The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-10-02

my pistol to try if the powder was WEI.
Here. Margery; just roll this key INTO
the storeroom with the rest"
As soon as Margery was out of hear
ing Kern drew the two men ASIDE ana
said:
THAT was a narrow shave; I've never
been SO near took before. had to bite
as we'll as bark to save myself. There's
q man dead below"
"Were there more than one?" asked
Dick Langston.
mo, there vas only one. 1t was that
new Scotch preventive from Fortunes
Well-Sandy Mcintyre. his name is. he
must have crept along the rocks under
the cliffs at low water and hidden HIM
self"
"Ah, mon Dieu! But you are unhurt,
nv friend?" exclaimed Roubet.
"Yes; he missed me by hairs
breadth, but he was sighting me with
second pistol, so let him have
chunk of lead from mine and he rolled
over. as dead as rabbit. into pool.
IF he's let bide there the tide will like
as not wash him right into Weymouth
bay. Go down, Dick, my lad, and roll
some rocks atop of him."
The young man disappeared into the
| black gulf below. No sooner was he
gone than Kern filled himself stlh
nobbler of brandy and drank it at a
gulp.
"Tbat's BETTER" he said. "'Twouldn't
ever do for my mate to see as ] was
bit shook by this. You may believe it
or not, as you like, NJ. Roublot' but fo'
all folks do say of me, this is the nrst
time as I've took mans life"
"Tndeed!" exclaimed the Frencaman.
"Why, your reputation on both SIDES
the channel is of the most blood
thirsty"
A faint smile fitted over the old
smugglers rugged countenance.
took care it should be-" he said, but
it was. as you call it, all reputation
worked up for my own safety. should
not have done it now. but that the sneak
would have shot me else"
"You surprise me. bon ami" replied
Roublot, thoughtfully. But come, iet
us change the subject. have laid bare
by heart to mademoiselle, your daugh-
ter, and she rejects my love. she mas
the soft feeling, [ am sure, for DICK
Langston. your mate"
Kern frowned as though ill-plcased,
but bis brow quickly cleared.
81 own | am sorry. l had hoped
Margerv would have fancied you, see
ing as it would have suited our dealings
together. But if she won't tell you
plain, it amt Steve Kern's way to force
a maid. And, after all, Dick is very
proper lad"
A moment later Dick Langston re
turned from his uncongenial task, the
rope ladder was drawn up for the night
and Steve Kern's household sat down
to hountiful supper, secure against al
assault.
That night when Pierre Roublot re
tired to his rock walled guest chamber
it was not to sleep.
81 will have my revenge yet he NUT
tered, land a revenge that shall strik'
all three. Strange, too, that the YER.
moment when there arose the need OF
weapon Kern himself should haV'
placed so good a one in my hand b.
: Staying the preventive. With such
ready aorged, there cannot be long t
wait for an opportunity"
Six months passed away. and Kern
, lugger, the Petrol, which in the lnterya
had he'd many successful trips, Ia
moored alongside the quay at FecamI
t waitirs for her cargo of brandy an
> silks. Despite the fact that war wa
;, ragin" between France and Englanf
u Kern aad his merry men were on IN
best CT terms with the natives.
{ since the night when he killed tn
y, preven,!ve man at the foot of the ladde
:, he had assumed more than usually II
y rocious hearing. and the moment
III weakness he had shown in the presenc
of Roubot was his last. He may ha'
been suspected OF having a hand
y Sandy McIntyre's disappearance, but.
e so, in thu absence of proof, no one dare
~ 10 tax him with it.
In otter respects, the only chang
=, that Times fight had brought was
- Dick La. gston and Margery, WHO wei
=. married some three months after Il
" episode Grst related, with Kern's fu
approval.
But lille Dick and his father in-la
80 are longing on the deck of the Petr'
:! talking of their home in the cliff, v
- must turn our steps to Roublot's tlins
~ office III one of the by-streets running
- right argles to the water side.
On tits particular morning he W
10 busy or the invoices of the goods abo
ar to be shipped on the Petrol. when }
~, clerk annosnced that an officer Of t
49, naval administration from Havrc q
IN sired to'gee him on an urgent affair.