The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1920-05-06
~ COPYRIGHT 81
NAcne cLURo , co
CHAPTER xlV--contlnued.


her hand. "See, am very much alive.
Let me tell you-that Will be the quick
est way to understand. In the first
place did not drown when the boat
was smashed, but was rendered help
less and borne away on the water. The
Adventurer rescued me about daylight
the next morning, and was no sooner
on board than was told how the keel
boat had been run down below on the
river during the night and that your
party had all been saved-two white
men and two negress slaves. OF course,
/ knew you must be one of them"
''Then-then we were actually to-
gether, on the same boat, all the way
up here2"
Yes; l tried hard to find where you
were concealed on board, but failed.
Kirby guarded you with great care
from all observation. Do you know
whyY
Yes" she answered, as though fore
ing herself to speak. 81 do know now
l thought l knew then, but was mis-
taken. l supposed it might be because
l looked so little like n negress, but
now / realize 1t was his own con-
science. He knew was a white wom-
an; he had become convinced that l
was Elose Beaucaire. Did you know
that, alsO7"
81 learned the truth on the boat.
from the same source where Kirby OBJ
talned his information. Elsie Clark
told me-"
"Elsie Clark Who is she7 How
did she knOw7"
"A free negress, who had been en-
ployed by Amos Shrunk. She was the
other prisoner on the keelboat when
you were captured, kept locked below
in the cabin"
"HOw could she know who wasp
"She did not. Only she was positive
that you could not be Rene Beaucnire,
because she knew that Rene, in COM
lany with her mother, had departed
from Shrunk's cabin before those raid
7 ers came. The two had already started
for Beardstown."
She sat upright, all lassltude gone
from her body leaning eagerly toward
me, her eyes alight with interest.
"GOnel Rene escaped them !" she
exclaimed. her voice choking. "Oh, tell
me that again. Was the girl sureY
quite sure. She saw and spoke
with both the women before they left
in wagon. They were on the Under
ground. bound for Canada, and safety"
'T am so glad-so glad" she said
simply Now l am strong enough to
hear the rest, Lieutenant Knox. You
must tell me-"
There is not so much to tell, that
am cOck-sure about" l began slowly
Kirby had you securely hidden away
somewhere on the second deck, while
this Clark girl had been locked into q
stateroom above. / possessed such q
growth OF beard and was altogether sc
disreputable looking as TO be mistaken
for a roustabout by the boats officers
who set me at work to earn my pass
age. In this way l managed to tall
with Elsie, but failed to locate you
quarters. The only glimpse | gained
Of you was when you were being takeI
ashore Then l followed, and a littlt
later succeeded in getting you out o
Kirby's hands. That Is about ALL"
"Oh. no, it is nOt-you-you cam
too late"
'"Too late Perhaps / may know
what you mean"
do you? Surely not to blame me
II wish to tell you, Lieutenant Knox
but-but / scarcely know how. IL
all so dim, indistinct in my own min
and yet / remember. Have l bee
drugEedW
without question. We have bee
riding all night and you were strnppe
TO your horse. Probably you have n
recollection Of this|
She shook her head in bewldermen
NO; the last l remember | was wit
Kirby and another man. He-he wa
dressed like Il minister, but-but h
was half drunk. and once he swore q
me. The place where we were was
little shack in the side OF n hill, wit
stone walls. Kirby took me ther
from the steamer, together with ma
he called Rale--Jack Rale. The
locked me in and left me alone afte
dark. Then this other man. VIII
dressed like a minister, came bac
with Kirby. They had food and som,
thing to drink with them, and lit
lamp so that we could see. II wa
awfully dismal and dark In there
She pressed her hands to her hea