Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-09-05

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

a rude stone dwelling was dovetailed
into chasm that broke the scarp Of tho
clif some thirty feet below the brink.
Insress and egress on the landward
side could only be had through a trap
door on the roof; but, as much Of the
traffic to that house came from the sea,
there wns also door In tho side flush
with the cliff.face, from which anyone
stepping would have fallen sheer on
to tho rocks below. This difficulty,
however, was obviated by tho dropping
Of q rope ladder when occasion re.
quired.
Tho almost impregnable citadel form.
cd the lair Of Steve Kern, the most dar-
ing o: all smugglcrs who, 100 years
ago. burrowed and nested In the isl.
and"
Every revenue cutter and preventive
man, from the Start to Dover, knew
Steve for n smugglcr; but 1t was his
proud boast that not one of them had
been able to catch him In the act Of run.
ming cargo or disposing Of his goods,
and to this lie owed his immunity.
On q November evening In 1904 the
large kitchen, used also as the general
living room Of the queer r00st, was
occupied by three persons-an elderly
woman, a dark, well-dressed, younghh
man Of rather foreign appearance. and u
beautiful girl OF Is.
Tho elderly dame was Mrs. Kern, the
girl was her daughter Margery. and
the man was Pierre ROublOt, the French
brandy merchant Of Fecamp, whose OK.
tensive dealings with Kern necessitated
frequent visits to this side Of tho water.
At least this was the Frenchmnn's OK.
PLANTATION, though old Kern had long
suspected that Margery's bright eyes
formed the real attraction.
The brandy merchant had arrived In
Kern's lugger the night before for a
three days stay, ana he had Just taken
the opportunity Of the smuggler's tenn
pOrary absence, and Of Mrs. Keru's
deafness, to make the girl a formal pro.
pOsal Of marriage.
But Margery shrnnk away from the
hand that sought hers. I am sorry.
NJ. Roublot, but cannot listen to you,"
she replied. speaking In very good
French, which she had learned from
her mother. Mrs. Kern had been a
Bretagne peasant girl.
"And why not" persisted Roublot, a
scOwl darkening his swarthy face. Il
am rich. ] am not old or ill.looking,
and J."
"spare me catalogue of your vir.
tues said Margery. "YOu may be all
that aud much more. but the reason
why ] cannot wed you Is that do not
love You. Resides" and the Girl
paused and blushed.
"Ahha! with your besides which
you hesitate to define" cried the angry
lover. Come. let me finish your cen.
tence for you. 1t IL that you love the
young sailor who assists your father
his mate, Dick Langston-Is It not so?"
But before Margery could utter tho
retOrr that rose to her lips. an interrlp.
ton occurred that relieved her from
the necessity for reply. From far down
at the foot Of the rope ladder a pistol
shot rang out. followed by another In
quick succession, and Immediately af.
terward, evidently startled by tho
sound, a tall young fellow came running
into the kitchen from one of the rock.
hewn side chambers, where smuggled
goods We're stored.
"What was that? Where ia Cap'n
Kern?" he asked.
"Oh, Dick" cried Margery. "sOmc-
thing has happened to father, I fear"
Dick Langston seized pistol from a
well-filled rack and ran to the door,
through which the moon was visible
sailing over the heaving sea. But be-
fore he reached the ladder, the face of
one ascending appeared over the door
sill, and the master Of the house spran ne
nimbly into the rO0m-a miracle OF
activity despite his gigantic frame AMI
GO years.
ITS all right; there's no call to frigh.
yourselves" he said, as the women
clustered round him. II blazed of my
pistols to try II the powder was wet.
Here, Margery; Just roll this keg Into
the storeroom with the rest"
AZ son as Margery was out of hearing
Kern drew the two men aside and said:
''That was narrow shave; I've never
been SO near took before. had to bite
os well as bark to save myself. There's
a man dead below"
"Were there more than oneY asked
Dick I.ankston.
mo. there was only one. It WA
that new Scotch preventive from For
tunes Well-Sandy McIntyrs bis name