The Hayti herald. (Hayti, Mo.) 1908-1922, 1920-03-04

South ana are D0und TO fOrce Black
Hawks warriors to the other bank of
the Rock. There will be nothing but
barren country east of here. What do
you say, Miss Dlolse?"
| Her eyes met mine bravely, without
a shadow Of doubt IN them.
~ shall go wherever you say" she,
replied firmly; II believe you will
know best"
'Then decide on this route. Once
we get beyond the swamp those fell
lows are going to have hard task
following us, unless they have an In+
dian trailer along with them. We
have been here several hours; the
horses must be rested. Let's eat what
we can again and then start"
Kennedy stood up and stared about
us at the disolate scene, the express
ion of his face proving his dissatisfac-
tion with the prospect.
90 course, I'm a goin' long with
yer, cap," he acknowledged, dryly. II
never wus no gutter, but this yere
trip don't look SO ID easy ter
me, fer all thet. I'll wake up thet
Clark gurl an then saddle the hosses."
watched him round the corner Of
the cabin, not wholly at ease in my
own mind, then gathered up the map
and replaced it in my pocket, aware
that Eloise had not moved from her
position on the grass.
as he right?' she questioned, look
ins up at me. "Is there any real dan
ger Of Indians?"
"Some, perhaps; it is all Indian
country, north and east Of here-or
has been. 1 am not denying that, but
this danger does not compare, in my
mind, with the peril which confronts
US in every direction. / am trying to
choose the least. Our greatest diff
Guilty will be the lack Of food-we
possess no guns with which to kill
game, only pistols, and an exceedingly
small stock Of ammunition. That is
what troubles Tim; that, and his
eagerness to get back down the river.
He fails to realize what it would mean
: to you to fall again into Kirby's
e hands"
"Do you realizeW
| bO IL II Is Lllc O1e lueluOTy WHICH
controls me. Tell me, am not right
|. You despise the fellow; you are will.
ing to face any hardship so as to es.
cape him?"
II would rather die than have him
touch me. Surely you cannot deem it
possible that 1 could ever forgiven"
mo; that would be hard to con-
= | onI uof 7 Jrichod IN hoor tho
words from your own lips. VIII you
: answer me one thing more-why did
you first assume the character of
Rene, and why did you repose such
} instant trust in me?"
. II think I myself hardly knew" she
e admitted timidly. 'It all happened
was born of impulse, rather than
through any plan. Perhaps it was just
8 the woman in me. After my father
died, Della thought it best to tell us
:. the story of Rene's birth. This-this
I was such q terrible tale, and later We
sought all through his private papers
hoping he had taken some action tt
set those two free. There was nc
proof that he had, no mention, indeed
n except memorandum Of intention tt
refer the matter to Lawyer Haines a
the Landing. This merely served tt
y confirm what Della had told us, and
g as Haines had gone to st. Louis. WI
l were unable to see him. We We're al
Of us nearly crazed. So suggested tina,
we run away, and drew money out o.
my private account for that purpose
My only thought was to take q steam
!. er up the Ohio, to some place where
d we were not known, and begin lif'
u over again. Oh, you cannot under
q stand-I had no mind left; only /,
q blind impulse to save them"
q caught her hand In mine and hel,
II it firmly.
q perhaps do understand. 1t wa
q my knowledge of this very condition
a which first brought me to you."
i "You heard about us on the boat
the Warrior? Did father tell you?"
mo; it was Kirby. He was actual
ly proud of what he had done-boast
ed to me of his success, have neve
known man so heartlessly conceitet
u Eloise, listen. You may have though
y this was largely an accident. 1t wa
not; 1t was deliberately planned
cold-blooded plot. I tell you that 10
Kirby is of the devils own breed; h
!. Is not human. Rene's father told hiI
~ first Of the peculiar conditions at Bea,
at caire."
n. "Rene's fatheri Does--does he sti
To- liver"
ze "No; but he did live for years afte
as he disappeared. supporting himself b
m gambling on the lower river. At on
e. time he and Kirby were together. Al
IL ter he died Kirby investigated bl
story In St. Louis and found that
IN was true. Then he laid this plot |
re gain control of everything. includin
I'd both Of you girls. The man dreame
ed OF owning Beaucaire. OF possessing a
1t contained. He was willing to ris
avarvthfuR IN eaFry out hia hall.hof