Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-11-01
From The New York Firesido Companion.l
Rs as NgUpM,
THE DETECTIVE
SS -
by TONY PASTOR.
THE MYSTERY OF THE GIRL FOUND ON TIL
CHAPTER XXI.

French. Instantly q ravlshlng smile
ovcrspread her features, and she made an
swer:
(. "Who arc you? how came you here? arc
you friend or foe2''
Frank answered tho last question first,
sayiug:
eve are friends, you are 10 uocd Of
friends"
Hero camo another strange question from
tho girl.
"Aro you an Americana" she asked.
III am."
Then tho girl murmurcd:
stI am safoW and added thankful ex-
clamation.
"Havo you been in pcril7' asked Frank.
ri am now in peril"
"What mcnaoes your
81 am prisoner, and that horrible black
fellow has been my jailor ever since ] have
been on board of this vessel"
"1Iow did you happen to be on board of
this vessel7"
was stolen aud smugged on board"
"For what rcason?"
sfOh! Monsieur, cannot tell! am poor;
me for days before was made prisoner, had
an evil face"
The girl had told enough. Frank
Midgely guessed tho truth, aud knew TINT
it was not necessary to press for information
it that direction. lie was douby in sympa
thy with her ut that momcnt, owing to tho
agony which lay beneath his own calm de-
mcanor. During the dialogue between the
. 'ovely dark faced damscl and our hero, the
detective stood by, wondering what in thun.
der the two young people could bo talking
about
"Come, Frank he said, "plcaso explain
matters"
Frank spoke few words rapidly to the
detective. The latter understood the si.ua
tion at once.
"By Georgc!' tho detective exclaimed.
"Wc have accomplished one good purpose
by our visit to this vessel"
nBut VIC have not found Lucy"
"Ask the girl il there have been any
other prisoners on board beside herself"
Frank asked tho question, and received
negative reply, followed by the the hcinquiry:
"llaVc you como to rescue mc?"
awe have" answered Frank.
Our hero hold q few moments further
conversation with the girl, and then made
known its purport to tho detective. The
latter told Frank to remain with the young
lady while he went and had few moments
conversation with the river pirate captain
The detective and tho captain proceeded to
tlro fore castle, and after an examination,
became convinced that tho sailor and the
black faced fellow lying bound in the cabin,
were the only two men, attached to the
vessel, who wolc Oh beard! II the moan
IL L., i a..
French girl that he would retire while ahc
prepared to accompany them ashore. Tho
detective returned TO the cabin Just as
Frank had given tho abovo intimation.
Upon learning that Frank had promised the
girl to take her ashore, he said:
owe must not do anything Of tho kind. "
"WhatW exclaimed Frank, Indignantly
"Do you suppose that am going to leave
that lovely creature here to become the
prey to tho brutcs who own this vessel?"
81 do not; but VIC must not take her any
whore just yet"
"And why no?"
"Finding her here encourages me to be-
love that Miss Lucy Pamcdo will be brought
on board"
''I do not understand YOU"
"a gang who vii. steal blackbiri, will
steal yellow Bird
81 -" otiil at T. loss to understand you
"M-A Tho would kiiaap brunette will
also kidnap blonde. Do you understand
now2"
ri do"
"Wo must uso tho young girl there in
tbe borth as decoy duck"
"What advantage would there be in that?''
"Should We remove her, L,,cy would
novor be brought on board, and we might
fail ever to find her. If we leave the girl
after having instructed her to play her part,
wo will be set down as common river pi-
rates, and tho original programme of the
owners of this brig will not be changed"
The detectives plan was q shrewd one.
Tho removal of the girl would only have
served as warning, whereas, by leaving
her and watching the vessel, two rcscucs
might be made at the samc time. Walton
Spraguo did not havo The least doubt but
Lucy was a prisoner with tho parties con-
neced with the brig and shc would only be
brought aboard when about to sail At this
moment the river pirate rushed into the
cabin and announced that boat was ap.
preaching the brig, filled with men Tho
detective went upon deck followed by Frank.
Thoy wcrc not a moment too soon Tie
dip of oars was heard near by, and tho
sound of voices. Tho boat in which The
detective had approached lay under the bow
of tho brig, on tho south sido. The boat
containing tho crew of the brig was ap.
preaching from tho north. The situation
was critical one. Tho chonccs wcro that
the vessels crew outnumbercd the dctc,
tive two to one. All chance for surprise