The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-08-03

force upon the aforesaid straw hat
VI course its owner promptly looked
up, and equally OF course we precipi
lately retreated.
DO you think he saw us?" gasDed
Elizabeth and ! simultaneously as the
doorbell rang; but Gabrielle had fed
TO the hall, where we heard her whfs
pering hoarsely to Mary Anne over
the banister
We also heard that invaluable facfo
tums assurance that the ladies' had
just gone to the village, and a polite
expression OF regret, accompanied by
a promise to call again.
We stole again to the window as our
visitors retreated, and saw them
pause, examine my side comb and
calmly drop 1t In Gabrielles bag
which had not been left with Mary
Anne. as. of course. 1t should have
been
At this rate, Bennett" said laugh.
ing voice, you'll soon be able 70 open
junkshop. But ! must say. old
chap, we were very neatly snubbed
Wherefore?"
don't know" replied Bennett,
but mean to find out, for I'm coming
again very soon. | assure you, Blake.
the picture doesn't begin"
The rest Of the sentence was lost
as the two men disappeared around
the corner. We straightway held a
council OF war.
i suppose said Elizabeth, he has
lucid intervals and his attendant
humors him, but this Is no reason why
we should be victimized Let US eau.
ton Mary Anne"
So We descended In a body to the
| kitchen and solemnly warned Mary
Anne that the day she admitted our
late visitor We would Immediately
part company. She in turn solemnly
assured us that If he crossed the
threshold 1t would be over her dead
body. SO we felt somewhat comforted
Elizabeth picked up the cards and
| looked at them.
Mr.. John Clinton Blake" she read
aloud. "and Mr.. Gordon Bennett"
Inc No4u uiOppCU iOn ucE Q00O
and she collapsed into the wood box.
What's the matter now" de
manded Gabrielle. fishing her friend
out of it's capacious depths.
Gordon Bennett" said Elizabeth
lis the man who knows father, and
who owns the island
We stared at each other in incredu
lous silence, then sank down upor
Mary Anne's immaculate floor and
laughed until we were exhausted.
Il feel sure" said Elizabeth, wher
she could articulate, that it is moi
the same man. This is some i'm
postor."
"Mayhap." suggested Mary Anne
who had been an interested listener
''mayhap. miss, 'es smuggler'
Mary Anne had not long left thu
mother country. and her manipulation
OF the letter h was as agreeable to on
American ears as Lady Edith's fault
less enunciation. Just now she wa
regarding US with the manner of on,
who possesses unimparted informa
ton.
IT'S quite lawful, miss" she re
sumed. dropping her voice to a whis
per. and it do give a body the creeps
SO it do. But they say the smugglin,
wot goes on 'ereabout is most hextaor
binary"
Smuggling" repeated Gabrielle.
Yes, miss: taking things in owe
the border without the duty-which
do say is a sin and a shame to 'av
TO pay, so 1t is"
1T is perfectly right to pay it
Mary Anne. Everybody should ODE
the laws of a country"
So spoke the generals daughter
but she carefully avoided looking a
us, for we all intended investing heavi
ly in furs before our return and gel
ting them in without cost.
Yes. miss" replied Mary Anne
without enthusiasm, and Gabrielle ir
quired in rather a muffled voice wha
the miscreants struggled
"Oh. most hanything that come
andy. miss. Fur, cloth, gloves. hun
brellas, preshus jools-mostly d
monds. The Teller they're lookin' flu
deals in di'monds. Quite the gentle
men e is. too, so I've card"
(TO BE CONTINUED)