The Dolores star., 1920-02-06
CHAPTER Vi-Continued.


no longer a free white woman: l am
negro and slave"
"Oh. you know that do you? Then
you must also be aware that you are
my property. Perhaps it will be well
for you TO remember this in answer
ing my questions. Now tell me who
Informed you of all thIs?"
"I cannot answer"
Cannot, You mean you Will not
Well. young woman, I'll find means to
make you. for have handled your
kind before. Where is Eloise Beau
calreT
Why do you seek 70 find her? There
Is no slave blood in her veins"
ITO serve the necessary papers, OF
course"
lie spoke incautiOuSlv. urged on by
his temper. and l marked how quickly
her face frightened at this lnteli-
gence.
ITO serve papers! They must be
served. then, before-before you can
take possession? That Is what | un-
derstood the sheriff to say. Then I
am not really your save-yet?" her
voice deepening with earnestness and
understanding. "Oh, so that is how
it is-even if I am negro l do not
belong to you until those papers have
been served. If you touch me now
you break the law. | may not be
free but I am free from you. I am
glad to know that"
And d-n little good It is going
10 do you" he growled sheriff or no
sheriff. my beauty, you are going to
s. Louis with me tonight: so I ad-
wise you to keep a grip on that tongue
OF yours. Do you think l am going to
he foIled altogether by technical
point of law? Possession is The main
thing, and have you where you can't
get away. You hear meT'
She had not moved, although her
form had Strengthened and her hand
no longer rested on the table. Kirby
had stepped close in front of her, his
eyes glowing with anger, his evident
Intention being to thus frighten the
girl into compliance with his wishes,
but her eyes. defiant and unafraid.
looked him squarely In the face.
"T certainly hear" she replied
calmly. "YOur voice Is sufficiently
distinct. I am a slave, I suppose, and
In your power; but I despise you,
hate you-and you are not going to
take me to st. Louis tonight"
what can stop me? The sheriff?
Pub a few dollars will take care of
him. The Judge is a friend of mine"
at Is not the sheriff-nor the Judge;
place reliance on no friend of
yours"
He grasped at her arm, but she
stepped back quickly enough to avoid
contact. ard the red lips were pressed
together in a thin line of determine
tion. Her hand had suddenly disap-
peared within the folds of her skirt;
but the angry man, apparently blinded
by the violence Of his passion, his
eagerness to crush her spirit, thought
only that she counted on outside aid
for deliverance.
"You silly little fool" he snapped.
his mustnche bristllng. "Why, what
could you do to stop me? I could
break your neck with one hand. So
you imagine someone Is going to save
you. Well, who will it be? Those
yokels down at the Landing? Haines
the lawyer2 You have a surprise up
your sleeve for me- I suppose! Hill
1t makes me laugh; but you might as
well have your lesson now as any
other time. Come here. you wench !"
He caught her arm this time, bru-
tally Jerking her toward him, but as
instantly staggered backward, grasp
ing at the table, the flash Of anger In
his eyes changing to look of startled
surprise. A pistol was leveled full In
his face, the polished black barrel
shining ominously In the light of the
overhead lamp.
"Now perhaps you know what I
mean" she said. "If you dare to touch
me / will kill you like a dog. That
is no threat 1t is true as Gods gos-
pei." and the very tone Of her voice
carried conviction. "You may say
am q slave-your slave! That may be
70. but you will never possess me
ueveri Life means nothing to me
any more. and never expect to go
out Of this house alive: do not even
care to. So I am not afraid Of you. Do
not drop your arms, you low-lived cur,
fer you have never been nearer death