The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-08-09
"a LACK OF PROOF +:
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my hands,! DICK looked at tne
speaker, Lieut.. Curwen, of the revenue.
seated on the keg in triumph;- he
iooked at the landlord of the Green
Dragon, prisoner like himself; at the
Z Two revenue men who guarded the
door. and he thought dolefully that
there was some truth in the lieutenant's
remark. All night Dick had been out
] IN the Betsy Jane, and though, OF
course, being mere visitor to this lit
I tie seaside inn, he had only gone for
The sake Of the sail and the excitement,
! i was impossible to deny that, when
she lugger dropped anchor in the black
pol some time before dawn, Is kegs
hid been landed, and he had helped to
land them. For all Dick cared-or
knew-they might have contained wa
1 ter. Fourteen went into the country
] in the charge of silent men who seemed
TO know their road even by that half
light. One, Notwithstanding the re-
monstrances of the Betsy James skip
per, who declared it a dangerous pro-
cveding, had been placed on bar
row and wheeled up to the Green
Dragon by Dick and Mr.. Prendergast,
landlord of the same. Prendergast was
positive that the gaugers had no ink
ling Of the landing; Dick was content
70 regard the cask as a cask-which
might contain water. The conse-
quence was that no sooner had they in
stalled the keg in this attic than rap
q the door came, followed by the en-
I w Of Lieut.. Curwen and dozen rev.
enue men. Dick and the landlord were
at once arrested. That was the miser-
able fact. True, Prendergast, before
ie lapsed into sulky silence, had con-
wyed 10 Dick that the other IA kegs,
after which the lieutenant had sent
ten Of his men, were SAFE from pursuit.
But there was little consolation in that.
The fact remained that here was the
] discriminating keg, and the lieutenant
teated upon it in fanatical triumph.
Re was only waiting for the return of
hs men before he took the prisoners
and the spoil up to the squire's.
Dick looked the miserable fact in the
lace. The worst of it was that the
squire would take the lieutenant's
new, for he detested smuggling. No
douht Dick could show the absurdity
Of pressing such charge against him
seriously, but to have been found aid
ne or abetting, even by his presence,
would lose him the squire's favor,
waich he had been at desperate pains
20 acquire. Probably, too, it would
,ose him the squire's consent-not yet
oesought-to the hand of his daugh-
ser. Besides, it was this Curwen's tri-
umph. The long-faced, fanatical fell
.oW was jealous, pointless though his
ealousy was. He had waited for his
snance against Dick, and seemed to
iancy he had got it.
The Lord hath delivered yew into
~ hands," he repeated.
Think so?' said Dick, obviously.
lew of my men saw yew landing
A.gs from the lugger; they saw yew
.heel this one in barrow up to tn
Il hn-n
Us uncommonly hard work wheel
barrow" said Dick.
Twill not assist yew to make q
S. cookery of your crime"
True, my dear sir, quite true," said
felgning levity he did not feel
~ you see my contention is that
Iar as I'm aware-there is no brandy
: that keg."
ne lieutenant did not Geign to re-
y. but drummed his heels on the
q d which gave back a gurgling
aaaorish sound.
ooda water, perhaps" Dick suggest
pleasantly.
Knock was heard at the door, ant
y ae lieutenant said, "Coom in" pomp
Entered Sal Prendergast, will
: sear-stained face.
lls letter" she said, difidently
". Shenstsa."