The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-07-23

cY MAURICE TROMPSON.
cor,,,r,, 1872 and $50. BIZ -obe.. Bonner. Sons.

u OSN@s A.
looked into his strange, deep eyes,
they were quite i~nscrutable!
"What do you think of the plan?"
the young man inquired. 1T is not
worth trying?'
1T may be; but what do you know
of the feeling among the freebooters
themselves on the ~subject?"
81 have some reason to believe that
most of them would be glad to quit the
life OF outlaws. II the leaders can be
reached the thing can be accomplished,
1 am almost sure"
"Who are the leaders?"
cit is not easy to indout. Or course
Laftte has all the Barbarian pirates
under his thumb. But. although the
mysterious Pierre Rameau is called
King of Honey Island, I have found
out to my satisfaction that there is
| n above him in command Of the
great Pearl River and inland organi-
cation; and that one lives in New
Orleans, directing the proceedings
from his safe position IN the midst Of
the highest society Of the city"
"And who is he?"
"I think that I know, but I cannot
vet breathe his name in this connec
ton; it would create a wild scene. J
can assure you, sir"
Mr.. Vernon folded his arms high
upon his broad chest aud appeared to
!ift himself until ne showed taller than
even the tall creole.
"If you begin to stir up records in
New Orleans" he remarked, "you
will soon have q heavy load on your
hands. My own opinion is that moth
ing will be gained by any negotiations
with pirates. The country can fight
its battles without them"
eat all events, I shall make my re-
port to the governor, and he may do
IS he shall see fit"
care you sure that the governor
himself is entirely clear OF %entangle-
ment with the powerful alliance OF
treebooterS?"
Again the eyes OF the lieutenant be.
came sharp and searching as he
scanned NJ. Vernon'S massive face,
and said:
do you suspect him?"
"Humph!' with a shrug, was the
only answer Mr.. Vernon gave. 1t was
rs if the ejaculation were meant to
toss Ballanche aside.
A half hour later the young officer
took his leave.
San revoirI!" he called from the gig
as his clew pulled away toward the
schooner. His farewell co%mprehended
the whole group on the Water Birds
deck; and yet he was looking straight
at Pauline. Fairfax noticed this, but
seeing him going farther end farther
away, while Pauline seemed quite con-
tent to stay where she was, the artist
smiled very complacently.
Mr.. Vernon ordered the vessel put
under sail at once, speaking to his
men with All i%ntonatlon that suggested
Impotence OF great haste.
The most careless observer could
have seen that something il the con-
versation between him and Lieutenant
Eallanche lad stimulated him; but
whether with anger or some other
passion no one would have determined
from his appearance or actions.
Up through the Rigolets tho little
vessel went, with a fair breeze and in
as golden sunlight as aver drove away
a fog. The channel, a broad and
beautiful river connecting Lake Borgne
with Lake Pontchartrain, flashed like
silver between its grassy marsh
meadows, over which the herons and
wild geese, the pelicaus and the
plovers flew back and forth like
shuttles thu ough the warp OF the
dreamy weather. Here and there.
scattered from distance to distance,
picturesque clumps of live-oaks were
set against the almost violet sky like
orchards on a prair:e.