or L Nov listen,
boy-you know what viii happen to
you after this, II Donaldsoa ever gets
hold oe youf" - - =
II 'spects I does. sab. He'd Just
nat'arly skin dis niger alive. Al
reckon"
every well. then: It 10 up to you
to get away. and I take It that you
understand this river. We are going
to head upstream"
"Yas. sir: yer plannin' fer ter 90
nor. Wal. sab. dars plenty O. watah
fer dis yere boat right now. wid Dc
spring floods. Nothin' fer ter be
afeerd Of bout dat"
'-That IL good news. Now. Sam. I
am going to cut this line. and want
you to steer straight across Into the
shadows Of the Illinois shore. I BE-
lieve You are going to play square.
but for the present I'm going to take
NO chances with you. am holding
this pistol within . foot Of your head.
and your life mea,s nothing to me II
you try any trick. What 10 the spsed
OF this boat upstreamr'
"'Bout ten mile an hour. sah."
swell. don't push her too hard at
arst. and run that engine as noiseless-
~ - possible. Are you ready1 Yes
then nj cut loose"
severed the line and We began to
recede from the shore. cutting diago-
nally across the decidedly swift cur
rent Once beyond the protection Of
the point the star-gleam revealed the
sturdy rush Of the waters. occasion.
ally aecked with bubbles Of foam.
Sam handled the unwieldy craft with
the skin OF q practiced boatman. and
rhs laboring engine made far less
racket than I had anticipated. Pistol
10 hand. and vigilant to every motion
Of the negro. my eyes swept along that
vague shore line. catching nowhere .
spark Of light. nor any evidence that
the steady chuG Of our engine had Gre
ated alarm. We were alone upon the
mysterious bosom Of the vast stream.
tossed about In the full sweep Of the
current. yet moving steadily forward.
aud already safely beyond both sight
and sound.
Every moment Of progress tended to
incrsase my confidence In Sans 10y.
atty. The fellow plainly enough real.
lssd the situation-that safety for
himself depended on keeping beyond
the reach Of his master. To this end
he devoted every instant diligently to
coaxing his engine and q skillful guid.
ance Of the boat. never once permit.
ting his head to turn far enough to
glance at me. although I could occa.
sicnally detect his eyes wandering In
the direction Of the girl.
She had not uttered a word nor
changed her posture since first enter.
ing the boat. but remained just ~ I
had seated her. one hand Erasping the
edge Of the cockpit, her gaze on the