The Arvada enterprise., 1920-03-11
CHAPTER Ix-centInusd.

10
ut IL my guess" I said, "that their
only thought was to get away before
the crime was discovered. Rene.
would you be afraid to remain here
alone for q little whiler'
She glanced about into the gloom Of
he surrounding woods. her hesitancy
answering me.
TT % not . pleasant prospect ! I'd.
init. but there IL no possible danger.
Kirby has gone. beyond all question.
but wish to learn II I can the direc-
don b has taken. All this must have
happsnsd only q short time ago-while
~ were at the cabin. The keelboat
can scarcely be entirely out Of sight
yet on either river II we could only
and q placs to offer Us . wide view"
But could I not 20 with you'll"
Hardy With me. for I intend to
swim the creek and try to reach the
point at the mouth Of the Illinois,
from where can see up and down the
Nlsassippi. I am going to send Sam
back through the woods there and
have him climb that ridge. From the
top he ought to have . good view up
the valley of the Illinois. I suppose
you might 20 with him."
"Ah. sure Wish yer wud. missus,"
broke In the negro pleadingly. "Ah
amt perxackly feered fer ter 60 lone.
but Abs an Oh man an All reckon ~
how . young gal wus likely fer ter see
morn All wud. Pears like Abs done
los my giasses."
A faint smile lighted up her face
. mere giimmer Of = smile.
"Yes, Sam. I'll Co." she said. glanc.
ing up into my eyes and holding out
her hand. you wish me to. do you
mott"
II think It will be fully - well. You
still retain the pistolr'
She nodded her response. and with.
OF delaying my departure longer !
lowered myself into the water and
SWAN toward the opposite shore.
cfVaping forth amid q tangle Of roots
aud Immediately disappearing In the
un6eSbrush. found . rough passage
for the 0rst few rods. being obliged to
alnost tear Q way through the close
0ovth and unable to see . yard in
d4yaAcs. But this ended suddenly at
IL edge Of the sand nat. with tho con-
voeSiag waters Of the two rivers Wis.
Nile Just beyond. Ny view from here
NJ narrowed. however. BY high ridges
a both sides, and with Q desire not to
s{poee myself to any chance eys.
followed the line of forest until able
10 climb the slope. and thus attain the
crest Of the blum.
Tron this vantage point the view
was extensive. both up and down the
big tvsr. a. well ~ across to the op-
posite hank. Along that entire sur.
face but three objects met my gaze
. small island. green with trees, seem.
inely anchored just beyond the mouth
Of the Illinois: . numbering barge al.
most opposite me. clearly outlined
against the distant shore, and barely
moving With the current: and far
away below q thin smudge Of smoke.
arising from behind Il headland, a.
though curling upward from the stack
If some steamer. I felt no doubt but
what this was the stolen keelboat.
speeding toward ST. Louis.
This struck me a. the most reason.
able course to pursue-to work our
way quietly up the Illinois BY night,
keeping close In shore to avoid any
passing steamer. until We arrived close
10 Baardstown. Undoubtedly there
were blacks 10 the town. both slaves
and free negroes. with whom Sam
could easily establish an Acquaintance.
by this means We would soon be able
to Identity that particular preacher
into whose care ] hoped TO connde
Rene. OF course the girl might ~.
fuse to enter into the game, might de-
cline to assume the role assigned her.
howaNee Innocent intended Il to be
indae1. felt convinced she would
me1e the sa0sestion with indignation.
Bat Why very about that novl Let
tAas ~ kspt a. last resort. There
wa - nscsssity for me 10 even men.
tisa tAis part Of my plan until after
eUS approach to Benrdstown; then the
NoeoqDaty Of our going forward with
h might b 10 apparent she could not
Rn1Do - eafvy m ha~ mart. With this