The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1910-07-07

Capt Placide? Oh. yes; he's cap
tain fast enough, and owner too, for
that matter. Haven't you heard?"
had not heard; | had only seen.
well, We don't know much more
about him than he knows about
steamboating, which is nit. All ! can
tell you is that he came along on the
levee one day at New Orleans and of
fered to buy the boat--offered two
| prices and got her. And since he's
| been persuadng himself that he is
running her, though Johnson, the
mate, does that. Queer little guy;
| though I'm bound to say he treats
us all we'll enough"
| turned away quite speeches..
There was only one explanation. NJ.
Placide had won the capital prize at
| last. and the Belle was his conception
of the biggest thing he could find to
| buy.
1t was less than month later when
Piacide met his fate. She was sweet
| faced young woman with soulful eyes
and a girlish air. and she came aboard
at Natchez-under-the-H one night
with an elderly Mephisto who intro
duced her as his daughter
AS once before, I CHANGED to be one
of the Bellies passengers; and when
| they met at the dinner table In the
grand saloon, these two and the little
| captain, ! saw the end from the be-
ginning. The elderly man was bird
of prey; and Mile Carinthe, despite
her angelic face and convent manner,
was too evidently his confederate.
| With good weather, and few land
| ings to hinder it is no more than
swift nights run from NatcheZ TO the
| city. For the first half of the night
| Placide sat at a table in the forward
saloon opposite the elderly gambler
playing steadily, with mademoiselles
hand on the back of his chair. How
much of the capital prize there was
left when the young woman proposed
an adjournment to. the saloon deck AIT
know not. nor ever shall know.
But of the denouement l write as an
unwilling witness, My stateroom
opened upon the after guard, ana the
head Of my berth was within 1oot
of the closed venetians. A half-hour
after the adjournment from the card
table | heard low voices and slow
steps on the guard, as of lovers prom
enading.
"Yoa are a man of honor and gen
tleman, Capt. Keynes" were the 1lrst
words of my overheasing. 81 can trust
you'll am sure | can trust you"
"To the death, mam'zelle.' | could
nicture Placide's low bow with his
hand on his heart.
"Mv father is in great trouble; 1t IS
not like him to play as he did tonight.
but he is desperate. You are listen
ing?"
ITO h-every word, mam'zelle. You
do me YER great honair."
ut is about-about money, this trou-
Bile. My father owes great debt to
a man who has no mercy. He is rlch'
this man; and if If | Will marry
him-oh. Capt Keynes. ! can't say
any more, not even to YOU
Twice lntN ldSStu anu i'B''HSN' ~
latticed door in silence, and at the
risk of having a duel on my hands |
was irving to nerve myself to cry out;
"Gardez vous, mon anil" But at the
third time of passing Placide was
speaking and it was too late.
"To-morrow morning, mamzelle;
there is no notaire on the Belle. MAS
we sail go and tell your good ladder
| You ave the word of honair, mann
'zelle: the word of a French Zhentie'
man"
When | was leaving the boat the 1oi-
lowing morning Capt. Placide was
seated at the gaming table OF the
night before. His visa-yis was the
elderly rock, and there were papers
between them At his right sat a
lawyer-like person, stranger; ana
mademoiselle was standing with hel
hand on the back of his chair
A fortnight later chance led me once
again through Royal street. Passing
the namboyant house with the high
Mated door. a sudden desire to see
Placide's successor in the little bar
bers shop made me stop and enter.
Nothing was changed within. The
hot water copper was kissing cheer
fully on the tiny heater; frowsy