The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-12-12
CHAPTER Ill.-Continued.

Mary Anne proceeded to tell us
with much circumlocution and attention
tn detail, that the previous summer a
famous band OF smugglers had car
ried on successful operations under
the very noses OF our customs officials
located in the little town Just across
tho water, and had completely bafied
said officials in their efforts TO uphold
law and justice.
She added that police boat had
recently been assigned TO the station,
which patYolled the shore with fash
ing searchlight. ready to pounce upon
any unwary small craft lurking with
out lights in dark coves or inlets. and
that large reward had been offered
for the capture OF the chief offender
But. law" finished Mary Anne, ex.
ultantly. "~ot good does that do when
. can stay Ugh and dry this side the
border Wot's G goin' to the states
fur, I'd Ike TO know. when e can stay
ere. Miss Elise, and waller in di-
'monds ."
| admitted that he would be foolish
to thus tempt Providence. and Mary
up the skin on her round red arms:
But they're lookin' fur i'm, pore
fsller. and the POLLS Is 'ungry fur the
money wotll land i'm in jail No oom-
mon man e is. they say, but mayhap
one of these ere islanders wot comes
fur the summer, with their steam
yachts and their fine clo'es. All, well,
Jails no wuss fur i'm than fur the
likes o us. And seein' that the gentle
man to-day was very likely lookin'
and civil spoken. but quite unbe-
knownst to me. l wondered-beggin
your parding. Miss Elizabeth-if it
was i'm | ear SO much talk about in
the village. VIII you be havin' clear
soup ag'in tonight. miss"
"As you please, Mary Anne" Eliz-
abeth spoke absently. and joined US
in the living room with an air OF sup
pressed excitement.
DO you think It's possibls?" she
inquired. laying Mr. Gordon Benefits
might explode.
NO. don't" said Gabrielle, bluntly.
IT'S just servants gossip Don't
think about it any more"
OF course after that We talked Of
nothing else, and when Lord Wiltrid
and Lady Edith came up that even
ing We told them all about IT, begin
ming with our experience on the
steamer. Lord Wilfrid disposed Of the
steamer episode In one succinct word
Drunk" he said, with a shrus OF
his shoulders. and really 1t seemed not
improbable, now that 1t was suggested
TO us.
Lord Wilfrid appeared in 4 new
light that evening, he was SO talka-
tive and agreeable; he also corrobo-
rated Mary Anne's story about the
smugglers, and gave us a good deal OF
information on the subject. Tho vii
lage was quite excited, he said and
the fishermen who hired sailooats
could talk of nothing else.
Il confess he said, with his slow
drawl, my synpathies are with the
poor devil Of smuggler He must
be clever chap, l fancy, to be worth
such a large reward"
According to Mary Anne, he can
waller in di'monds,'" remarked Ga
brielle, laughing.
"Ah, indeed" said Lord Wilirid
"Opulent but uncomfortable, I should
imagine. Well. wish him luck; may
he
'Wilfrid, dear" interrupted his sis
ter. in laughing expostulation. "and
you a magistrate at home!"
We'll, suppose I am returned
Lord Wilfrid; cit is my misfortune,
not my fault. And I'm sure my sym
pAthies are nearly always with those
wretched poachers we condemn so
glibly."
instantly conceived a warmer
liking for Lord Wilfrid, for I thought
such sentiments worthy OF admiration,
and could see that Gabrielle and
Elizabeth were likewise impressed. In
deed. now that he had cast aside his
mantle Of sulky silence, he proved