Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 February 1920 — Page 2

The Devil’s Own

A Romance of the Black Hawk War • - • By RANDALL Pi Ant hor of “Coatrabaad," "Skea of the Irish Br iga ds.“ “Whoa Wildsrnass Was King." ate. I llustr ations by Irwin Myers Copyright by A. C. McClurg a Co.

-THE WORD OF A SOLDIER AND GENTLEMAN -

Synopsis.—ln IM Uoutsnant Knox of the regular vmy Is on duty at Fort Armetrone Rock Island. lU., In territory threatened by disaffected Indians. The commandant sends him with dispatches to St. Louis. He takes passage on the steamer Warrior and makes the acquaintance of Judge Beaucalre, rich planter and of Joe Kirby (the Devil's Own), notorious gambler. Knox learns Judas Bssucnlr* has a daughter. Eloise, and a granddaughter, Rene, offspring of a son whom the judge has disowned. Rene's mother ts a negress, and she and her daughter, never having been freed, are slaves under the law, although the girls have been brought up as sisters. Kirby induces the judge to stake W and norrn serve nt« nn a Dakar hand unfairly dealt by Joe Carver. Kirby's partner. Kirby accuses the judge of cheating, peaucaire. infuriated, drops dead. Knox tries to Induce Kirby to give up his stolen winnings. Kirby and Carver throw Knox overboard. The lieutenant swims ashore and reaches a hut Knox lies unconscious for ten days. Recovering, ho finds ho is in a cabin owned by Pete, a "free nigger." who had shot him, mistaking him for an enemy. His dispatches have been forwarded. Recovering from his wound Knox sends Pete to bring Haynes. Beaucaire’s lawyer, and they arrange, with Pete's help, to get the women to the cabin of an abolitionist Amos Shrunk, before Kirby comes. At the Beaucaire place Knox overhears a conversation between the sheriff and his deputy, and learns the truth about the situation. Ho is witness to an interview between Kirby and Reno Beaucalre.

CHAPTER Vl—Continued. “I know," she said distinctly, "I am no longer a free white woman; I am a negro and a slave." “Oh, you know that, do you? Then you must also be aware that yotf are my property. Perhaps it will be well for you to remember this In answertag my questions. Now tell me who Informed you of all this?" j "I cannot answer.” "Cannot! You mean you will not Well, young woman, ril find means to make you, for I have handled your kind before. Where Is "Eloise Beaucalre?" “Why do you seek to find her? There Is no slave blood in her veins.” ' “To serve the necessary papers, of cofirse." He spoke incautiously, urged on by his temper, and I maraed how quickly her face brightened at this Intelligence. “To serve papers! They must be served, then, before —before you can take possession? That is what I understood the sheriff to say. Then I am not really your slave —yet?” her voice deepening with earnestness and understanding. “Oh, so that is how it is—-even if I am a negro I do not belong to you until those papers have been served. If you touch me now ; you break the law. I may not be free but lam free from you. I am glad to know that 1”

“And d—n little good it is going tq do you,” be growled. “Sheriff or no sheriff, my beauty, you are going to St. Louis with me tonight; so I advise you to keep a grip on that tongue of yours. Do you think lam going to be foiled altogether by a technical point of law? Possession is the main thing, and I have you where you can’t get away. You hear me?” - r — She had not moved, although her form had straightened 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. “I certainly hear,” she replied calmly. “Your voice Is sufficiently distinct. lam a slave, I suppose, and tn your power; hut I despise you, bate you—and you are not going to take me to St Louis tonight” “What can stop me? The sheriff? Puh I a few dollars will take care of him. The judge Is a friend of mine.” “It is not the sheriff —nor the judge; I place reliance on no friend of yours.” He grasped at her arm, but she stepped back quickly enough to avoid contact, and the red lips were pressed together In a thin line of determination. Her hand had suddenly disappeared 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 mustache bristling. “Why, what eould 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 lawyer? You have a surprise up your sleeve for me, I suppose! H—l! it makes me laugh; but you might as well have your lesson now as any other time. Come here, you wench I” He caught her arm this time, brutally jerking her toward him, but as instantly staggered backward, grasping at the table, the flash of anger in his eyes changing to a look of startled surprise. A pistol was leveled full in his face, the polished black barrel ■h tn Ing ominously in the light at the overhead lamp. " “Now perhaps you know what I mean," she said. “If you dare to touch me I will kill you like a dog. That is no threat; it Is true as God's gospel,” and the very tone of her voice carried conviction. “You may say I am a alavn—your slave I That may be so, but you will never possess me—oever! Life means nothing to me any more, and I never expect to go out of this house alive; I do not even care to. So I am not afraid of you. Do tor you kava never been nearer death

In all your miserable life than you are now. God knows I want to kill you; It Is the one desire of my heart at this moment to rid the earth of such a beast But I’ll give you one chance —just one. Don't you dare call out or answer me. Do what I say. Now step back —back along the table; that's It, a step at a time. Oh, I knew you were a cowardly bully. Go on —yes, clear to that window; don’t lower those hands an inch until I say you may. lam a slave —yes, but lam also a Beaucalre. Now reach behind you and pull up the sash —pull it up higher Than that” Her eyes dilated with sudden astonishment and terror. She had caught sight of me, emerging from the black shadow just behind her victim. Kirby also perceived the quick change in the face fronting him, read its expression of fright, and sought to twist his head so as to learn the truth. Yet before he could accomplish this or his lips could give utterance to a sound, my hands closed on his throat, crushing him down to the sill, and throttling him Into silence between the vise of my fingers.

CHAPTER VII. To Save a “Niffoer.” It proved to be a short, sharp struggle, from the first the advantage altogethieK with ine. With all the oldtime dislike in .my heart, all the hatred aroused by what I had overheard, I closed down on his throat, rejoicing to see the purple of his flesh turn into a sickening black, as he fought desperately for breath and as he lost consciousness and ceased from struggle. I was conscious of a pang In my wounded shoulder, yet It seemed to rob me of no strength but only added to my ferocity. The fellow rested limp in my hands. I believed I had killed him, and the belief was a Joy as I tossed his helpless body aside on the floor and stepped through the open window Into the room. In my heart I hoped he was dead, and in a sudden feeling of utter contempt I struck the inert body with my foot. Then, as my eyes lifted, they encountered those of the girl. She had drawn back to the table, startled out of all reserve by this sudden apparition, unable to comprehend. The pistol yet remained clasped In her hand, while she stared at me as though a ghost confronted her. “Who —who are you?” she managed to gasp In a voice which barely reach my ears. “My God ! who—who sent you here?" “It must have been God,” I answered, realizing Instantly that I needed to make all clear in a word.

My Hands Closed on His Throat, Crushing Him Down to the Sill.

•I came only to help you and was just in time —no doubt God sent me.” “To help met You came here to help me? But how could that be? I —l never saw you before—who are you?" I Stood straight before her, my eyes meeting her own frankly. I had fobgotten the dead body at my feet, the Incidents of struggle, the pain of my own wound, comprehending only the supreme importance of compelling her to grasp the truth. “There to no time now to explain all this. Miss Bene. You must accept the bare facto—will your?

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

“Yes—I—I suppose I must.” “Then listen, for you must know that every moment we waste here in talk only makes escape more difficult. I tell you the simple truth. lam Steven Knox, an officer In the army. It chanced I was a passenger on the boat when Judge Beaucalre lost his life. I witnessed the game of cards this man won, and afterward, when,! protested, was attacked and flung overboard into the river by Kirby here and that fellow who is outside guarding the door. They believe me to be dead; but I managed to reach shore and was taken care of by a negro—'Free Pete’ he calls himself; do you know him?” “Yes —oh, yes; he was one of the Carlton slaves.” Her face brightened slightly In its bewilderment “Well, I knew enough of what was bound to occur to feel an Interest, and tonight he brought me here for the purpose of warning you—you, your mother and Eloise Beaucaire. He has his cart and mule out yonder; we intended to transport you across the river, and thus start you safely on the way to Canada." “Then,” she said slowly, seeming to catch at her breath, her voice trembling, “then it must be really true what these men say—Della is my mother? I —l am a slave?” “You did not really know? You were not warned by anyone before their arrival?” “No, there was no warning. Did anyone In this -neighborhood understand?” “Hainesthe lawyer did. He furnished me with much of the information I possess. But I am the one puzzled now. If the truth was not known to any of you how does it happen the others are gone?” “So far as I am aware that is merely an accident.- They walked over to the old Carlton place early this evening; there Is sickness in the family, and they hoped to be of help. That Is everything I know. They were to return two hours ago, for I was here all alone, except for the negroes In their quarters. I cannot conceive what has occurred —unless they have learned in some way of the trouble here.” “That must be the explanation; they have hidden themselves. And these men told you why they came?” “The only one I saw at first did. He came In all alone and claimed to be a deputy sheriff. I was terribly frightened at first, and did not at all understand ; but I questioned him and the man liked to talk. So he told me all he knew. Perhaps I should have thought he was crazy, only—only some things had occurred of late which led me to half suspect the truth before. T Iwouldn’t believe it then. but —but I made him repeat everything he had heard. Horrible as It was I—l wanted to know all.”

“And you acknowledged to him that you were Rene Beaucalre?” Her dark eyes flashed up Into my face questloningly. “Why—why, of course. I—l could nob deny that, could I?" “Perhaps not; yet if none of them knew you, and you had claimed to be Eloise, they would never have dared to hold you prisoner.” “I never once thought of that; the only thing which occurred to me was how I could best protect the others. My plan was to send them warning In some way. Still now I am very glad I said I was Rene.” — x “Glad! Why?” “Because it seems It is Eloise they must first find to serve tSelr papers on. They dare not, take away the slaves until this is done. As for me, I am nothing—nothing but a slave myself; is that not true?” To look into her eyes, her face, and answer was a hard task, yet one I saw no way to evade. “Yes; I am afraid it is true.” “And —and then Della, the housekeeper, is actually my mother?” “That is the story as it reached me." She held tightly to the table for support, all the fresh color deserting her face, but the lips were firmly set and her head remained as proudly poised as ever above the round throat. Whatever might be the stain of alien blood..ln her veins, she was still a Beaucaire. Her eyes, filled with pain as they were, met mine unflinchingly. “And —and knowing all this, convinced of its truth—that—that I am colored,” she faltered, doubtfully, “you came here to help me?” “I did; that can make no difference now.” “No difference! Why do you say that? Are you from the North, an abolitionist ?” “No; at least I have never been called one or so thought myself. I have never believed In slavery, yet I was born in a southera state. In this case I merely look upon you as a woman—as one of my own class. It — it does not seem as though I could ever consider you in any other way. Yon must believe this." “Believe iti Why, you and I are caught in the same net lam a slave to be sold to the highest bidder, and you—you have killed a man to save me. Even if Iwas willing to remain and face my fate I could not now, for that would mean you mutt suffer.

By RANDALL PARRISH

And—and you have done this for me.” My eyes dropped to the upturned face of Kirby, on which the rays of light rested. The flesh was no longer black and horrid, yet remained ghastly enough to increase my belief that the man was actually dead —had perished under my hand. He was not a pleasant sight to contemplate, flung as he had been in a shapeless heap, and the sight brought home to me anew the necessity of escape before those others of his party could learn what had occurred. “From whatever reason the deed was done,” I said, steadying my voice, “we must now face the consequences. As you say, it is true we both alike have reason to fear the law if caught. Flight is our only recourse. Will you go with me? Will you trust me?” “Go —go with you? Where?” “First across the river into Illinois; there is no possible safety here. In a way your danger is even more serious than mine. I have not been seen—even Kirby had no glimpse of my sac might never be identified with the death of this man. But you will become a fugitive slave and could be hunted down anywhere this side of Canada.” “Then being with me would add to your danger.” “Whether it will or not counts nothing ; I shall never let you go alone.” She pressed the palms of both her hands against her forehead as though in a motion of utter bewilderment. “Oh, I cannot seem to realize,” she exclaimed. “Everything is like a dream to me—impossible in its horror. This situation is so terrible; it has come upon me so suddenly I cannot decide; I cannot even comprehend what my duty is. You urge me to go away with you—alone?” “I do; there is no other way left. You cannot remain here In the hands of these men; the result of such a step is too terrible to even contemplate. There are no means of determining where the others are —Della and Miss Eloise. Perhaps they have had warning and fled already,” I urged desperately. Her eyes were staring down at Kirby’s body. - “Look, he—he is not dead,” she sobbed excitedly. “Did you see then — one of his limbs moved, and —and — why, he is beginning to gasp for breath.” “All the more reason why we should decide at once. If the fellow regains consciousness and lives, our danger will be all the greater.” “Yes, he would be merciless,” her lips parted, her eyes eloquent of disgust and horror as she suddenly lifted them to my face. “I—l must not forget that I—l belong to him; I am his slave; he —he, that hideous thing there, can do anything he wishes with me—the law says he can.” The indignant color mounted into her face. “He can sell me, or use me, or rent me; lam his chattel. Good God! think of it! Why, lam as white as he is, better educated, accustomed to every care, brought up to believe myself rich and happy—and now I belong to him; he owns me, body and soul.” She paused suddenly, assailed by a new thought, a fresh consideration. “Is It so. Is it the law that these men can take possession of nothing here until after Eloise has been found and theli papers served upon her?” “Yes, I believe it is,” I, said. “She is the legal heiress of Judge Beaucalre; the estate is hers by inheritance, as I am told there was no will. All this property, including the slaves, would legally remain in her possession until proper steps had been taken by others. Serving of the papers would be necessary. There is no doubt as to that.” She drew a deep breath and stepped toward me, gazing straight into my face. “I believe In you,” she said firmly. “And I trust you. You look like a real man. You tell me you serve in the army—an officer?” “A lieutenant of Infantry.” She held out her hand and my own closed over it, the firm, warm clasp of her fingers sending a strange thrill through my whole body. An instant she looked directly into my eyes, down into the very soul of me, and what I read in the depths of her brown orbs could never find expression in words. I have thought of it often since—that great, dimly lighted room, with the guard at the outer door; the inert, almost lifeless body huddled on the floor beside us, and Rene Beaucaire, her hand clasped in mine. “Lieutenant Knox,” she said softly, yet with a note of confidence in the low voice, “I am going to trust you absolutely; there axe reasons why I 80 decide which I cannot explain at this time. I have not known you long enough to venture that far. You must accept me just as I am —a runaway slave and a negress, but" also a woman. Can you pledge such as I your word of honor —the word of a soldier and a gentleman?" . “I pledge it to you, Rena Beaucaire.” I answered- soberly. “And J accept the pledge in all Satth. From now on whatever you say I will

I bad but one Immediate purpose in my mind —to escape from the house as quickly as possible, to attain Pete’s cart at the edge of the woods, and be several miles up the river, hidden .away in some covert before daylight, leaving no trail behind. It would prove decidedly to our advantage if I was not seen or recognized. The very mystery, the bewilderment as to who had so viciously attacked the gambler and then spirited away the girl, would serve to facilitate our escape. I stooped and removed a pistol from Kirby’s pocket, dropping It, together with such ammunition as I could find. Into one of my own. The man by this time was breathing heavily, although his eyes remained closed, and he still lay exactly as he had fallen. “Keep your own weapon,” I commanded her. “Hide It away in your dress. Now come with me-” She obeyed, uttering no word .of objection, and stepping after me through the open window onto the narrow bah cony without. I reached up and drew down the shade, leaving us in comparative darkness. The, night was soundless and our eyes, straining to pierce the black void, were unable to detect any movement “You see nothing?” I whispered, touching her hand in encouragement. “No evidence of a guard anywhere?" “No—the others must still be out in front waiting.” “There were only the four of them, then?” “So I understood. I was told they came up the river in a small keelboat, operated by an engine, and that they

"Can You Pledge Such as I Your Word of Honor—the Word of a Soldier and a Gentleman?”

anticipated no resistance. The engineer was left to watch the boat and be ready to depart downstream at any moment.” “Good; that leaves us a clear passage. Now lam going to drop to the ground; it is not far below. Can you make it alone?” “I have done so many a time.” We attained the solid earth almost together and In silence. “Now let me guide you,” she suggested, as I hesitated. “I know every inch of the way about here. Where Is the negro waiting?” “At the edge of the wood where the wagon road ends, beyond the slave quarters.” “Yes, I know: It will be safer for us to go around the garden.” She flitted forward, sure-footed, confident, and I followed as rapidly as possible through the darkness, barely keeping her dim figure in sight. Our fe.et stumbled over the ruts of a road, and-1 seemed to vaguely recognize the spot as familiar. Yes, away off yonder was the distant gleam of, the river reflecting the stars. This naust be the very place where Pete and I had parted, but —where had the fellow gone? “Here Is where he was directed to wait,” I explained hurriedly. “I am sure I am not mistaken In the spot.” , “Yet he is net here, and there Is no sign of him. Ybu left no other instructions except for him to remain until your return?” “I think not —oh, yes, I did tell him if you women came without me he was to drive you at once to the boat and leave me to follow the best way I could. Do you suppose it possible the others reached here and he has gone away with them?” She stood silent and I strove by peering about to discover some marks of guidance, only to learn the uselessness of the effort. Even a slight advance brought no result, and it was with some difficulty I even succeeded in locating her again in the darkness — indeed, only the sound of her voice made me aware of her immediate presence. “The negro’s boat Is some distance away, is it not?” "Four miles, over the worst road I ever traveled.” A sudden remembrance swept into my mind, bringing with it inspiration.

Knox has an inspiration that promises well. (TO BE CONTINUED.) ___———

Love’s Labor Lost.

A young and enthusiastic golfer at a dinner party started to enumerate to his partner the details of a golf match that he had been playing that day. It was not until dessert was brought in that he suddenly bethought himself that he had been talking all the time; Indeed, the young lady at his side had not said a single word during the progress of the meaL “I am afraid I have been boring you with this talk,” he said in- half spology, “Oh, no—not at aD»“ was the polite response. “Only, what is foiCF

Home Town Helps

FOR CENTRAL HEATING PLANT Canadian Newspaper Warmly Advocates Such a Scheme, on Ecoi nomic and Other Grounds. The town of Renfrew has carried a by-law to spend $25,000 on a central heating plant for the business ggctjggIt Is erecting a new fire hall and takes advantage of the opportunity. Owen Sound is said to have a similar scheme under consideration. This is an avenue of small-town development that will be much more extensively traveled in the future, remarks the Toronto (Can.) Mail and Empire. Ontario towns are usuajlyicompact, the streets used for business Intersect each other, and with the advent of modern heating systems in the stores and factories, the economic possibilities of a central heating plant are exceptionally good. Many cities and towns in the United States haveadopted the system, and results have been very satisfactory. Insteadof two dozen furnaces, two dozen firemen, one big plant handled by about three men, does the whole business. Modern insulating methods present loss of steam and heat underground and the service Is usually better than any home system. The obtaining of coal is such a problem nowadays for the ordinary merchant and factory operator that the putting of responsibility on a civic plant would be a great relief. The ultimate saving, once the heating equipment is installed, ought to be thousands of dollars a year. In many of the small Ontario towns stores are still heated by stoves, or hot-air furnaces, using anthracite coal. The statistics of the cost of steam heat cannot be made up without consideration of local conditions, because pipe-laying, radiator installation and plant costs vary with.the size of the project, and the location of the premises to be heated. But the Innovation is one that should commend Itself to the notice of all town councils.

WRONG KIND OF ADVERTISING

Signboard Display May Catch the Eye for a Moment, but It Does Not Make Friends. An Important function of advertising is in creating good will. The permanent, lasting value of an advertising campaign is in the good will it creates. Signboards can do little toward creating good will and may stir up a lot of ill will. There are certain classes of adven rising that must be handled in a dignified manner, otherwise the advertising may do more harm than good. If the Information received is correct, various garden clubs have already protested against the use of signboards by florists, which shows “the way ths wind blows” regarding public sentiment. It has been proposed that motorists organize to rid our highways of the grotesque obstructive signs. Each member Is to agree not to purchase any goods advertised on signboards. That will be an effective way to clear up the situation. — —- This gives the florists good advice and gets their slogan before our readers, both of which it is hoped will be profitable. —New York Times.

Trees on Roadsides.

Believing probldn of roadside planting should not be entirely set aside during the movement for a greater mileage of improved highways, active steps are now being taken by the New York state motor federation and the state college of forestry at Syracuse for the development of a planting scheme for the section of the highway running from Syracuse to Utica, a distance of about sixty miles. It has been demonstrated by those in charge of the wora that aside from the purely ornamental value of trees along the highway, mpny practical benefits would result from their proper use. It is not generally realized that trees, by means of their shade during hot summer months, prolong the life of the roadway for many years, and road experts in general are heartily in favor of tnls means of road protection.

Have an Eye to the Future.

It is common in a good many dries to find a street originally laid out to come to an abrupt end for a block, after which the street is continued. No doubt -the founders never dreamed that more and wider streets would be necessary, and thought that in laying them out they we» anticipating all possible road expansion for hundreds of years to come. Where such streets, by continuing them through the block, would create an outlet for additional traffic, thereby eliminating congestion and confusion, the property owners, as well as city and government officials, should take additional steps to rectify it.

Keep Eye on Shade Trees.

Don’t forget gour snade trees. Relieve them of all dead wood and tangled growth.

Never Forget the Shrubs.

Shrubs beautify and protect tbs