Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-11-26
CHAPTER III.-continued.

Mary Anne proceeded to tell us,
with much circumlocution and attention
to detail, that the previous summer a
famous band of smugglers had car
ried on successful operations under
located in the little town just across
the water, and had completely baffled
said officials in their efforts to uphold
law and justice.
She added that a police boat had
recently been assigned to the station,
which patrolled 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, "wot good does that do when
e can stay Ugh and dry this side the
border? Wot's e goin' to the ststes
fur, I'd like to know, when e can stay
ere, Miss Elise, and waller In d.
'monds?"
I admitted that he would be foolish
to thus tempt Providence. and Mary
Anne resumed, thoughtfully pinching
up the skin on her round red arms:
But they're lookin' fur i'm, pore
Teller, and the POLLS is 'ungry fur the
money wot'll land i'm in Jail. No COM
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, we'll!
Jail's no wuss fur i'm than fur the
likes o. us. And seem that the gentle
man to-day was very likely lookln'
and civil spoken, but quite unbe-
knownst to me, / wcndered-beggin
your parding, Miss Elizabeth 1t
was i'm l ear so much talk abou. in
the village. Will 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 possible?" she
in 1uired, laying Mr. Gordon Benefits
card on the table as though fearing it
Hight oAplOue.
No, DON'T" said Gabrielle, bluntly.
tits 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 1T, begin
ming with our experience on the
steamer. Lord Wilfrid disposed of the
steamer episode in one succinct word.
Drunk" he said, with a shrug of
his shoulders, and really it seemed not
improbable, now that 1t was suggested
to us.
Lord Wilfrid appeared in a 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 good deal of
information on the subject. The vii
lage was quite excited, he said, and
the fishermen who hired sailboats
could talk of nothing else.
Il confess" he said, with his slow
drawl, my sympathies are with the
poor devil of a 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 Wilfrid.
"Opulent but uncomfortable, / should
imagine. Well, wish him luck; may
he"
''Wiffrid, DEAR" interrupted his Sis
ter. In laughing expostulation, "and
you a magistrate at home!"
well, suppose I am" returned
Lord Wilfrid; ut Is my misfortune,
not my fault. And I'm sure my SYM
pathies are nearly always with those
wretched poachers we condemn so
glibly."
l instantly conceived 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
himself very pleasant indeed, and
even suggested sailing parties and
various other ways of passing the
time.
For" he remarked, II think this
is as good place as anywhere to stop
and breathe a bit, and it's so Jolly well
isolated, don't you know, that one is
moderately safe from ones dear five
hundred friends; so I fancy 1t will be
quite a while before we move on
provided Edith can tolerate her ac-
commodations."
thought I saw shadow cross his
sisters face, but she answered him
gently that where he was happy she
was also, so no turned to Gabrielle
and told her he had hired a boat by
the week and was ready to take us out
at any time.
I'VE have boathouse but no boat"
remarked Gabrielle. land we can't
get inside it because Mary Anne's
brother inconsiderately lost the key"
Perhaps one of mine will fit," sug-
gested Lord Wilfrid. producing his
key4ing. Let us try and see."
So we all went down the steep fight
of steps to the little boathouse be.
meath the bluff, and waited on the slip
whiIe he tried the various keys with
no success.