The Elbert County tribune., 1908-12-10
cHAprER llI.-contInued.

Mary Anne proceeded to tell us.
with much circumlocution and attention
10 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
the water. and had completely baffied
said officials In their efforts to upnold
law and Justice.
She added that police boat had
recently been assigned to the station,
which patrolIed 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 a large reward had been offered
for the capture of the chief offender.
But, law!" finished Mary Anne, ex-
uitantly, "wot good does that do when
g can stay Ugh and dry this side the
border? Wots e goin' to the states
fur. I'd like to know, when 'e can stay
ere. Miss Elise. and waller in d.
naonds?"
I admitted that he would be foolish
TO thus tempt Providence, and Mary
Anne resumed, thoughtfully pinching
,ip the skin on her round red arms
But they're loolsln' fur i'm, pore
Teller, and the POLLS is 'ungry fur the
money wot'll land I'm in jail No CON-
mon man q 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!
Tail's no wuss fur i'm than fur the
liItes 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 1t
was i'm ear 80 much talk about in
the village. WIN you be havin' clear
soup ag'in tonight, miss ~
las you please, Mary Anne" Eliz-
abeth spoke absensly. and Joined us
in the living room with an air Of sup
pressed excitement
do you think it's possible?' she
inquired. laying Mr.. Gordon Benefits
card on the table as though fearing 1t
might explode.
mo. don't" said Gabrielle, bluntly
It's just servants gossip. Don't
think about 1t any more"
OF course after that we talked OF
nothing else, and when Lord Wiltrid
snd Lady Edith came up that even
ing we told them all about 1t, begin
lsing with our experience on the
steamer episode In one succinct word
Drunk he said. with shrug OF
his shoulders, and really 1t seemed not
improbable, now that 1t was suggested
10 u.s.
Lord Wilfrid appeared In new
light that evening, he was so talka.
tive and agreeable; he also corrobo
rated Mary Anne's story about the
smugglers, and gave ~ a 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
moor devil of smuggler. He musi
be a clever chap, fancy. to be worth
such large reward"
According to Mary Anne, he car
waller In dimonds.' remarked Ga
brielle. laughing
"Ah. indeedi' said Lord wilfrid
Opulent but uncomfortable. should
imagine. Well, | wish him luck; ma,
he"
"Wiifrid, dear" interrupted his sis
ter. In laughing expostulation, 'ant
sou magistrate at home!"
We'll, suppose l am returned
Lord Wilfrid: 1T is my misfortune
not my fault And I'm sure my sym
pathies are nearly always with thos5
wretched poachers we condemn sc
.libly.'
I instantly conceived warmel
liking for Lord Wilfrid, for though
such sentiments worthy of admiration
and could see that Gabrielle ant
Elizabeth were likewise impressed. In
deed, now that he had cast aside his
mantle OF s1llSs silence, he proveS