The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-08-20

4 holuthS hAo HSSA -
h%alf-closed, inscrutable eyes to ward
| the ceiling.
Fairfax found himself in a predica'
ment very difficult for one OF his tenn
permanent and disposition to control.
He felt that he could not be mistaken;
he recollected with absolute memory
every feature Of the face disclosed to
him when the loose cloth mask Of the
robber fell partly away on that very
noteworthy night in March over 81
Vasssur's place. The form of the
man, the peculiar beauty of his hands
(long, shapely, %muscular) and then
the ring on his last finger-that OF
itself was Identification beyond doubt;
for no other ring like that was, in all
probability, aver made. Moreover,
| the voice was unmistakable and the
peculiar, half-nonchalant, half-reck-
less DIR could belong to no other man.
Still, what was Fairfax to say when
Mr.. Vernon sturdily, even perempt-
orily, declared hat the person before
him was we'll known to him, intimate
ly known to him, indeed, and was a
valued and distinguished friend OF
his, Just returned from o long ~soiourn
in Mexico? It was strange beyond
comprehension, and there was no dis
putting ABOUT IL; Tor surely Mr.. Yer
non ought to know, and beyond ques-
tion he would not have such q nan as
Pierre Rameau in his house as an
honored guest.
Of course Fairfax had but a crude
knowledge of the social, political and
moral condition of New Orleans at
that time. He was too close to the
scene for his vision to have a correct
focus upon it, and he knew but little
OF the comparatively recent history OF
the city in which Wilkinson had
schemed and toward which all Of
Burr's reasonable plans had gravitat-
ed, no. was it possible for him to
imagine the extent to which the law
lessness had insinuated itself into the
very llfe.tissues OF New Orleans So
ciety.
"l am sorry that this little mistake
has happened" said Mr.. Vernon, turn
ing from one to the other, and trying
to make the whole thing appear of no
consequence; "but it's quite an honor.
Loring, to be taken for Pierre Ra.
meau, who is reputed to be the hand
soonest man in the South. You know
my friend Fairfax here had quite an
adventure with that renowned robber
was robbed by him, in short, and
holds o just grudge against him."
"Ah, I see," said Loring. 81 I'M
derstand now. He has taken me for
a robber."
you've heard of Rameau?"
"No; but you must recall that I
have been in Mexico for nearly three
years"
Certainly. Well, gentlemen, this
ought to be satisfactory. Now, then,
the broken finger; let's look to that.
Mr.. Vernon hustled a little and pro-
duced some bandsge-cloth that SER
want had fetched.
Colonel Loring promptly set the
fractured bone, and with great skill
and rapidity applied the wrapping.
"There," he said: "you are all
right. sir. You will have no trouble
with it,"
THANK you, sir" responded Fair
fax coldly enough, in spite Of an effort
to regain his lost temper and appear
kindly polite.
"Now, gentlemen" remarked Mr..
Vernon, laying a hand on the arm OF
each and smiling from n to the
other in his large way, you are my
guests and my friends; be friends to
each other. Forget this curious little
mischance, this awkward mistake"
By this time Fairfax had shaken off
the outer coating of his mood and
with something like his habitual
frankness began to apologize.
ST am quite sorry" he exclaimed,
sand chagrined that I should have
spoken so hastily. Colonel Loring. 1
hope you understand my embarrass.
ment, sir, and will forgive my pas
sionate words. l really thought you
we're Pierre Rameau."
"It's nothing at ALL" insisted the
colonel. ST don't care a straw about
it. Let it drop here, sir, and be for
gotten"
Somehow in an instant Fairfax re-
GREETED his apology. Surely, this nan
was Pierre Rameau-it vas he from
head to foot.
Mr.. Vernon, still inclined to be
heavily impetuous, kept his hold on
tho arm of each. With his double
muscles, not the least impaired by
age, he propelled them to the dining
room.
In the midst of a rapid and light
conversation, Loring suddenly ex-
claimed:
please excuse me, gentlemen. 1
am losing a greater pleasure than ever
your company affords me Miss Yer
non promised to dance with me. Ex-
cuse me-"
And he fastened to the drawing
rooms. Fairfax looked after him with