The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1910-08-25
Lii nledged to remain the

,,nnd himself pleuseu
plight ,,,sr,t do it. ma,arn," ne had
@But ,o+od TO the smiling and In
;sspsitsDle Nine. Day ved co,on Ms M sno
o %e,uhv-1 mean me ana Ooion ha
ErU' cot to git right out OF mere,
reau sV come mighty pressin' business
there: for us-specially for him.
ua an" -, vviI, make postpone that
al ~. she returned. I've al
Oas ap had your horse taken to the sta a,
reao! Colonel Moreau, he says he will
bes, tho honor to dine with us and
do Us .. the night. and that decides it.
relain his frierd and secretar'- So
YOU "hsu see you at dinner NJ. Bunce;
sun the gentleman's ROOM.
Cr su6 Tarkn. making an uncouth bow,
AI na1.od his curses and followed the
swan orrsnt Passing Kirby. he breath
olo sornfnllv, IF was some people
ed ed s snd out more about other people"
ia nr with Adele. Kirby leaned
A U.t the old sundial and attentively
ssa .abod her deity arrange in the bas-
Ta''b bor freshly gathered bunch of
flowers. ,5o,+,u +bints Won
~ safe here" she said at length.
az H. rou won't go? II know you
arc g ' donbt it." he calmly interrupted.
.Tvbvq" sharply. looking up with
..ortIed, wounded eyes.
apocause you are giving me a longer
~ remember your kindness than
tin ornocted. and I'm afraid I'm finding
i,s4 that isn't the safest thing in the
world for me.
ly asked. -. n,.a.ouoa
rare half serious. People who play
with fire.
.owsd. sir. OF what was your friend
afraid" -. q
swell, mainly he seemed disturbed
because / didn't know your name,"
smiled Kirby.
But you do" M
"Pardon, l don't. This is the arst
time I've been alone with you since we
started. I've only heard you called
Miss Adele 1 don't even know whose
ulantation this is"
"Neither-do-we," she added sadly.
~ want to show you something"
And. as If yielding to a sudden i'm
uulse she unfastened from about her
neck a jeweled miniature and handed
1t to her companion.
Kirby instantly recognized it as a
portrait of the late John Randall, and
in a breath the full significance of
Bunce's observations came to him.
Amazed, he looked from the miniature
to Adele, then to the house and back
again to her. Observing his emotion.
she whispered, you knew my ia
Their" H'l
Il met him-once," replied Kirby,
taking deep breath.
II was proud Of him." she continued
steadily, refastening the miniature
about her neck, 'tand I am not the less
proud Of him now. You have heard
how he died? Then you understand
why we do not know whose plantation
this Is; that we hold it at the mercy
Ot-Cameo Kirby" She dragged forth
the name with an accent and gesture
Of unspeakable fear and loathing.
"Your brother took Moreau's word
for what happened that night. didn't
he" asked Kirby steadily.
Certainly. Had not Colonel Moreau
shown himself my fathers friend?''
she returned.
ut seems to me that Moreau's word
has gone for a good deal with your
family" he commented. with yelled
bitterness.
And why not? Do we need any
ones word upon a notorious adven-
turer who lives by gambling" she
asked with some asperity, "any ones
word upon creature who preyed upon
the weakness Of a good man like my
father?'
But has it ever occurred to you"
ne returned quietly, that possibly this
Kirby might never intend to claim the
plantation''-
mo! No" she interrupted vehe-
mently, shaking her head "He is too
infamous. But don't want to think
OF him today. A change has come
over me, and-and somehow the world
Is different place. She stopped
ana then, with flushed cheeks and hur-
tleo breath, added: 81 feel as If / had
Oeen living long time In the shad-
OWs-shadows full Of darkness and
ugly thoughts. But it has lifted today
somehow. What is it?"
she turned, asking the question with
wondering eyes, her face TRANSPORTED
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