Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1920 — Page 2

The Devil’s Own

CspyrisMby A.C. McChagACa

■vnßMiSL—ln IM lieutenant Knox of the regular army Is on duty at Fort Armstroan. Rock Island. HL, In territory threatened by disaffected Indians. commandant sends Mm with dispatches to St Louts. Ho takes passage on the steamer Warrior and makes the acquaintance of Judge Beaucalre, rich nianter end of Joe Kirby (the Devil’s Own), notorious rambler. Knox learns Judie Weanretre has a daurhter, Eloise, and a granddaughter, Rene, offspring da wm whom the judge has disowned. Rene’s mother is a negress, and she and her daughter, never having been freed, are slaves under the law, although cirls have been brought up as slaters. Kirby induces the judge to stake Me plantation and negro servants on a poker hand unfairly dealt by Joe Kirby's partner. Kirby accuses the judge of cheating. Beaucalre, infuriated, drops dead. Knox tries to induce Kirby to give up his stolen wlnntan. Kirby and Carver throw Knox overboard. The lieutenant swims *,.4 reaches a hut Knox lies unconscious for ten days. Recovering, ho finds ho Is in a cabin owned by Peto, a "free nigger.” who had shot Mm. nlstakinr him for an enemy. His dispatches have been forwarded. Recovering from his wound. Knox sends Peto to bring Haynes, Beaucalre’s lawyer, and th,, arrange, with Peto’s help, to get the women to the cabin of an aboliUonist. Asaos Strunk, before Kirby comes. At the Beaucalre place Knox overhears a conversation between the sheriff and his deputy, and learns the troth about the situation. He is witness to an Interview between Kirby and a rtrl who says she Is Rene Beaucalre. Kirby Insults the girl, and Knox attacks him. Believing Kirby dead, Knox explains affairs to the girl, and she to try to escape with him. They fall to find Peto where he had been X£d. so Knox selxes the sheriff’s keelboat, along with Sam, the slave left in charge, and they begin their voyage up the river.

CHAPTER VIII. Th® 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 rlnarly enough on 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 earner In the evening, had disappeared from its moorings. No trace of it could be found in the darkness, although I devoted several minutes to the search. To my mind this was positive evidence that Pete had returned, accompanied by the two frightened women, and that, finally despairing of my arrival, had departed with them up the river. In an probability we would overhaul the party before morning, certainly before they could attain the month of the Illinois. I made my way back to the keelboat with this information, and the laboring engine began to 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 she had pillowed her head on her arms and apparently had fallen asleep. I must have dozed myself as the hours passed, although hardly aware ofdoing so. It was faint and dim, a promise more than a realisation of approaching day, yet already sufficient to afford-me view of the shore at our right and to reveal the outlines of a :harp 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. It was indeed a desolate view, the nearby land low, and without verdure, tn many places overflowed, and the rlver'itself sullen and angry. Only that distant point appeared 'dearly defined and real, with the slowly brightening sky beyond. I endeavored to arouse myself from stupor, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Rene 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 T must have been asleep.” “Tas, sah; yer’s bln a-noddin’ fer de las* hour. Ah wus ’bout ter stir yer bp, sah, fer Ah reckon as how we’s mos* dar.” 4

“Most where?" staring about incredulously. “Oh, yes, Rassuer creek. Have we made that distance already?” “Wal, we’s bln a-goin’ et a mighty good gait, sah. She ain’t done fooled none on me all dis night,” his hadd laid lovingly on the engine. “Nebber kicked up no row o* no kind—just chug, chug, chug right long. 'Pears like she sorter know’d dis nigger bed ter git away.Enyhow, we bin movin' long now right smart fer ’bout four hours, an’ Rassuer creek am jhst •round dat p’int yonder—Ah’s mighty sure ob dat, sah.” He was right, but it was broad daylight when we reached there, the eastern sky a glorious crimson, and the girt sitting up staring at the brilliant coloring as though it pictured to her the opening of a ne* world. The passage of a few hundred yards revealed the mouth of Rassuer creek, a narrow but sluggish stream, so crooked and encroached upon by tbe htpods as to be practically invisible from the center of the river. The water was not deep, yet fortunately proved sufficieotly so for our purpose, although we were obliged to both pole and paddle the boat upward against the glow 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 toterventnyfritwe of trees. Here wo made I assisted Rene ashore, and aided Fa a hff carDCted t Ihe broad river was inlawair - TOwiC, but COtHU IOOK uirecuy J&J Ue bearing

"GOOD LORO O’ MERCY, WHATt DATF

of jerked beef. Deciding it would be better not to attempt a fire, we divided this and made the beat 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 his tongue to utter any words of equality. Indeed I could not prevent my own glance from being constantly attracted in her direction also. Whatever had been her mental strain and anguish, the long hours of the night had in no marked degree diminished her beauty. To me she appeared evto younger and 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 manner. 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, 8am?” I questioned. “A cabin, sah; ’taln’t so awful big, but Massa Donaldson he uster sleep dar off an’ on.” —7 ' “The young lady could rest there then?” “Sure she cud. Twas all fixed up fine afore we lef St. Louee. Ah’ll show yer de way, missus.” . She rose to her feet rather eagerly, and stood with one hand resting against the trunk of. a small tree. Her eyes met mine and endeavored a smile. “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. You —you do not mind if I go?” “Certainly not There is nothing for any of us to do but just take things easy until night" "And then we are to go on up the river?” “Yes, unless, of course, something should occur during the day to change our plan. Meanwhile Sam and I will take turns on guard, while you can remain undisturbed.” I watched the two as they went down the steep bank together and Sam helped her over the rail into the

Her Eyes Met Mine, and Endeavored a Smile.

cockpit. TM' negro left the door open and returned slowly, clambering up the bank. “•Cuse me, sah," he said clumsily, as he paused before me, rubbing his head, his eyes wandering below. “Did Ah hear right whnt yer sed las’ night, ’bout bow dat young woman was a nigger, a runaway from Massa Kirby? Tears like Ah don’t just seem far ter git dat right in my head, sah.” "That is the truth, - Sam, although It appears qultoas impossible to me as to you. She has the blood of your race in her veins, and is legally a now she done b*loa< ter dis yam Maw Klrtyr d

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

“Yes, he won all the Beaucalre property, including the slaves. In a poker game, on the river, the night Beaucalre died.”, “Ah done heerd all *bout dat, sah. An’ yer nebber know’d- dis yere girl afore et all?” “No, I never even saw her. I chanced to hear the story and went to the house to warn them, as no one else would. I was too late, and no other course was left but to help her escape. That is the whole of IL” He asked several other questions, but at last appeared satisfied, and after that we discussed the guard duty of the day, both agreeing it would not be safe for us to permit any possible pursuit to pass by us up the river unseen. Sam professed himself as unwearied by the night’s work and willing to stand the first watch. I lay down in the tree shade, and must have fallen asleep almost immediately. I do not know what aroused me, but I immediately sat upright, startled and instantly awake, the first object confronting me being Sam on the crest of the opposite ridge, eagerly beckoning me to join him. The moment he was assured of my coming, aud without so much as utterttifT word of explanation, he vanished Into the shadow of the woods. I crossed the ravine with reckless haste, clambering up the opposite bank, and sixty feet beyond suddenly came into view of the broad expanse of water. Scarcely had I glljnpsed this rolling flood, sparkling under the sun’s rays, when my gaze turned upstream, directed by an excited gesture of the negro. Less than a mile away, its rapidly revolving wheel churning the water Into foam In ceaseless battle against the current, was a steamboat. A number of moving figures were perceptible on the upper deck. I stared at the- apparition, scarcely comprehending the reality of what I beheld. “Yer bettah stoop down more, sah,” Sam urged. “Fer sum o* dem fellars might see yer yet. Ah nebber heerd nuthln’ ner saw no smoke till she cum a-puffln* ’round de end o’ dat p’int. Ah cudn’t dare go fer yer then, sah, fer fear dey’d see me, so Ah jus’ nat’arly lay down yere an’ watched her go by.” ——

“Is it a government boat?” “Ah reckon maybe; leastwise that’s a heap o’ sojers aboard her —reg’lars. Ah reckons, fer dey’s all in uniform. But everybody aboard wasn’t sojers.” "You know the steamer?” “Yas, sah. Ah’s seed her face afore dis down et St. Louee. She uster run down de ribber —she’s de John B. Glover. She ain’t no great shakes ob a boat, sah.” His eyes, which had been eagerly following the movements of the craft, turned and glanced at me. “Massa Kirby he wus aboard dat steamer, sah.” “Kirby! Are you sure about that, Sam?” “’Course Ah’s sure. Didn’t Ah see him just as plain as Ah see you right now? He wus forrad by de rail, near de pilot house, a-watchin’ dis whole shore like a hawk. Dat sure wus Massa Kirby all right, but dar wan’t nobody else long wid him.” ■ “But what could he be doing there on a troop boat?” The negro scratched his head, momentarily puzzled by my question. “Ah sure don’t know, sah,” he admitted. “Only dat’s perzackly who it was. Ah figure it out ’bout dis way, sah: dat nobody kin tell yit which way we went —up de ribber er down de ribber. Long cum de John B. Glover, an’ Massa Kirby he just take a chance an’ goes aboard. De sheriff he goes der odder way, downstream in a rowboat; an’ dat’s how dey aims ter sure head us off.” I sat down at the edge of the bluff, convinced that the conclusions of the negro were probably correct. That was undoubtedly about how it had happened. To attempt pursuit upstream with only oars as propelling power would be senseless, but the passage upward of this troop boat afforded Kirby an opportunity he would not be slow to accept. Getting aboard would present no great difficulty, and his probable acquaintance with the captain would make the rest easy.

The Steamer by this time was moving diagonally across the river, head toward the other shore, and was already so far away the men on'deck were invisible. It was scarcely probable that Kirby would go far northward, but just what course the man would take when once more ashore was problematical. Where he might choose to seek for us could not be guessed. Yet the mere fact that he was already above us on the river was to itself a matter for grave consideration. Still thus far we remained unlocated. and there was less danger in that direction than downstream. Once we attained the Illinois and made arrangements with Shrunk the Immediate danger would be over. 'Then I need go nofarther—the end of the adventure might be left to others. I looked up—the steamer was a mere smudge on the distant bosom of the river. ' It was late afternoon before Rene finally emerged ft® the caMn to

learn the news, and I spent most of the time on watch, seated at the edge of the bluff, my eyes searching the surface of the river. While Kirby’s presence upstream unquestionably Increased our peril of capture, this did not cause me as much anxious thought as did the strange disappearance of Free Pete and the two women. What had become of them during the night? Surely they could never have outstripped us with only a pair of oars by which to combat the current, and yet we had obtained no glimpse of them anywhere along that stretch of river. The knowledge that the steamer which had passed us was heavily laden with troops was most encouraging. In itself alone this was abundant proof of the safe delivery of my dispatches, and I was thus relieved to realize that the duty had been performed. There might be wonder and later the necessity of explanation, yet no one would suffer from my absence, and I was within the limits of my furlough—the re-enforcements for Forts Armstrong and Crawford were already on their way. So, altogether, I faced the task of eluding Kirby with a lighter heart and renewed confidence. Alone, as I believed him to be, and in that new country on the very verge of civilization, jghe was hardly an antagonist I needed greatly to fear. Indeed, as man to man, I rather welcomed an encounter. , There is little to record, either of the day or night. The latter shut down dark but rainless, although the sky was heavily overcast by clouds. Sam 1 made no endeavor to speed his engine keeping most of the way close to th® deeper shadow of the shore, and th® machinery ran smoothly, its noise indistinguishable at any distance. Day had not broken when we came to the mouth of the Illinois and turned our bow cautiously up that stream.becomlng immediately aware that we had entered hew waters. The negro, ignorant of what was before us, soon beached the boat on a sand bar, and we decided it would be better for us to remain there until dawn. This was not long in coming, the graying sky of the east slowly lighting up the scene and bringing Into view, little by little, our immediate surroundings. Nowhere appeared the slightest evidence of life, either on water or land; all was forlorn and dead, a vista of utter desolation. Sam was standing up, his whole attention concentrated on the view upstream. “Do steamers ever go up, this river?” I asked, surprised at the 1 volume of water.

He glanced around at me as though startled at my voice. “Yas, sah; putty near eny sorter boat kin. Trouble is, sah, we’s ’got started in de wrong place—dar’s plenty watah t’other side of dis yere bar.” “Who told you the best way to find Shrunk T* His eyes widened and searched my face, evidently still somewhat suspicious of any white man. . “Anigger down St. Louee way, sah. Dey done cotched him an’ brought him back afore he even got ter Beardstown." “And you believe you can guide us there?” — “Ah sure can. If whut dat nigger sed wus correct, sah. Ab done questioned him mighty partlc’lar, an’ Ah members ebery sign whut he giv’ me." He grinned broadly. “Ah sorter suspicloned Ah mought need dat information." “All right, then; it is certainly light enough now—let’s push off.” We had taken the sand lightly and were able to pole the boat into deep water with no great difficulty. The broader river' behind us remained veiled in mist, but the gray light was sufficient for our purpose, enabling us to proceed slowly until our craft had rounded the out of sight from below. l “"Tain’t so awful fur from yere, sah,” Sam called to me. “What—the place where we are to land?” .

ttYas, sah. It’s. de mouth ob a little creek whut yer nebber see till yer right plum at it. Bettah keep yer eyes open ’long dat shore, sah.” The girl, alertly bent forward, was first among us to detect the concealed opening, which was almost completely screened by the overarching trees, her voice ringing excitedly as she pointed it out Sam was quick to respond, and almost before I had definitely established the Spot the bow of the boat swerved and we shot in through the leafy screen, the low-hung branches sweeping against our faces and scraping along the sides. It looked a veritable cave, and indeed all I remember noting in my first hasty glance through the shadows was the outline of * small boat moored to a fallen tree. I scrambled over, found precarious footing; and made fast ' K " “So this is the placeF I questioned incredulously, staring about at the dark, silent forest, which still remained in the deep night shades "Why, tiere’a nothing here." . “No, sah; dar certenly don’t ’pear fer tar be th* negro enet

JI Romance of the Black Hawk War

By RANDALL PARRISH

Author of i 'X M tnl Mß 4”**SUaof tWM4 Bric»d<* •*WhM WUaaMa Wm KfaC.”**ILLUSTRATIONS BY IRWIN MYERS

out of the cockpit and joined me, * ’ceptln* dat boat. Dar ain’t no boat ’round yere, les’ folks bes bin a-rldln’ in It, Ah reckon.” Sam advanced cautiously and began anxiously to scan the ground, beating back and forth through the underbrush. After watching him a moment my gaze settled on the strange boat, and I crept along the log, curious to examine it more closely. It had the appearance of being newly built, the paint unscratched, and exhibiting few marks of usage. A single pair of oars lay crossed In the bottom, and beside these was an old coat and some ordinary fishing tackle—but nothing to arouse any interest. Without doubt it belonged to Amos Shrunk, and had been left here after the return from some excursion either up or down the river. I was still staring at these things and speculating about them when the negro called out from a distance that he had found the path. Rene answered his hall, standing up In the boat, and I hastened back to help her ashore. We had scarcely exchanged words during the entire night, but now she accepted my proffered hand gladly,

"Good Lord o' Marcy!" He Exclaimed Excitedly, “What's Dat?”

and with a smile, springing lightly from the deck to the insecure footing of the log. “I do not intend that you shall leave me behind,” she said, glancing about with a shudder. “This is such a horrid place.” “The way before us looks scarcely better,” I answered, vainly endeavoring to locate Sam. "Friend Shrunk evidently is not eager for callers. Where is that fellow?” “Somewhere over in that thicket, I think. At least his voice sounded from there. You discovered nothing in the boat?” “Only a rag and some fishing tackle. Come; we’ll have to plunge in somewherc. w She followed closely as I pushed a passage through the obstructing underbrush, finally locating Sam at the edge of a small opening, where the light was sufficiently strong to enable us to distinguish marks of a little-used trail leading along the bottom ofa shallow gully bisecting the sidehill. At the crossing of a small stream we noticed the Imprint of several feet In the soft mud of the shore. One plainly enough was small and narrow, beyond all question that of a woman, but the others were all men’s, one being clad In moccasins. Sam, still ahead, started to clamber across the trunk of a fallen tree, but came to a sudden halt, staring downward at something concealed from our view on the other side. “Good Lord o’ mercy I” he exclaimed excitedly, “what’s dat?” I was close beside him by this time end saw the thing also —the body of a man lying on the ground. “Walt where you are, Rene!” I exclaimed, waving her back. “There is a man lying here beyond the log. Come, Sam; we will see what he looks like.” 4 _ ' .

Wholesale murder—the work of the Devil’s Own. (TO BE CONTINUED.)

Suggestive Hint.

A certain eminent lawyer was appointed head of ..a government department, and be was anxious that all the members of the staff should wort together Ih unison. He summoned the leading officials, and after delivering an address on the desirability of thorough co-operation, concluded by saying: “Gentlemen, in my piuCeeslnn j when a jury disagrees it is discharged. I think I need say no moreF —feW he .

Iodine for Scratches.

J Scratches on dart oak furniture may carefully painting the scars with lodine, using as many coats WMCW suy to produce the desired depth of color. When this is dry go over the whole piece of furniture with « good

HOME TOWN HELPS

START YOUR GARDEN EARLY; Department of Agriculture Puts Forthi Plea for the Raising of More Food Products. Gardens are going to be just as inn pdktant the coming year as during the war period, United States department of agriculture Specialists declare. High food costs, they say, are likely to remain until more to eat is grown andJ distributed. Farm gardens, village gardens and city backyard gardens alB will help. Food produced In the garden not only helps balance the family budget but releases that grown- onj farms for the use of people who are entirely dependent upon others. With the lengthening of the days It will not be long until land can be worked, and such hardy crops as peas,, onions, lettuce, radishes and beets planted, especially throughout the lower Gulf coast region. The average date of the last killing frost of the winter in this section is not later than;

Corner of a Town Garden.

March 15. This zone Includes the southern portion Of South Carolina,, the southern half of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, almost the whole of Louisiana and all southeastern Texas. Several of the more hardy garden crops, including those mentioned above, will withstand considerable frost and! may be planted at least a month before the average date for the last frost. Irish potatoes are easily injured by freezing, but they require about a, month to come up and may be planted! at about the same time as lettuce and radishes. It pays to take a chance on! the early planting of certain of the more hardy garden vegetables. If theyare killed or severely injured they miur be replanted. A good method is to make about three plantings at inter- 1 vals of three weeks, and If the first planting is killed the later ones take Its place.

Pansies for Spring Bedding.

Pansy seed started in the conservatory or greenhouse now will make good plants for bedding out in the spring. Sow the seeds in seed pans or boxe< and grow .the plants in the shallow boxes used *by florists for this) purpose. - Cold frames should be ready and! kept covered all winter, to take the! plants in March. The plants can be potted and grown 1 in the pots. The object of putting! the plants In the colfl frames is to save room in the greenhouse and also to> harden the plants off so they can be set out early in beds. The sashes; must be taken off the cold frames! early or the plants will become tall; and spindly or “drawn,” as the gar- 1 deners call them.

Pays to Attract Tourists.

Money in the average town circulates. It moves in a circle from in- t dustry to employees, from employees to store, from stores to bank, and back to Industry again. Additions from outside sources, therefore, are real gains, real profits to the community. Money left in town by tourists is such a profit Therefore the town that repels automobillsts by poor roads, lack of signs and petty traffic restrictions is losing money. The community that goes out of Its way to attract motoring travel Is doing some real good for itself. To draw the stranger and treat him well Is more than merely advertising the town. It Is making money,—Ohio Motorist.

Home's Great Essential.

A well kept and .well planted lawn Is essential for every home. ' Most any one can. erect a shelter of boards or cement but some thoug’ t must be put into making that shelter a home. Comfort, convenience, and beauty ought to be found there.' They are an needed if young people are going to stay long in the home. —Le Boy Cady, associate horticulturist, Minnesota College of Agriculture. ' . :-— — .

Mail for Undesirable Citizen.

“Any man fer me today?" asked SI Meddergrass as he came Into the Hicksville post office. “Betcha!” replied the postmaster. ~ cream' separator a buggy top. A tractor’ a wago* ! t