The Dolores star., 1920-04-09
CHAPTER xiV-Continued.

They must have said much to de.
ceive you" and bent forward TO touch
her hand. See, am very much alive.
Let me tell yOu-that will be the quick
est way 70 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 l 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 here?'
Yes; tried hard to find where you
were concealed on board, but failed.
Kirby guarded You with great care
from all observation. Do you know
whyT'
Yes" she answered. as though fore
ing herself to speak. Il do know now
thought l knew then. but was mis-
taken. I supposed 1t might be because
looked so little like negreSs, but
now l realize It was his own con-
science. He knew | was white wOm-
an. he had become convinced that |
WAS Eloise Beaucaire. Did you know
that, also2"
81 learned the truth on the boat.
from the same source where Kirby OBJ
ID
told me"
Elsie Clark! Who is she? How
did she knOw?"
"A free negreSs. who had been en-
ployed by Amos Shrunk. She was the
other prisoner on the keelboat when
In the cabin
How could shd kuow who wnS?"
She did not. Only she was positive
that you could not be Rene Beaucaire
because she knew that Rene. in com
pany with her mother. had departed
from Shrunk's cabin before those raid
ers came. The two had already started
for Beardstown."
She sat upright. all lassitude gone
from her body, leaning eagerly toward
me. her eyes alight with interest.
Gone. Rene escaped them" she
exclaimed. her voice choking. "Oh, tell
me that again. Was the girl sure?"
Quite sure. She saw and spoke
with both the women before they left
in a wagon. They were on the Under
ground, bound for Canada. and safety"
81 am so glad-so glad" she said
simply. Now l ain strong enough to
hear the rest, Lieutenant Knox. You
must tell me-"
There is not SO much to tell, that l
am cnck-sure about" | began slowly
"kirby had you securely hidden away
somewhere on the second deck, while
this Clark girl had been locked into a
staterOOm above. l possessed such
growth of beard and was altogether so
dlsreputable looking as to be mistaken
for r0ustabout by the boats officers.
who set me at work to earn my pass
age. In this way l managed to talk
with Elsie, but failed to locate your
quarters. The only glimpse I gained
of you was when you We're being taken
ashore. Then I followed, and a little
iuter succeeded in getting you out of
Kirby's hands. That is about ALL"
"Oh. no, it is not-you-you came
too late
TOO late! Perhaps 1 may know
what you mean"
"DO you? Surely not to blame me
Il wish to tell you, Lieutenant Knox.
but-but l scarcely know how. 1t is
ali so dim, indistinct In my own mind
and yet 1 remember. Have l oeen
drugged?"
without question. We have been
riding all night and you were strapped
to your horse. Probably you have no
recollection of this?"
She shook her head in bewilderment.
No; the last l remember l was with
Kirby and another man. He-he was
dressed like minister, but-but he
was half drunk, and once he swore at
me. The place where we were was
little shack In the side of hill, with
stone walls. Kirby took me there
from the steamer, together with a man
he called Rale-Jack Rale They
locked me in and left me alone after
dark. Then this other man, who
dressed like minister, came back
with Kirby. They had food and some
thing to drink with them. and lit a
lamp so that we could see 1t was
awfully dismal and dark in there"
She pressed her hands to her head
despairlngly. II can remember all
this. but later 1t Is not so clear: It
fades out. like a dream"
"Try to tell me all you can," I urged.
'T'hey fed your
"Yes, / managed to eat a little, but
wOiid not drink. They both became
angry then and frightened me, but
they did compel me to swallow some
OF the stuff. Then I became dazed
and partially helpless. had no will
u my own, no power of resistance"
"You were married to Kirby"
-Oh. God!-was II 1 wondered;