The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1910-07-21

daughter. Ann. the boy was engaged.
Toms sole surviving relative was an
elderly cousin. Aaron Randall. who.
ignorant OF the details connected with
bis uncle's death. had for over q year
been detained by business interests In
the north. To him Tom now urgently
wrote. requesting that be come to the
home OF their mutual aunt In New Or
leans and the Following morning the
PIeydeII and Randall families set out
for the same destination. In the Cres-
cent City there resided another gentle
man. NJ. Anatole veaudry. who. hav-
ing for years sought an alliance with
the Randall family through the medi-
um OF Adele. would naturally be ex-
pected TO concur heartily In the plans
for the humiliation OF Cameo Kirby.
Four TO one were heavy odds. but the
scapegrace gambler in his day had
accepted greater.
In due time the Randails and Pley-
deIls arrived at the home OF MEe.
Davezac. but the weeks passed and
rs yet no information had been re-.
ceived tending to show that Kirby con-
templated securing the property. In
fact Tom Randall. securing the city
for the gambler. positively learned that
the latter and his partner. Bunce. had
left This was indeed the case, for.
K4rby's sole motive In coming to New
Orleans had been the desire to run.
down arrumor to the effect that Jack
Moreau had returned to his old haunts.
The rumor proved authentic, but the
colonel had already left for Baton
Rouge. from which town he again.
headed for the Crescent City. Kirby
and Bunce close upon his heels
And then the inevitable happened,
for n day In the streets OF New Or
leans Tom Randall came face to face
with MORGAN. On both sides the meet
ing was an affecting one. the astute
c~olonel's momentary alarm turning to
relief when. FROM the boys ELUSIVE
greeting. he ascertained the others
agreeable state OF ignorance regarding
the true facts Of John RandalFs sui
eide. Tom at once confided his inten-
ton Of killing Cameo Kirby, and. de-
lighted at securing such unexpected re
endorsements. Moreau heartily con,
Cured in the intention. offering his
modest cooperation In the same worthy
cause. On his part the boy was only
too happy to accept the further serE-
Ices of SO valuable a friend. and he
promptly invited Moreau to Nine.
DaveZac's. an invitation that was as
promptly accepted. it being quite char
acteristic of the estimable gentleman
to accept the hospitality of those whom
he had irretrievably wronged.
Learning from Moreau that Kirby
was in the city and. in fact, had been
seen only that morning at the Sale
de Condo, young Randall hurriedly re-
turned to his aunt's, determined to set
on foot a plan that had been suggested
by Judge PleydeIl. That moldy vii
lain, Colonel Moreau, promised to join
the other the moment he had secured
his portmanteau.
Meanwhile Aaron Randall, an elder.
~, precise gentleman, whose long so
journ In the north had served to some
what cool his Gery southern nature.
had promptly answered his Cousins
urgent letter by shelving all business
demands and Fastening south. An old
bachelor, his late uncle and he had
been unusually close to each other
through life. and he had lavished all
his affection upon the others children,
Adele in particular being his especial
favorite. Business cares had prohib-
tied his attendance at John RandaIl's
funeral. and. in fact. he had been KEPT
in ignorance Of the facts surrounding
the others suicide. Adele holding that
it would cause needless worry and Sor-
row.
The unpleasant duty OF explaining
the tragedy devOlYed upon Judge I'Iey
dell. and. ever while Tom was renew
ing his acquaintance with Colonel No
reau, Aaron had arrived at the little
house in the old French quarter OF the
town and PIeydeIl was recOunting TO
him their plan OF campaign against
Kirby.
I'VE have all cur plans arranged.
SIR" the old judge was nOw saying.
while he paced the o In some ex-
citement, land ] have taken affairs
more or less into my own hands. Tom
would have hunted out the villain and
shot him on sight. but l venture {
think my way Is the best, for we must
recognize the honor due Mr.. Randall's
memory. and that can making no
resistance to MI. Kirby's claim. The
first thing to do Is to send your eOus-
ins out to the plantation, and they will
surrender the place to its claimant
slaves. land, everything. Then. sir. we
send the ladies-Mme. Davezac. along
with my daughter Ann and the little
boy-over to my plantation, while We
remain behind 70 deal with the gentle
man. You understand? / don't think
he'll live very. long TO enjoy the proper
ty. and this time I don't think he'll
get well"
sGUUapu aoa 20 that ronIfod Aaron