Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1909-02-03
CHAPTER lII.-continued.

CHAPTER IjI.-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
:ied on successful operations under
the very noses of our customs officials
located in the little town just across
the water, and had completely baf1ed
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 flash.
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 states
fur, I'd like to know, when e can stay
ere, Miss Elise, and waller in d.
'monds?"
l 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!
Jails no wuss fur i'm than fur the
likes O. us. And seem that the gentle
man to-day was very likely lookin'
and civil spoken, but quite unbe-
knowilst to me, l wondered-beggin'
your parding, Miss Elizabeth-if it
was i'm ear so much talk about 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
inquired, laying Mr.. Gordon Benefits
card on the table as though fearing it
might explode.
mo, I DON'T" said Gabrielle, bluntly
ITS just servants gossip. Don't
think about it any MORE"
OF course after that we talked OF
nothing else, and when Lord Wilfrid
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 shrug OF
his shoulders, and really it seemed not
improbable, now that it 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 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
poor devil of a smuggler. He must
be clever chap, l fancy, to be worth
such a large reward
According to Mary Anne, he car
waller in di'monds,'" remarked Ga
brielle, laughing.
"Ah, indeed!" said Lord Wilfrid
"Opulent but uncomfortable, should
imagine. Well, wish him luck; may
he"
"Wilfrid, DEAR" interrupted his sis
ter. in laughing expostulation. land
you magistrate at home!"
well, suppose am" returned
Lord Wilfrid: 1T 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 warme,
liking for Lord Wilfrid, for I thought
such sentiments worthy of admiration
and l 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 bit, and it's so jolly well
isolated, don't you know, that one is
moderately safe from ones dear i've
hundred friends; so fancy it will be
quite while before we move on
provided Edith can tolerate her &C.
commodations."
l thought I saw a shadow cross his
sisters face, but she answered him
gently that where he was happy she
was also, SO he turned to Gabrielle
and told her he had hired 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 it," sug.
gested Lord Wilfrid, producing his
key.rine. Let us try and see."
So we all went down the steep flight
Of steps to the little boathouse be-
heath the bluff. and waited on the slip
while he tried the various keys with
no success