Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-01-10

Rene. and why did you reposo sucf
instant trust In mef'
~ think myself hardly knew" she
admitted timidly. TT all happened
was born of impulse, rather than
through any plan. Perhaps 1t was just
the woman In me. After my father
died, Della thought II best to tell u
the story Of Rene's birth. This--this
was such terrible tale, and later we
sought oil through his private papers
hoping he had taken some action to
set those two free. There was nc
proof that he had. no mention, indeed
except a memorandum of Intention to
refer the matter to Lawyer Haines at
the Landing. This merely served to
confirm what Della had told US, and,
as Haines had gone to st. Louis, we
were unable to see him. We We're all
Of us nearly crazed. So suggested that
we run away, and drew money out of
my private account for that purpose.
My only thought was to take steam
er up the Ohio, to some place where
we we're not known. and begin life
over again. oh, you cannot under
stand-I had no mind left; only q
blind impulse to save them"
! caught her hand in mine and held
Il firmly.
perhaps I do understand. 1t was
my knowledge Of this very condition
which first brought me to you"
'You heard about US on the boat
the warriorf Did father tell your
mo; II was Kirby. He was actual.
" proud of what he had done--boast-
ed to me Of his success. I have never
known q man SO heartlessly conSeited.
Eloise, listen. You may have thought
this was largely an accident. It was
not 1T was a deliberately planned,
cold.blooded plot. / tell you that Joe
Kirby is of the DEVILS own breed; he
is not human. Rene's father told him
first of the peculiar conditions at Beau
caire."
"Rene's fatheri Does-does he still
liver"
mo; but he did live for years after
he disappeared, supporting himself by
gambling on the lower river. At one
time he and Kirby were together. AZ
ter he died Kirby investigated his
story in St Louis and found that 1t
was true. Then he laid this plot to
gain control Of everything, including
both Of you girls. The man dreamed
Of owning Beaucaire, Of possessing all
1t contained. He was willing to risk
everything to carry out his hell-born
scheme. and to ruin everyone who In
terfered with him. I am telling you
oil this, Eloise, because It is now time
you should know. Will you not tell
me just how ii all came to you"
Her hands chung to me, as though
She dare not let go, her eyes were
filled with mineling OF wonderment
and pain. -
'Why, Of course. We thought 1t
hest not to go until after we could see
the lawyer. I could not believe my
father had neglected to set those two
free-he-he loved them both. Della
and Rene had gone down to the Land
Ing that night to see II he had re-
turned. We were both Of Us afraid to
leave Rene alone-she was so despon-
dent. 30 unstrung. It was dark and !
was all alone in the house. Then these
men came. They did not know me
and / did not know them, but was
sure what they came for. was ter
ribly frightened, without an idea what
to do-only I refused to talk. All I
could do was to pray that the others
might be warned and not return. They
searched the house and then left this
man Tim to guard me. He told me he
was deputy sheriff from st. Louis,
and--and encouraged him to explain
all he knew about the case. Then j
made up my mind what to do would
pretend to be Rene, and let them carry
me off instead of her"
But did you not realize the danger
to yourself?'
mo. suppose didn't, or, rather, 1
did not care. All thought about was
how to save her. These were law Off
GERS; they would take me to st. Louis
before q court. Then I could make
myself known and would be set free.
They couldn't do anything else, could
they7 There was no law by which I
could be held, but-but, don't you see?
The delay might give Rene time to es-
cape. That was not wrong, was it7'
''Wrongi 1t was one Of the bravest
things ! ever heard Of. And l know
the rest--your encounter with Kirby
in the library. overheard oil Of that
through the open window, and how
you learned from him that certain
legal papers would hare, to be served
ON Eloise Beaucaire before any Of the
slaves could be touched, or removed
from, the estate. That knowledge only