Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 March 1920 — The Devil’s Own [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Devil’s Own

A Romance of the Blade Hawk War MwQwb® . z —' ■■- — 1 ■ ■■■—

By RANDALL PARRISH

T -r- J bbb * Was kiss," weILLUSTRATIONS BY IRWIN MYERS *

-IF YOU CAN SWIM, JUMP FOR IT!"

Synotwta.—ln MB IJantwnant Knox of the re ruler army la on duty at Fort Rack Island. . In territory threatened by dlaftected Indiana, m.. oonunandant with dl»p»tche* to 6t. Louis. Ho takes passage *wm ateamor Wsrrter sad mskeo the acquaintance of Judge Beaucalre, rich of joe Kirby (the Devil’s Own), notorious Xtnbler. Knox learns Jadn Boaucalre baa a daughter, Eloise, and a rranddau*hter, Rene, offspring ofa son whom tils Judge has disowned. Rene's mother Is a nerress, and she rLt K „ a-nshtar never havlnr been freed, are slaves undr the law, although Ss rlrts hm baa* brought no as slstera. Kirby Induces the Judge to stake aie Plantation and negro servants on a poker hand unfairly dealt by Joe Chrver Kirby's Dartner. Kirby accuses the Judge of cheating. Beaucalre, Infuriated, drupe deed. Knox tries to Indues Kirby to give up bis stolen winnings. Kirby and Carver throw Knox overboard. The lieutenant swims ashore and reaches a hut. Knox lies unconscious for ten days. Recovering, he finds he Is la a cabin owned by Pete, a “free nigger," who had shot Urn, pkt.Hw him for an enemy. His dispatches have been forwarded. Recovering from his wound, Knex sends Pats to bring Haynes, Beaucalres lawyer, amd it,,, ananca. with Pats's help, to gat the women to the cabin of an abolltJonist. Amos Shrunk, before Kirby cornea At the Beaucalre place Knox ovurheaia a conversation between the sheriff and his deputy, and loarna the riSHSut the situation. He Is witness to an Inter**W between Kirby and a atrl who says Ohs Is Rone Beaucalre. Kirby Insults the girl, and Knox attacks him. Battering Kirby dead, Knox explains affairs to the girl, and she ames totoy to escape with him. They fall to find Pete where he had been M Knox selsee the sheriff's keelboat, along with Sam, the slave left In iitoraw and they begin their voyage up the river. Next day a steamer passes recognises Kirby on board. At Shrunk'! place they find Pete, work of Kirby. Kirby then steals their Icselboat. leaving only a skiff.

CHAPTER JX—Continued. •10 -It is my guess,” I said, -that their only thought was to get away before the crime was discovered. Bene, would yon be afraid to remain here alone for a little while?" She glanced about into the gloom of the surrounding woods, her hesitancy answering me. -It is not a pleasant prospect I admit; but there la no possible danger. Kirby has gone, beyond all question, but I wish to leima If I can the direction he has taken. All this must have happened only a short time ago— while wo were at the cabin. The keelboat scarcely be entirely out of sight yet on either river if we could only find a place to offer us a wide view.” -But could I not go with you?" -Hardly with me, for I intend to swim the creek and try to reach the point at the mouth of the Illinois, from where I can see up and down the Mississippi. I am going to send Sam back through the woods there and have hi™ climb that ridge. From the top he ought to have a good view up the valley of the Illinois. I suppose you might go with him." -ail, sure wish yer. wud, missus," broke in the negro pleadingly. “Ah ain’t perxackly feered fer ter go Tone, but Ah a an oP man an* Ah reckon as how a young gal wns likely fer ter see mor’n Ah wud. Tears like Ah’s done los* my glasses." A faint smile lighted up her sac a mere glimmer of a smile. -Tea, Sam, HI go," she said, glancing up Into my dyes and holding out her head. -You wish me to, do you not?" -X Clink It win be fully as well. Yon still retain the pistol?” She nodded her response, and without delaying my departure longer I lowered myself Into the water and swam toward the opposite shore, creeping forth amid a tangle of roots and immediately disappearing in the underbrush. I found a rough passage for Cm first few rods, being obliged to almost tear a way through the doss growth and unable to see a yard in advance. But this ended suddenly at the edge of Cm sand flat, with the converging waters of Cm two rivers visible Jolt beyond. My view from here was narrowed, however, by high ridges on both sides, and with a desire not to expose myself to any chance eye, I followed the line of forest and able to climb the slope, and thus attain the crest of the bluff. From this vantage point the view waa extensive, both and down the big river, as well as across to the opposite bank. Along that entire surface but three objectß met my gaae—a small Wand, green with trees, seemingly anchored Just beyond the mouth as the HUn<fis; a lumbering barge almost opposite me, dearly outlined against the distant shore, and barely moving with the current; and far away below a thin smudge of smoke, arising from behind a headland, as though curling upward from the stack es some steamer. I felt no doubt but what this was Cm stolen keelboat, speeding toward St. Louis. This struck me as the most reasonaide course to pursue—to work our way quietly up the Illinois by night, keeping doee in shore to avoid any p—«*"g steamer, until we arrived dose to Beardstown. Undoubtedly there woe blacks in the town, both slaves and free negroes, with whom Bam could easily establish an acquaintance. By this we would soon be able t 6 identify that particular preacher into whose care I hoped to confide Bene. Of course the girl might reyuse to enter into &e game, might dehewwvcr innocent I intended it to be—fndrefi, t fait convinced she would the auxxestkm with indignation. WWIi/afPw - '

point settled In my own mind I felt ready to rejoin the others. I must have been absent In the neighborhood of two hours, and they, had returned to the bank of the creek some time in advance of me. Aa I appeared at the edge of the wood Sam hailed, offering to row the boat across. -Ail right," I replied, confident we were alone. “It will save me another wetting. You saw nothing?" “No, sah; leastways not much. We end see up de Illinois mor’n ten mile. Ah reckon, but dar wa’n’t no boat nowhar, 'ceptlng an ol’ scow Ced up to de bank." "I thought so. The keelboat has gone down the Mississippi." “Yer done saw her, sah?" -I saw her smoke; she was hidden by a big bend just below. Don’t sit there staring at me—come across.” Rene greeted me with a smile as I scrambled np on the slippery log, and. asked a number of questions. I answered these as best I could and then explained, so far as I deemed it desirable, the general nature of the plans I had made. The Illinois route offered the only hope, and wfe decided to venture it, although Bene pleaded earnestly that she and the negro be permitted to go on alone. To this suggestion, however, I would not consent, and the girl finally yielded her reluctant permission for me to accompany them until she could be safely left in the care of white friends. I knew her real thought was elsewhere —with those two In Kirby’s hands, already well on their way to St. Louis. Try as she would, she was

unable to Danish from her mind the conception that she was largely to blame for their misfortune, or submerge the Idea that it was cowardly in her to seek escape, while leaving them In such peril. I lingered, talking with her for some time after Sam had fallen asleep, yet the only result was the bringing of tears to her eyes and a reluctantly given pledge that she would do whatever I believed to be best and right She appeared so tired and worn that I left her at last lh the little glade where we had found refuge, hoping she might fall asleep. I doubt if she did, although I dozed Irregularly, my back against a tree, and it was already growing dusk when she came forth again from her retreat and Joined us in a hastily prepared meat - Sam and I Stowed away In the boat whatever provender remained, and I assisted her to A seat at the stern, wrapping a blanket carefully about her body, for the night air in those dank shadows already began to chill. I took possession of the oars myself, believing the negro would serve best as a lookout in toe bow, and thus settled we headed toe boat out through the tangle of trees toward toe invisible river. 1 - .f Suddenly we shot out through the screen of concealing boughs into toe broader stream beyond. The tight here in the open was better, although dim enough still, and revesting little log eagerly forward into toe bladeBBflb U& OCtEHUWIRi raw w* OZ XUV flHvw

doubt If I had taken a dozen strokes, my whole attention centered on my task, when the sudden rocking of the boat told me he had scrambled to his feet Almost at the same Instant my ears distinguished the sharp chugging of an engine straight ahead; then came his shout of alarm, “God A’mighty I Dar’s de keelboat, sah. Dey’s goln’ ter ram us!" I twisted about in my seat caught a vague glimpse of the advancing shadow, and leaped to my feet an oar gripped In my hands. Scarcely was I poised to strike when the speeding prow ripped Into us, and I was catapulted into the black water.

CHAPTER X w The Loss of Rene. There was the echo of an oath, a harsh, cruel laugh, the crash of planking, a strange, half-human cry of fright from the negro—that was all. The sudden violence of the blow must have hurled me high Into the air, for I struck the water clear of both boats, and so far out iu the stream that when I came again struggling to the surface I was In the full sweep of the current, against which I had to struggle desperately. In the brief second that Intervened between Sam’s shout of warning and the crash of the two boats I had seen almost nothingonly that black, menacing hulk, looming up between us and the shore, more like a shadow than a reality. Yet now, fighting to keep my head above water and not to bo swept away, I was able to realize Instantly what had occurred. I had been mistaken; Kirby had not fled down the river; Instead he had craftily waited this chance to attack us at a disadvantage. Convinced that we would decide to make use of the rowboat, which he had left uninjured for that very purpose, and that we would venture forth just so sbon as the night became dark enough, he had hidden the stolen craft in some covert along shore to await our coming. Then he sprang on us, as the tiger springs on his prey. He had calculated well, for the blunt prow of the speeding keelboat had struck us squarely, crushing in the sides of our frail craft and flinging me headlong. What had been the fate of the others I could not for the moment determine. The darkness shadowed everything, the bulk of the keelboat alone appearing in the distance, and that shapelessly outlined. The craft bore no light, and had it not been for a voice speaking I doubt if I could have located even that. The rowboat could not be distinguished—lt must have sunken, or else drifted away, a helpless wreck. The first sound ray ears caught, echoing across the water, was an oath, and a question: "By —la good job; do you see that fellow anywhere?”

“Naw,” the response a mere growl. “He’s a goner, I reckon; never knowed whut hit him, Jedgin’ from toe way he upended it." “Well, then he isn’t likely to bother us any more. Suppose he was the white man?” “Sure he wus; it was the nigger who was up ahead. We hit him, an’ he dropped in ’tweeh ther boats, v an’ went down like a stone. He never yeeped. but just onct, when I furst gripped ther girl. I don’t reckon as she wus hurt et all; leastwise I never aimed fer ter hurt her none.” “Has she said anything?” “Not a d d twitter; maybe she’s fainted. I dunno, but that’s ther way females do. What shall I do with the bird, Kirby?" “Oh, hold on to her there awhile, long as she’s quiet. Fm going to try the steam again, and get outside into the big river. H —, man, but this hasn’t been such a bad night’s work.” The steam began to sizz, settling swiftly Into a rhythmic chugging, as the revolving wheel began to churn up the water astern. Confident of being safely hidden by the darkness, I permitted the current to bear me downward, my muscles aching painfully from the straggle, and with no other thought in my mind except to keep well out of right of the occupants of the boat. To be perceived by them and overtaken in the water meant certain death, while if they continued to believe that I had actually sunk beneath the surface, some future carelessness on their part might yield me an unexpected opportunity to sore Bene. The few words overheard had made sufficiently plain the situation. Poor Sam had already found freedom In death, crushed between the two colliding boats, but the girl had been grasped in time and hauled uninjured aboard the heavier craft This had been toe object of the attack —to gain possession of her. Very evidently I had net been seen closely enough to be recognized by Kirby. In a measure this afforded me a. decided advantage, provided we ever encountered each other again—and I meant that we Should. The account between ns was not closed by tills incident; far from it There in that black water, except to remain conesslsd few toe

veil of darkness, I resolved solemnly to nqrself Mist this affair should never end until It was ended right. In that moment of decision I cared not at all for Rene Beaucalre’s drop of negro blood, nor for the fact that she was a slave In her master’s hands. To my mind she was bat a woman, a sweet, lqyable, girlish woman, in the unrestrained power of a brute, and dependent alone on me for rescue. That was enough; I cured for nothing more. With silent strokes I waited patiently until the steady chugging of the engine grew faint in the distance, and then finally ceased entirely. Uncertain which way to turn, and conscious of a strange lassitude, I made no struggle to reach land, but permitted myself to be borne downward in the grip of the water. Suddenly something drifted against my body, a black, ill-defined object, tossing about on the swell of the waves, and Instinctively I grasped at It, recognizing Instantly the shell of our wrecked boat. It was all awash, a great hole stove l In Its side well forward, and so filled with water the added weight of my body would have sunk It Instantly. Yet the thing remained buoyant enough to float, and I clung to Its stem, thankful even for this slight help.

There was no occasion for fear, although I became aware that the sweep of the current was steadily bearing us farther out toward the center of the broad stream, and soon felt convinced that escape from my predicament would be impossible until after daylight The struggle to keep afloat was no longer necessary, and my head sank in relief on the hands gripping at the boat’s stem, while we floated silently on through the black mystery. Suddenly the wrecked boat’s bow grated against something immovable: then became fixed, the stem swinging slowly about, until It also caught, and I could feel the full volume of downpouring water against my body. The blindly floating boat had drifted upon a snag, seemingly the major portion of a tree, now held by some spit of sand. I straggled vainly In an attempt to release the grip which held us, but the force of the current had securely wedged the boat’s bow beneath a limb, a bare leafless tentacle, making all my efforts useless. I found a submerged branch on which to stand, gripped the boat desperately to prevent being swept away, and waited for the dawn.

It seemed a long while coming, and never did man gaze on a more dismal, ghastly scene than was revealed to me by those first gray gleams dimly showing In the far east. All About stretched utter desolation; wherever my eyes turned the vista was the same —a wide stretch of restless brown water surging and leaping past, bounded by low-lying shores, forlorn and deserted. How far I had aimlessly drifted downstream during the night was a' mere matter of conjecture. I possessed no knowledge of where I was. Each bank of the river appeared about equally bare and desolate, entirely devoid of promise. However, I chose the west shore for my experiment, as the current seemed less strong in that direction, and was about to plunge In, determined to fight a way across, when my eyes suddenly detected a raint wreath of smoke curling up Into the pale sky above a headland far to the southward. As I stared at this it became black and distinct, tossed about In the wind. I watched intently, clinging to my support, scarcely trusting my eyesight, while that first wisp deepened Into a cloud, advancing slowly toward me. There was no longer doubt of what it was—unquestionably some steamer was poshing-Its course upstream. Even before my ears could detect the far-off chug of the engine the boat itself rounded the sharp point of the headland-and came forth Into full view, heading out toward the middle of the river in a search for deeper water. It was an unusually large steamboat for those days, a lower river packet, I guessed, with two funnels painted yellow and a high pilot honse surmounted by a huge brazen eagle. At first, approaching me, bow on, I could perceive but little of its dimensions, nor gain clear view of the decks, but when it veered slightly these were revealed, and I had a glimpse ,of « few figures grouped forward, the great wheel astern splashing the water, and between, a long row of windows reflecting the glare of the early sun. Even as I gazed at this vision a flag crept up the slender staff at the bow and reaching the top rippled out in the crisp breeze. A moment later I deciphered the lettering across the white front of the pilot bouSe —Adventurer of Memphis. Indifferent at that. moment as to where the approaching boat might be bound, or my reception on board; desirous only v of immediate escape from my unfortunate prefficament, I managed to remove my sodden coat and furiously wave It in the air .as a signal. At first there was no response, no evidence that I,had even been seen; then slowly, deliberately, the steamer changed its course and came straight up the river, struggling against the full strength of the current. I could see a man step from out the pilot house onto the upper forward deck, lean out over the rail and speak to* the others below, pointing toward me across the water. A halfdoien grouped themselves at the bow, ready ffcr action, their figures growing mor# sharply defined as the struggling craft approached. The man above stood shading his eyes with one hand htoVotaT reached as : “Hey I you out thsgal H you can swim Jump for Itr I'm not going to - ” -

I measured the distance between tu with mjr eye and leaped as tar out aa possible, itliUbK ' out with lot) strokes. The swift current swung me about like a chip, and swept me downward in spite of every struggle I was squarely abreast of the boat, already caught In her suction, and being drawn straight In toward her wheel, when the looped end of a flying noose struck my shoulder. “Keep your head, lad!” roared out a hoarse voice “Hang on now, an* we’ll get yer." It was such a rush, such a breathless, desperate straggle I can scarcely recall the details. All I really remember Is that I gripped the rope and dong; was dragged under again and again; was flung against the steamer’s side, seemingly losing all consciousness, yet dimly realizing that outstretched hands grasped me and lifted me up by main strength to the narrow footway, dropping me there in the pool of water oozing from my

clothes. Someone spoke, lifting my head on his arm, in answer to a hgll from above. “Yes, he’s all right, sir; Just a bit groggy. What’ll we do with him?” “Bring him along up to Haines’ cabin and get him the old suit in my room. You might warm him up with a drink first You tend to it Mapes.” The liquor I drank out of a bottle burnt like fire but brought me new strength, so that with Mapes’ help I got to my feet and stared about at the group of faces surrounding us. They were those of typical river men, two negroes and three whites, ragged, dirty and disreputable. Mapes was so bushily bearded that all I could perceive of his face was the eyes, yet these were intelligent, and I instantly picked him out as being the mate. “How long yer all bin roostin’ on thet snag?” he questioned, evidently somewhat amused. “Dera me, stranger, if I ever see thet sorter thing done afore.” , ' "I was caught there last night,” I answered, unwilling to say more. “Boat got snagged In the dark and went down.” “Live around yere, I reckon?”

“No; Just floating. Came down the Illinois. Where Is this steamer bound*" "H—l alone knows" dryly. "Teller Banks furst, enyhow; we’re loaded with supplies.” “Supplies! For Yellow Banks?” in surprise. “Why, what’s goinlg on there? My friend, there aren’t ten families within a hundred miles of that place.” Mapes laughed, his mouth opening like a red gash, exhibiting a row of yellow fangs. “No, I reckon not; but that's a h —l oy a lot o' fellers thar whut ain’t families but kin eat Didn’t yer know, pardner, thar’s a right smart war on; thet the Blinoy militia is called out, an’ is a-marchln’ now fer Teller Banks? They’re liable fer ter be thar too afore ever this d— —n scow makes it if we have ter stop an’ pick eny more blame fools outer the river. Come on, let’s go up.” “Walt a minute. This is an Indian war? Black Hawk has broken loose?” “Sure; raised particular h—L We heerd dowb et St Lonee he’d killed *bout a hundred whites, an’ burned sum ov ’em—ther ol’ devil.* "And where is he now?” "Dunno; never wus up in yer afore. We bin runnin’ ’tween St Louee New Orleans, till the gov’ment took

us. Maybe the captain kin tell yer—sumwhar up Bock river, I reckon, wharever that Is.” We climbed the steep steps to the upper deck, and were met at the head of the ladder by the captain, evidently desirous of looking me over. He was a solidly built individual, wearing white side whiskers and a bulbous nose, and confronted me not altogether pleasantly. “All right, are you? Water pretty cold yet, I reckon. Been sticking an that snag long?” “Several hours; but my boat was wrecked before wo lodged there.” The captain i laughed and winked aside at the mate, i 4 i ; ■ ♦

Fate steps in and makes a new complication.

(TO BB CONTINUED.)

Rene Greeted Me With a Smile.

"Yes, He’s All Right, Sir; Just a Bit Groggy.”