The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1920-02-19
Nv RANDALL PARRISH
tic. Illustrations by Irwin hysl

CHANGED / was passenger on the boat
when Judge Beaucalre lost his life.
witnessed the game of cards this man
won, and afterward, when l protest
ed, was attacked and flung o7erboard
into the river by Kirby here and that
fellow who is outside guarding the
door They believe me to be dead ;
but l managed to reach shore and
was taken care of by a negrO-'Free
Pete he calls himself; do you know
himp
"Yes-oh, yes; he was one Of the
Carlton slaves" Her face frightened
slightly in its bewilderment.
"Well, l knew enough of what was
bound to occur to feel an interest, and
tonight he brought me here for the
purpose of warning you-you, your
mother and Eloise Beaucaire. He has
his cart and mule out yonder; we in
tended to transport you across the
river, and thus start you safely on the
way to Canada"
"Then," she said slowly, seeming to
catch at her breath, her voice trem-
bling, then It must be really true
what these men say-Delia is my
mother? II am a slavei"
you did not really know2 You were
not warned by anyone before their
arrival2"
mo, there was no warning. Did
anyone in this nelghborhOod under
stand?"
"Halnes the lawyer did. He fur
nished me with much Of the informa-
tiOn 1 possess. But 1 am the one
puzzled now If the truth was not
known to any Of you how does 1t hap
pen the others are gone"
$50 far as l am aware that is mere
ly an accident. They walked over to
the old Carlton place early this eve
ming; there is sickness ir the family,
and they hoped to be of help. That is
everything I know. They were to re-
turn two hours ago, for l was here all
alone, except for the negroes in their
quarters. l cannot conceive what has
occurred-unless thaE have learned in
some way Of the trouble here"
THAT must be the explanation
they have hidden themselves. And
these men told you why they CameY'
The only one saw at first did. He
came In all alone and claimed to be
a deputy sheriff. / was terribly fright
ened at first. and did n0t at all un-
derstand; but l questioned him and
the man liked to talk. SO he told me
all he knew. Perhaps / should have
thought he was crazy, Only-Only some
things had occurred Of late which led
me to half suspect the truth before,
II wouldn't believe It then, but-but
l made him repeat everything he had
heard. Horrible as it was II wanted
to know all"
"And you acknowledged to him that
you were Rene BeauCaireW
Her dark eyes flashed up into my
face Questioningly.
"Why-why, Of course. II could
not deny that, could To-
Perhaps not; yet If none of them
knew you, and you had claimed to be
Eloise, they would never have dared
to hold you prisoner"
81 never once thought Of that; the
only thing which occurred to me was
how l could best protect the others
My plan was to send them warning IN
some way. Still now l am very glad
said was Rene"
"Glad WhyT
Because It seems It is Elolse they
must first find to serve their papers
on. They dare not take away the
slaves until this is done. As for me
am nothing-nothing but a slave my.
self; is that not trueW
To look into her eyes, her face, and
answer was a hard task, yet one saw
no way to evade.
'Yes; am afraid It is true"
"And-and then Della, the house
keeper, is actually my mother?"
THAT is the story as It reached me-"
She held tightly to the table foI
support, all the fresh color desertlne
her face, but the lips were firmly sci
and her head remained as proudly
poised as ever above the round throat
Whatever might be the stain Of allen
blood In her veins, she was still q
Beaucaire. Her eyes, filed with pain
as they were, met mine unhinchingly
"And-and knowing all this, con
vinced of It's truth-that-tha an
colored," she faltered, doubtfully, "you
came here to help me2"
II did; that can make no difference
now"
mo dlfferencel Why do you say
that? Are you from the North, ar