University of South Carolina Libraries
CO . CHAPTER VII?Continue!. " It was in ray heart to speak to her, i_ .iv^.4 i.A A4?MAM#*+Kam KA? /OOK Knt T ! Ill triiun IU ouvu^uicu u^i iaiui; uuv * i hesitated, scarcely knowing what to soy. deeply touched by the pathetic drpop of her figure, and in truth un, cbrtain In my oftn inind as to whether or not we had chosen *the wiser course. *111 I dared do was to silently reach Cat one hand and rest it gently on those fingers clasping the rail. She did not remove her hand from beneath " m!ne, nor Indeed giro tho slightest ev!' dence that she was even aware of my action. ' "Wus Ah to turn nor', sah?" asked the negro suddenly. "Yes, upstream; hut keep In as close to the shore as yon think safe. There is no settlement along this bank, is fbere?" "No,, sah; flair's jiis' one cabin, 'bout a mile upstream, but dar ain't nobody livin' thar now, Whar yer all aim fer ter go?" I hesitated an Instant before I answered, yet almost as quickly decided I that the whole truth would probably servfe us best. The man "already had i one reason to use his best endeavors; l now I would bring before him a sec- ! i ond. "Just as far up the river before day( light ao possible, Sam. Then I hope ! to uucover some hiding place where j we can He concealed nntll it is dgrls, I omitA tvi vaii l-nnw nnv such nlace?" i "On de Illinois shore, sah? Le's sec: thar's Rassuer^ creek, "bout ^twenty, mile up. Ah 'spects you all knows whut yer a headln' fer?" "To a certain extent?yes; but we k had to decide on this action very quickly, with no chance to plan It out. I am aiming at the mouth of the Illinois." ^' . He glanced about at me, vainly en denvorlng to decipher my expression' In the gloom. "De Illinois ribber, boss; what yci hope fer ter find tbar?" "A certain man I've heard about Did you ever happen to hear a white S man mentioned who lives nenr there 1 His name Is Amos Shrank." * ' I could scarcely distinguish His eyes, but J could feel them. I thought foi \ ft moment he would not answer. "Yer'll surely excuse me, sah," he said at last, humbly, his voice with a i note of pleading It it "Ah's feelin 1 __ friendly *nough an' all dat, sah, bui ! still yer mus' 'member dat Ah's talkin \ ter a perfect stranger. If yer wu< ? mm WAI sure ICU UIC IU1SI JU31 n>JUl jmi nai 1 aimln' at, then maybd Ah'd know f ' heap mor'n Ah do now." "I guess you are right, Sam. I'll tel : you the whole of It. I am endeavor j ing .to help this young woman t< escape those men back yonder. Yo* must know why they were there; n< doubt you overheard them talk comlDj upr "Yas. sah; Massa Donaldson he wn! goln' up fer ter serve sum papers fei Massa "Klrby, so he cud run off d? Beaucalre niggers. But dls yere gal she ain't no nigger?she's just a whlti pusson." t * "She isNi slave under the law," 11 - *' said gravely, as she made an effort t< move, "and the man Klrby claims her.* I could see his moutlf fly open, bu' the surprise of this statement haltcc j his efforts at speech. "That explains the whole situation,' I went on. "Now will you answei me?" , "'Bout dls yere Massa Shrunk?" "Yes?you have heard of him be ' fore?" "Ah reckon as how maybe Ah has _ sah." 0 "Do you know where he can bt fOUDd?" "Not perzackly, sah. Ah ain't nevei onct bin thar, but Ah sorter seems fez ter recollec' sum'thin' 'bout whar ht mought be. Ah reckon maybe Ah cud * go thar, if Ah jyst hed to. Ah reckon if yer all held dat pistol plum 'gains! niah hed, Ah'd mos' likely find di; Amos Shrunk. Good Lord, sah!" and | his voice sank to a whisper, "Ah Just enn't git hoi' o' all dls?Ah sure can't, sah--'bout hdr bein' a nigger." Rene turned about, lifting her face into the starlight 'Whether I am white or colored, \ Sam," she said qwietly, "can make little difference to you now. I am a woman and am asking your help. 1 can trust you, can I not?" The negro on his knees stared at her, the whites of his eyes conspicuous. Then suddenly he jerked off his old hat. "Ah 'spccts yer kin, missus," he pledged himself in n tone of conviction which made my heart leap. "Ah's bin a slave-nigger fer forty-five years, but just de same Ah ain't never bin' mean ter no woman. Yas, sah, yor don't neither one ob yer eber need ter ask Sam no mor'?he's a-goln' thro' wid yer all ter de end?he sure am, ma'am." v Silence descended upon us, and I slipped the pistol back Into my pocket. Bene rested her cheek on her hand and gazed straight ahead in'o the night. Far off to tlie left a few winking lights appeared, barely percept#>lo, and I touched the negro, pointing them out to him and whispering my question so as not to disturb the motionless girl. "Is that the Landing over there?" ".All certainly 'speets It must he, sah; dar uin't no other town directly 'round dese parts." "Then those lights higher ud mist v J levils Own, L \ ... / nonce of Block Bowk Waf JVriA # WtenlWkUrnwr* wmkin^Tetc, * I J0?W?Jbsfcrf.M9W-be on the bluff at Beaucalrc?" "Yes, sab; looks like de whole house 1 was lit up. I reckon things am right i lively up thnr 'bout now." He chuckled to himself, smothering a laugh. "It's sure goin' fer ter bother Massa Donaldson ter lose dls nigger, ( sah, fer Ah's de only one he's got." The lights slowly faded away In the far distance, finally disappearing alto' gether as we rounded a sharp bend In 1 the river bank. The engine Increased its stroke, giving vent to louder chug-; ging, and I could feel the strain of the planks beneath us as we battled the current. This new noise may have aroused her, for Rene lifted her head as though suddenly startled ^ and glanced about In my direction. * "We have passed the village?" she askcS, rather listlessly. 1 "Yes; It is already qut of sight From the number of lights burning ] imagine our escape has been dlscov* ered." "And what will they do?"?an echo of dismay In her voice. All fear of any treachery on the part of the negro had completely'deserted me, and I slipped down IL'om my perch on the edge of the cockpit to a place on the bench at her side. She made no motion to draw away, hnfr hpr pvps wore unon mv face, as gut Her Eye* Were Upon My Face, as Though Seeking to Read the Meaning of My Sudden Action. though seeking to read the meaning of my sudden action. 'We can talk better here," I ex- 1 plained. "The engine makes so much nnlcn " """"" .1 "You have not yet explained to me' whay we were to do. Your^plans for tomorrow?" "Because I scarcely have any," I replied. "This has all occurred so sud- < denly I have only acted upon impulse. No doubythose back at the ^Landing will endeavor to pursue us; they may have discovered already our means of escape and procured boats. My principal hope is that they may take it , for granted that we have chosen thd easier way and gone downstream. If so *we shall gain so much more time to get beyond their reach." "But why have you chosen the northern pute? Surely you had a reason?"1 "Certainly; it was to deceive them and get out of slave territory as quickly as possible. There are friends in this direction and none "in the other. If we should endeavor tollee by way of the Ohio we would be compelled to run a thousand-mile guntlet. There ; are slaves' in Illinois?it has never been declnred/a free state?but these are held almost exclusively in the more southern counties. North of the ( river the settlers are largely from New England, and the majority of them hate slavery and are ready to assist any runaway to freedom." "But you have spoken of a man? J' Amos Shrunk?who is he?" "You have certainly heard rumorsi at least, that there are regular routes of escape from here to Canada?" "Yes; it has been discussed at the house. I have never clearly understood, but I do know that slaves dis- i appear and are never caught. I was told white men helped them." "It is accomplished through organized effort by these men?Black Abolitionists, us they are called?haters of slavery. They are banded together in a secret society for this one Durnose and have what they call sta tlons scattered alf along at a certain distance apart?a niglit's travel?from the Mississippi to the Canadian line, ! where the fugitives are hidden and t fed. A station keeper, I am told, Is only permitted to know a few miles of the route, those lie must cover?the system is perfect, and many are engaged in it who are never even suspected." "Aud this man?is lie one?" "Yes?a leader; he operates the most dangerous station of all. The escaping slaves come to him first." Sh asked no further questions, and after a moment turned away, resting back against the edge of the cockpit with chin cupped in the hollow of her hand. The profile of her face was clearly defined by the starlight reflected by the river, and I found It hard to withdraw my eyes. A move- , . ment by the negro attracted my attention. "There is a small creek about four miles above the Landing, Sain," I said ft shortly. """Do yoy think you could find it?" "On de Missouri side, sah? Ah reckon Ah cud." " chapter viii. W ? The Dawn of Deeper Interest. It tested his skill as a boatman to locate the exact spot sought amid that gloom, yet he finally attained to it closely enough so I was able to get ashore, wading nearly thigh deep in water and mud, but only to learn that the boat,' which I had provisioned earlier in the evening, had disappeared from its moorings, no trace or it could be found In the darkness, although I devoted several midutes to the search. To my mind this was positive evidence that Pete had returned, accompanied by the two frightened women, and that, Anally despairing of my arrival, had departed with them pp the river. In all probability we would overhaul the party before morning, certainly before they could attain the mouth of the Illinois, f made my way back to the keelboat with this information, and the laboring epglne began to1 chug even while I was briefly explaining the situation to Rene.* She listened almost wearily, asking but few questions, and both of us soon lapsed into silence. A little later sh? had pillowed her head on her arms and apparently had fallen asleep. * I must have dozed myself a3 the hours passed, although hardly aware of doing so. It was faint and dim, a promise more than a realization of approaching day, yet already sufficient to afford me view of the shore, at our right and to reveal the outlines of a sharp point of land ahead jutting Into the stream. The mist rising from off the water in vaporous clouds obscured: all else, rendering the scene weird and unfamiliar. Itj was indeed a desolate view, the nearby land low, and without verdure, in many places overflowed, and the river itself sul'en and anVy. Only that distant point appeared clearly defined and real, with the slowly brightening sky beyond. I endeavored to arouse myself from stu por, ruDDing tne sieep irom my ey?i. Re^ie had changed her posture, but still slumbered, with face completely concealed In her arms; but Sam was wide awake and turned toward me grinning, at my first movement. Instinctively I liked the fellow?he appeared both intelligent and trustworthy. "Daylight, is it?" I said, speaking low so as not to awaken the girl. "I must have been asleep." "Yas, sah; yer's bin a-noddin* fer de las' hour. Ah wus 'bout ter stir yer up, sah, fer Ah reckon as how we's mos' dar." "Most where?** fifdHnp ShOttf Incredulously. "Oh, jes, Rassuer Cfeek. Have we made that distance alreudy?" "Wal, we's bin a-goln' et a mighty, good gait, sah. She ain't done fooled none on me all dls night," his hand laid lovingly on the engine. "Nebbei kicked up no row o' no kind?Just chug, chug, chug right 'long. 'Pears, like she sorter know'd dis. nigger hec ter git away. Enyhow, we bin movirf' long now right smart fer Tjopt four hours, an' Rassuer creek am jdst 'round dat p'lnt yonder?Ah's mighty sure ob dat, sah." He was right, but If wns broad daylight when we reached there, the east ern sky a glorious crinjson, and tht girl sitting up staring at the brilliant coloring as though It pictured to hei the opening of a new world. The pas sage of a few hundred yards revealed the mouth of Rassuer creek, a narrow but sluggish stream, so crooked and encroached upon by the woods tis tc be practically invisible from the center of the river. The water was not deep, yet fortunately proved sufficiently so for our purpose, although we were obliged to both pole and paddle the boat upward against tlu slow current, and It required an hour of hard labor to place the craft safely beyond the first bend, where it might lie roughly concealed by the interven ing fringe of trees. Here we made fast to the bank. I assisted Rene ashore, and aided her to climb to a higher level, carpeted with grass. The- broad river was invisible, but we could look directly down upotv the boat, where Sam was already busily rummaging through the lockers in search of something to eat, He came ashore presently," bearing some corn pone and a goodly portion of jerked beef. Deciding it would be better not to attempt a fire, we divided this and made the best meal possible, meanwhile discussing the situation anew, and planning what to do next. The negro, seated at one side alone upon the grass, said little, beyond replying to my questions,, yet scarcely once removed his eyes from the girl's face. He seemed unable to grasp the thought that she was actually of his race, a runaway slave, or permit histongue to utter any words of equality. Indeed I could not prevent my own glance from being constantly attracted ir. her direction also. Whatever had been her mental strain and anguish. the long hours of the night h|id in no marked degree diminished her beauty. To me she appenreu even younger . nd more attractive than In the dim glare of the lamplight the evening before; and this in spite of a weariness in her eyes and the lassitude of her llianner. She spoke but little, compelling herself to eat, and assuming a cheerfulness I was sure she was far from feeling. It was clearly evident her thoughts were elsewhere, and finally the conviction came to* me that, more than all else, she desired to be alone. My eyes sought the outlines of the boat lying in the stream below. "What is there forward of the cockpit, Sam?" I questioned. -? "A cabin, sah; 'tain't so awful big, but Massa Donaldson he uster sleep dar off an' on." "Tfce young lady could rest there then?" "Sure she cud. 'Twas all fixed uj ' ? Her Eye? Met Mine, And Endeavored a Smile. fire afore- we lef St. Louce. Ah'R show yer dp way, missus." She rose to her feet rather eagerly, and stood \ \fith 1 one rfand resting agninsl the' trunk of a small tree. Her eyes met mine and endeavored" a smile. v \ "I thank you for thinking of that," she said gratefully. "I?I really am tired, and?and It will be rest Just to be alone. Your?you do not mind if I go?" "Certainly not There Is nothing for any of , us to do but^just take things easy until nigbt" ^ N "And then we are to gp on up the river?" "Yes, unless, of course, something should occur daring the day to changd our plan. Meanwhile Sam %nd I will take turns on guard, while you can remain undisturbed." * it.. I 1 WUll'IieU UIC lWW no LUCjr r> cm. down the sleep bank together and Sam helped her over the rail into the cockpit. The negro left the door open and returned alowly, clambering .up the bank. "'Cuseme, sah," he said clumsily, as he paused before me, rubbing his head, his eyes Wandering below. "Did Ah hear right whut yer sed lasV night, 'bout ?how datv young woman was a nigger, a runaway from Massa Klrby? 'Pears like Ah don't just seem fer ter git dat right in my head, sah." "That is the truth, Sam, although It appears quite as impossible to nye as to you. She has thp blood of your race in her veths, and Is ^ legally a slave," "An* now she dorfe blong ter dls yerc Massa Klrby?" \ "Yep, he -Won all the Beaucaire properly, Including the slaves, in a poker game, on the river, the night Beaucaire died." "Ah done heerd all 'bout dat, sah. An' yer pebbec know'd dls yere giri afore et all?H j, * "No, I never even saw her. I chanced tb hear the story and went to the house to warn them, as no one i ? * i? ? 1-1- a else would. 1 was 100 mie, biiu iiu other course was left hut to help her espape. That is the whole of It." (To be fJontinued). ? For the flrot time fp Gvc years Servia is said to be free of small pox5 c a packs be Sc a packs (k ifc a packa . & THE FlHl SD DOES ' f I ? Discovery of a human "junk heap" was announced by officers of the Houso of Corrections at Deer Island near Roston. 'Mass., hast week. Charles "W: Buxzell, of Montreal, serving a sentence of oho year for forgery, complained of indigestion. A surgical op'cration resulted In th? recovery of two pounds of miscellaneous articles from his stomach. The collection/ Dr. L. C. Rockwell sdid, included parts of a dog chain, two feet long; a safety razor blade nearly whole; a suspender buckle apd 179 fragments or pieces of gla^a, hay wire, staples, nails , and screws. Relieved. of these autstances, Buzzell has almost entirely recovered. Thro prisoner had been accumulating the collection with suicidal intent, according to Dr. Rockwell, since last De cemueiv jtiu iuiu j?r?jvu?usi)' iiia?ic a similar cumulative attempt to cn(f his life, but it was frustrated by an operation performed in New York, he said. Buzr.oll told the surgeons that he was a former clergyman, having held several pastorates In Canada, and had been convicted of v/ortbIeE3 check operations in Michigan, New York and New Jersey. ? Vice President Thomas R. Marshall has accepted .an invitation to sneak in Columbia on November 18 as the guest of the Columbia Lodge, Loyal Order of the Moose. ffllP'C HOT BLAST IAN* O HEATERS Arc without a peer from the standpoint of ECONOMY and SERVICE. We have an cxtensrivo line of the famous COLE'S^ IIOT BLAST HEATERS ami will take pleasure In demonstrating them to you% Cook Stoves and Ranges In all sizes and at a variety of attractive prices. IF Yr lis A STOVE I ?? 1 TTCinn ..n? V>?v 1UU Willi I Dl'V r Vl\l/ UU1V1U JUU wu/. M. L. FORD Licensed EmbnLmcrs and Undertaken. CLOVER 6. C. PROFESSIONAL CARDS. ? J. A. MARION ? ATTORNEY ANO COUNSELLOR AT LAW Office opposite the Courthouse. Telephone N'tf 126, York Exchange v York. s. c. * 'r 1 JOHN R. HARTs ATTORNEY AND COUNSELLOR ' AT LAW. Prompt and Careful Attention to Ail Business Undertaken.' Telophone No. 69. YORK, S. C 76 ' < > "f.t It x J.'S. BRICE Attorney At Law. Prompt Attention to all J ega) Business of Whatever Nature, i Office Opposite Courthouse. . -J m - ' . : store the war S X V. iSe i irisia the war ; lie NOW : i )QR LASTS thf PRir.Fr li Q llbt QQWttAtt of * TSKAttK 11 V I ' .' W. :>. V -^1 fcj Ill ? I ' , . /* ] v\ , . ' ?"and from the? V ' N * ', . Tdk about adventures f Men in the Navy come home with the kind oJ ftxperiencca that most chaps read.of only in the books. Here's your chance? tTricle Sam has, as you Incw, Jag Navy and gives redblooded young fellctva like yen cn opportunity*^ step aboard end "shove off". What will yoa get out of k2 Just tkist A chance to rub elbows with ' foreign folka in strange porta ok the world. ?* The chance for good henes* work on shipboard?the kind of , work that teaches yoa torn ethics real* the kind of vxrk thut j?ua h ' *': t ) To any Fath< In the TTrry yo ?r boyo icy xaotal xmil cut to Ijoivc It ^ Shape pti : ' mm t. i'i.wjr'T 't ,miT->n "" .,"rS 'mHJiiaiiiTiiMtuiKiuHfiiitfinnunint: | "SHO | Crimson Glover 131 ^ & Texas Rust Proof 0 5 E We can supply all $ | D Vegetable Seeds f< S S Planting. | Our stocks are pi n our priced tfre right | land courteous. 1/ E HE NEY S E Charleston, J finiiiHHiiniHiiiiii?maniiHininnnnn I s i 'co : THE UNr ; ?SALES >ttttllll?llllllltll!UIIIIII)(ni!(IIIIIIIIIIIIII! TRY -JONTEEL-U OF TWENlY-SIX DIFFEI THE FACE OWDER, FACl AND PEHR'JID-ADD OF We arc Agents for 5 J. E. Brison, Prop. CITY 2 "thk pkrvk riiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiuiiiifniiiiiiiiiiiiiii p ?-T^E !' PEOPLES FURN \, i ! No. 51 North Congress I i THfe ( I Furniture, Beds?Iron i I fotiiers, China Closets, I Chairs and Rockers, Pa \ ings, Congoleum and Ai Pure Linseed Oil and Ti j. ' spar Vaj Cook Stoves and Rang' Stove Pipe. THE GUi ' IT MUST v " i ' WE WILL APfRECIA' PEOPLES FURM ? WVVWVVVVVVVWWVWVVVW ?' 2s rf .' . . V E| Jl ' e we went to Japan" ; " r*:j', ;% fW-fW^M beef on your sh culders and hair1 on your cncst. v , , . > You vjdfl get 30 care-free vacation day3 ? year, not counting ' | chore leave ia home' or foreign You v/i:i have the kind of com-' radco'Jp in travel that Milan You will have regular payj over and above your meais, lodging and your first uniform outfit ?good stuff all of It. Yeu can join for two yeata. When you getthn^ajftyoo^lbe up^ for the reat of your life* YcuH bo ready through and , through for SUCCESS. , v There*a a Recruiting Station 9 right near you. If yon don^ know .where it if, y?ar Poet* *<?? master will be glad to tell yon, ? and Mother f? oa, henith^work ar.rjplmy, mad t mites by rmponmUm mxpmrte, ! - Join the -GRO" ! 3TS. per Lb. s ats, $1.10 per Bu. E 1 arietics of Field and E #/| Dr Fall and Winter .P 1 ire, fresh and reliable', 1 , our service is prompt g ED COMPACT I South Caroling/ | ;ii8iiiiiiiriiiiiiifniiiiiiiisiiiiii??iii?ii?im?B^ ' ^ XV X X x 5M| yj^cC | /ERSAt CAR '> SERVICE | SENT FLOWERS. WE HAVE 'JL 2 CREAM. TALCUM POWDER = IT ELEGANT. u\ ? all REXALL Goods. f PHARMACY Clow, S.C. | 15 DRUG STORE" ? 5 PLACE ? PRE COMPANY Street, (McNeel Building) GOODS? md Wood, Bureaus, ChifBuffets, Ladies' Desks, trior Suites, Floor Cover- j rt Squares, Paint, Colors^ ; V irpentine, Jap-a-Lac, Val- . nish, Etc. ^ es, (Oil, Wood or Coal), ' ' a ^ T> A WPPP a. xv ii a ju u | BE RIGHT I rE A VISIT FROM YOU | TORE COMPANY I