The Dolores star., 1920-02-06

black and horrid. yet remained ghastly
enough to increase my belief that the
man was actually dead-had perished
under my hand. He was not pleas
ant sight to contemplate. flung as he
had been in shapelesS heap, and the
sight brought home 10 me anew the
necessity of escape before those others
Of his party could learn what had oc-
| Cured
From whatever reason the deed
was done" l said. steadying my voice.
1--WE must now face the consequences.
AS you say, 1t Is true we both alike
have reason to fear the law If caught.
Flight is our only recourse. Will you
90 with me? Will you trust me?"
"Go-go with you? Where?"
First across the river into Illinois !;
there Is no possible safety here. In
way your danger is even more seri-
Gus than mine. l have not been seem
even Kirby had no glimpse Of my
face--and might never be identified
with the death of this man. But you
| will become n fugitive slave and could
be hunted down anywhere this side
OF Canada"
"Then being with me would add to
your danger"
whether 1t will or not counts moth
Ing; I 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 -ealize," she
exclaimed. Everything Is like a
dream TO me-impossible in its horror.
This situation is so terrible; 1t has
come upon me so suddenly ! cannot
decide; l cannot even comprehend
what my duty is. You urge me to go
away with you-alone?'
81 do; there is no other way left.
You cannot remain here in the hands
of these men: the result of such n 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" I urged desper-
| ately.
Her eyes were staring down at
Kirby's body.
Look, he-he Is not dead" she
| sobbed excitedly. Did 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. II the fellow regains
consciousness and lives, our danger
will be all the greater"
Yes, he would be merciless," her
lips parted, her eyes eloquent of dis
gust and horror as she suddenly lifted
them to my face. Il must not for
get that II belong to him; am his
slave; he-he. that hldeous thing
there, can do anything he wishes with
me-the 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
1t. Why, l am as white as he Is, bet
ter educated. accustomed to every
care, brought up to believe myself
rich and happy-and now I belong to
him; he owns me, body and SOUL" She
paused suddenly, assailed by a new
| thought, a fresh consideration. SIS it
so, Is 1t the law that these men can
take possession Of nothing here until
after Eloise has been found and theiI
papers served upon her?"
"Yes. 1 believe it is" I said. "She
Is the legal heiress of Judge Beau
calre; the estate is hers by inheri-
| tance, as I am told there was no will.
| All this property, including the slaves
would legally remain in her possession
until proper steps had been taken by
| others. Serving Of the papers would
| be necessary. There Is no doubt as
to that"
She drew a deep breath and stepped
toward me. gazing straight into my
| face.
II believe in you" she said firmly.
And trust you. You look like real
man. You tell me you serve in the
army-an off1cer?"
"A lieutenant of infantry"
She held out her hand and my own
closed over 1t. the firm, warm clasp
OF her fingers sending a strange thrill
| through my whole body. An instant
she looked directly into my eyes, down
into the very soul Of me, and what I
read in the depths of her brown orbs
could never find expression in words
have thought of 1t often since-that
great. dimly lighted room, with the
guard at the outer door; the inert
almost lifeless body huddled on the
floor beside us. and Rene Beaucaire
her hand clasped in mine.
| "Lieutenant Knox" she said soft,y
yet with note of confidence in the
low voice. II am going to trust you
absolutely; there are reasons why I
SO decide which cannot explain at
this time. 1 have not known you long
enough to venture that far. You must
accept me just as I ana runaway
slave and negress, but also woman.
Can you pledge such as l your word
Of honor-the word of soldier and a
| gentleman?"