The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1920-03-04

rushing waters ahead. l could realize |
something Of what must be passing
through her mind-the mingling of
doubt and fear which assalled her in
this strange environment. Up until
now she had been accorded no Oppor-
tunity to think, to consider the nature
of her position; she had been com
PEELED to act wholly upon impulse and
driven blindly to accept my sugges-
tiOns. And now, in this silence, the
reaction had come, and she was al
ready questioning If she had done
right.
1t was in my heart to speak to her,
In effort to strengthen her faith, but
hesitated, scarcely knowing what to
say, deeply touched by the pathetic
droOp of her figure, and In truth un-
certain in my own mind as to whether
or not we had chosen the wiser
course. All l dared do was to silently
reach out one hand and rest 1t gently
on those fingers Clasping the rail. She
did not remove her hand from beneath
mine, nor indeed give the slightest evil
dence that she was even aware of my
action.
"Wus An to turn nor, sah?" asked
the negro suddenly.
"Yes, upstream; but keep in as close
to the shore as you think safe. There
is no settlement along this bank, is
thereW
mo, sab; dar's JUS one cabin bout
mile upstream, but dar amt nobody
! livin' thar now. Whar yer all aim
fer ter go?"
! / hesitated an instant before l an
swered, yet almost as quickly decided
| that the whole truth would probably
serve us best. The man already had
| one reason to use his best endeavors :;
now / would bring before him a sec
| ond.
Just as far up the river before day
| light as possible, Sam. Then l hope
to uncover some hiding place where
we can lie concealed until it is dark
again Do you know any such placer"
"On de Illinois shore, sab? Les see 4:
thar's Rassuer creek, bout twenty
mile up. All 'spects you all knows
whut yer a headn' fer?"
"To Il certain eXtent-yes; but we
had to decide on this action very
quickly, with no chance to plan 1t out.
l am aiming at the mouth Of the Illi-
nOis."
He glanced about Mt me, valnly en-
deavOring to deCipher my expression
in the gloom.
"De Illinois ribber, boss; what yer
hope fer ter find thar?"
"a certain man I've heard about.
Did you ever happen to hear a white
man mentioned who lives near there
His name Is Amos Shrunk."
l could scarcely distinguish his eyes
but l could feel them. | thought for
moment he would not answer.
} "Yerll surely excuse me, sah," he
said at last, humbly, his voice with a
note of pleading it It. "Ah's feelin
friendly 'nough an all dat, sab, but
still yer mus member dat Abs talkin
ter a perfect stranger. If yer wut
sure tell me furst just whut yer was
! amin at, then maybe Ah'd know {
, heap morn All do nOw."
81 guess you are right, Sam. I'll tel
, you the whole of 1t. 1 am endeavor
! ing to help this young woman tC
: escape those men back yOnder. YOl
: must know why they were there; M
doubt you overheard them talk coming
up2"
'Yas. sab; Massa Donaldson he wa
2 goin' up fer ter serve sum papers fe
= Massa Kirby, so he cud run off d,
, Beaucaire niggers. But dis yere gal
2 she amt no nigger-she's just a whit,
2 pusson."
!, "She is a slave under the law"
said gravely, MS she made an effort t,
] move, "and the man Kirby claims her
l could see his mouth fly open, bu
the surprise of this statement halte
t his efforts at speech,
+ THAT explains the whole situation,
r. went on. "Now will you answe
meW
o "'Bout dis yere Massa ShrunkY
- "Yes-you have heard Of him be
= fOre|
f "Ah reckon as how maybe All ha.
e snh."
+ "Do you know where he can b
/. fOundW
h mot perzackly, sab. All amt neve
d onct bin thar. but All sorter seems fe
IS ter recollec' sum'thin' bout whar h
u mought be All reckon maybe All Gu
n go thar, If All just he'd TO. All recko
It If yer all held dat pistol plum gains
a NAH he'd And mos likely find d
4 Amos Shrunk. Good Lord, sab" az