The Arvada enterprise., 1920-02-19

certain In my own mind ~ to whether
or not No had chosen the wiser
course. All I dared do was to silently
reach out one hand and rest It gently
ON those fingers clasping the rail. She
did not remove her hand from beneath
mine. nor indeed give the slightest evi-
dence that she was even aware Of my
action.
"Wus All to turn nor, sahf" asked
the negro suddenly.
"Yes. upstream: but keep in ~ close
to the shore A. you think safe. There
10 NO settlement along this bank. II
theref"
"No. sab; dars Jus one cabin, bout
4 mile upstream, but daf amt nobody
livin' thar now. Whar yer all aim
fer ter gor'
I hesitated IN instant before an
swersd. yet almost - quickly decided
that the whole truth would probably
serve NJ best. The man already had
one reason to use his best endeavors:
now I would bring before him ssc-
ond.
"Just % far up the river before day
light - possible, Sam. Then I hope
to uncover some hiding place where
We can lie concealed until 1t 10 dark
again. Do you know any such placer
'On de Illinois shore. sahf Les 80:
thars Rassuef creek. bout twenty
mile up. All 'spects you all knows
whut yer 4 hsadin' ferf"
ITO q certain extent-yes: but "
had to decide on this action vesy
quickly. with no chance to plan It out.
I am aiming at the mouth Of the nli-
nois."
He glanced about at ms. vainly en-
dsavoring to dsciphef my oppression
In the gloom.
De Illinois ribber. boss: what Yer
hops fer ter nnd tharr
"A certain man I've heard about.
Did you svsr happea to hear . white
man mentioned who lives near tAefsf
His name u Amos Shrunk."
Ieould scarcely distinguish biz syss.
bat I could feel them. thought for
q moment he would not answer.
"Yer1l surely excuse me, sah," hs
said at last. humbly. his voice With .
note Of pleading 1t It. "Ah's feelin'
friendly 'nough an all dat. sab. but
still yer mus member dat Ais talkin'
ter 4 perfect stranger. II yer wud
sure tell me furst Just whut yer was
aimin' at. then maybe Aid know .
heap morn All do now"
II guess you are right, Sam. m tell
you the whole Of 1t. I am endeavor.
ing to help this young woman to
escape those men back yonder. You,
must know why they were there: no
doubt you overheard them talk coming
upr"
"Yas. sab; Massa Donaldson hs was
goin' up fer ter serve sum papers fer
Massa Kirby. 20 he cud run of de
Beaucaire nigEers. But dis ysre gal.
she amt no nigger-she's Just white
pusson."
"She 10 q slave under the law"
said gravely. n she made an effort to
move. "and the man Kirby claims her"
I could ses his mouth ny open. but
the surprise Of this statement halted
his efforts at speech.
That explains the whole situation" !"
I went on. "Now will you answer
mer'
"'Bout dis yere Massa shrunkr'
"Yeseyou have heard Of him b.
forsf'
"Ab reckon a. how maybe An has.
sab"
DO you know where he can be
foundr
mot persackly. sab. All amt never
onct bin thar. but All sorter seems fer
ter recollec' sum'thin' bout whar he
mought be. All reckon maybe All cud
20 thar. II All Just he'd TO. An reckon
II yer all held dat pistol plum 'gainst
nah he'd. Aid mos likely hnd dis
Amos Shrunk. Good Lord, sab! I" and
his voice sank to q whisper, "Ah Just
can't git hol' O. all dis-Ah sure can't,
sah-'bout her bein' a niger"
Rene turned about. lifting her face
into the starlight.
"Whether I am white or colored.
sam," she said quietly. "can make
little difference to you now. I am Q
woman and am asking your help.
can trust you, can notf''
The negro on his knees stared at
her. the whites Of his eyes conspicu.
oua Then suddenly he jerked of his
old hat.
"Ah 'spects yer kin. missus." hs
pledged himself In Q tone Of convic.
tion which made my heart leap. "Ah's
bin slave-niEger fer forty.nve years.
but just de same All ain't never bin
mean ter no woman. Yas. sab, yer
don't neither one OBJ yer eber need ter
ask Sam no mor'-he's a-goin' 'thro'
Wild yer all ter do end-he sure am.
ma'am."
Silence descended upon %, and I
slipped the pistol back into my pocket.
Rene rested her cheek on her hand
and saxed straight ahead into the
night. Far OF to the left a few wink.
ing lights appeared. barely perceptible.
and I touched the negro. pointing them
out to him and whispering my ques.
tton 20 % not to disturb the motion.
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