Idaho Springs siftings., 1905-05-13

Mademoiselle de Cazeneau. her maa-
ner softening somewhat at Zeney's
evident sincerity And why should
you. and every one. like him SO much
such a wicked, dreadful man."
The adjectiyes were indisputably
harsh-more SO than the manner in
which they were uttered. and the vio-
let eyes held a suggestion that the
speaker would not object to knowing
that her application OF them was mis-
placed.
"Wicked-dreadful." echoed Zeney
shaking her head violently. NO. no.
never is Captain Jean either OF
these"
But Mamman Zillah once told me-
said Mademoiselle de Cazeneau, with
the air of one seeking to remove un-
pleasant doubts from the mind. that
years ago when she belonged TO a
man up at Contraband Bayou. she saw
Capt. LATTE and two other men go
Into the woods with a horse. They
had shovels and picks. and she fol-
lowed them to see what they would
do. She saw them digging a hole.
liht a EldNts put II WhS d uiS thCct
they dug up. And there was gold in
the chest. for she saw il when the
men began filling some bags. Then
she was so frightened for fear they
would see her that she ran home TO
her cabin. And" here Mademoi-
seIle de Cazeueau's eyes opened wide
TO their full width and her voiee took
a minor note, while her manner be-
came imbued with horrible suggest
iveness-'a few hours later she saw
the horse come out of the woods, with
the bags across its back; but only
Capt. Jean came out of the woods
with the horse"
Zeney laughed derisively. and again
shook her head.
That story came on horseback,
Missy. along with the others you have
heard. and Zillah ought to be well
whipped for telling such wicked lie.
II she ever saw such thing then the
two men had gone OF in some other
way to look after their own business.
which was what Zillah ought TO have
been doing"
But Mademoiselie de Cazeneau was.
although apparently against her
own will. still unconvinced.
for she added impressively.
"Zillah said that they afterward
found the two men dead in the woods.
And | have heard other stories. too
of how he has made men jump into
the sea when he burned or scuttle6
their ships. and took all they had on
board
Capt. Jean steal! Capt. Jean muir
derl" cried Zeney, her eyes flashing
with Indignation Such things he
never did. and all such stories are
lies-black lies. How can you be-
iieye them. or think OF them. my
honey. when you once thought him
SO good and nobie?"
The question was unanswered. and
Zeney. after a moments pause. added.
III there is any truth in such talk.
II was wicked Capt. Laro who did
these things; but Capt Jean-neyer."
"Laro--Capt Laro," said her young
mistress. with puzzled little frown.
end raising a hand to push back the
clustering hair from her now cooled
cheeks An. yes: 1t comes to me.
have heard my mother speak OF him:
it was he who brought her from
France"
1T was he. too. who brought Capt.
Jean here TO Louisiana"
He did," the girl asked In sur
prise. And did you know him then
when he was boy?"
The negress nodded. He seemed
a comrade then. young as he was. of
the captain's--a comrade in business.
He was wicked-very wicked man
a .seallerat,' this Capt. Laro; and It
was surely he. and not Capt. Jean.
who did the wicked deeds you have
heard about. my honey"
And where now is Capt. Laro-
do you know. Zeney?"
Dead and gone. Missy-so I've
been told. And IL so, then Ge is down
with the devil, I reckon" answered
the old woman grimly. rising TO her
feet as Lazalie's voice was heard from
the hall below. calling. Rose. my lit
tie Ross. where are you?''
ITO be confinued1