The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1910-09-15
CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER X.
III 1UE in u great measure to Kir-
| ~ by's and Adeles high spirits,
E956a which infected all but three
80 members of the company. the
dinner in honor of Colonel Moreau
was an entire success and, in fact,
could not have been surpassed had
that unfortunate gentleman himself
been present. Judge Pleydell. believ-
Ing that he was assisting to entertain
one who by championing the cause of
the Randalls. while at the same time
/ Kidding the community of the notori-
GUS Cameo Kirby. had earned his last
ing esteem and gratitude. told his best
! stories in his happiest vein. and Nine
Davezac. together with Ann Pleydell
suffering under the same deluson. put
forth every effort to charm. even going
to the length of heartily appiauding
the judges most venerable and moth
ravaged yarns.
No mean racOnteur himself, Kirby
ransacked his vast store of personal
experience for interesting topics of
conversation that would bear rehearsal
In the present company. and even
Bunce. finally and unwillingly drawn
by some mysterious spell into the vor-
tex of small talk. carefully selected, as
befitted secretary" the least in
nocuous of his many escapades and
ventured to confide it to the demure
ear of his dinner partner. Miss Pley-
dell. This heroic action of the old
river gambler--for he was desperate
~ embarrassed at the honor shown
him and thoroughly cognizant what
must be the inevitable and tragic end
ing of his partners reckless action
is sufficient testimony to the fact that
the preoccupied manner of M. Veau-
dry, coupled with Mr. Randall's grave
silence and studied courtesy toward
Kirby. had no effect upon the spirits
OF the company. if. indeed. their de-
meanOr was even noted by the ma
jority.
Before entering the house the two
gentlemen in question had come to an
understanding regarding the status of
their guest. cOncurring in the opinion
that he was impersonating the gentle
man in whose honor the dinner had
been planned. But Aaron alone had
found a sinister significance in the
Generals observation to the effect that
Kirby wore quantity of canoes, and,
although he lacked authentic evidence
upon which to erect his suspicious,
while likewise granting that it was an
amazing and unbelievable action for
one to deliberately walk into the house
Of his enemies, he vaguely sensed that
the pseudo Colonel Moreau was none
other than the notorious Eugene Kir-
by.
Still, Aaron Randall was strictly
just and upright man. who was fully
aware of the many crimes committed
in the name Of circumstantial evil
dence. Slow to pronounce Judgment,
he was quick to act when once assur-
ed that in no sense would Justice be
violated. Moreover. Adele, in whose
integrity and force of character he
had the firmest belief and for whom
he had the highest regard and proof
of whose acumcn he had had ample
testimony. vouched for the imposture
and even confessed completely if not
actual initiative in the same. In the
absence of Tom Randall she was alb
solute mistress. with the right to act
as she deemed fit, and had. moreover.
exacted his word Of honor that he
would trust her until the arrival of
her brother Even had he been salts
fed with the truth Of his conjectures
regarding Kirby's identity this prom
ise to Adele would haze pledged
Aaron to secrecy. and NJ. Veaudry, be-
Ing subsequently acquainted with the
compact. likewise agreed that it could
not be violated.
For the young creole this passive
role was extremely difficult. and it
was eloquent proof Of his self CON-
mand and personal integrity. coupled
with those refined instincts bestowed
by gentle birth and breeding, that he
considered Aaron's promise equally
binding upon himself and. REFRESHING
all promptings of jealousy. refrained
from dcnouncing Kirby as an impos-
tor. The successful suit of an honora-
BILE rival would have been difficult
enough to recognize. but this encroach-
ment of stranger who lit the best
was masquerader if not a character
more sinister and disreputabe was in
tolerable. for NJ. Veaudry had gath
cred from Mr.. Randall's manner that
he suspected their guest of being
guilty of something more criminal
than assuming name to which he
bad no right.
Thus, even while the young creole
and Aaron prayed that Tom Randalps
arrival would be fastened and coinci-
dent with it free vent could be given
to their suspicious, Larkin Bunce ear
nestly hoped to the contrary-hoped
that Kirbv would SuddanIy rool;,o bic