The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1910-09-15

hesitate to meet the son Of the man
for whose death he had been directly
and shamefully responsible. for young
Tom Randall had ridden over to the
Plaquemine landing in order to greet
his father. while over at the old home
stead all was hustle and excitement in
honor Of the masters Homecoming.
Anxiously Tom Randall waited to
see the jovial and well known figure
Of his father march down the gang
plank. waited to catch glimpse OF
the familiar and weather beaten green
portmanteau which the planter always
carried The moments passed. Other
and numerous passengers stepped
ashore to be eagerly welcomed and
claimed by their own, but John Ran
dali was not among them. \ curious
and seemingly pregnant hush had sue
at last, his father had come ashore,
borne on the shoulders. Of two roust'
abouts, while the captain and officers
stood with barred heads and thankfully
left the unwelcome task Of explaining
the tragedy to the amiable and willing
Colonel Moreau.
MY boy" said the latter. now lay
ing a fatherly hand on young Ran
dall's heaving shoulder. although 1
am stranger to yoh. sub. have
ventured to assume temporary control
of this terrible affair, fob l am a
southern gentleman, as was Mr.. Ran
dali, and l feel bound to yoh all by
the ties Of sympathy and country. l
was q witness. sub, to the events
which preceded and prompted this out
rage. and. although l am aware 1t IS
but poh satisfaction. still it Is some
thing to know that the scoundrel who
was instrumental In causing yoh poh
fathers death has already paid fob
II with his life. My name, sub. Is
Colonel Moreau, and II can be OF
any further service to yoh all In this
dark hour Of tribulation pray COM
mand me, sub. AS an old soldier !
beg Of yoh to meet this calamity with
the fohtitude Of a Christian gentle
man." with which admirable and pious
admiration the good colonel fouriShed
his handkerchief and helped himself
to a generous pinch Of snuff.
IL thank you Colonel Moreau. for
all you have DONE" said young Ran
dali stonily. looking on the huddled
thing at his feet "You-you say you
witnessed my fathers deathT
"Not exactly, sub. fob he shot him.
self in his stateroom. However hard
/ to bear, ! think yoh should know who
and what prompted his death. The
scoundrel. sub. was the notorious
Cameo Kirby. Of whom. perhaps. yoh
have heard"
Young Randall nodded duly. and
Moreau, entering into the spirit OF the
tale, continued: II fohmed an acquaint
ance, sub, with yoh poh father wher
he came aboard at New Orleans. he
confded to every one that he had SOLD
his sugar crop fob ten thousand and
had the cash with him. and he was
in mighty high spirits because he was
on his way back home to see his chill
dren. Poh gentleman! AS delicatelJ
as can must state that he was no.
quite himself. and by that, sub. NEAR
that he had been imbibing little toe
freely. | don't have to tell yoh. sub
that there are certain characters on al
the big boats who keep a pretty SHARP
| eoh rxoptlap,ap Nth p,onov VIII
are In the condition yoh poh father
sub. was In tonight, and expect there
was more than one river gambler OF
board who would have liked to get hi:
hands on Mr.. Randall. But the on.
who got him was the slickest and clev
crest Of the lot. the Cameo Kirby
whom | have mentioned This rascal
sub, inveigled yoh poh father into
private stateroom, piled him with moi
LIQUOR and won from him not only al
his money and personal effects-eveI
including a miniature Of yoh deac
mother, suh-but also a deed to bis. en-
tire plantation and all his slaves, every
thing which he owned. | was too late
to save Mr.. Randall. but knew Kirby
by repute. and was so Screamlngly
outraged by the whole affair that de
nounced him fob the low scoundre
he was. Thereupon he drew on me, bu
was the quicker and shot him dowl
like dog. They carried him ashore
sub. at the landing below this, and tht
river Is cleaner fob bis death"
You have taken vengeance out o.
my hands," said young Randall un
steadily. The coward and villain
For a stranger. sir. the attitude whicl
ceeded the landing Of the freight, and
off somewhere In the darkness a child
whimpered shrilly. The boys nerves
were set on edge. Perhaps his father
was having a farewell talk with the
captain and would come dashing out
at the last moment with all his old dis
regard for time and place. 1t was time
the bell was changing, the signal for
backing away, for by now the landing
Oe Messengers and freight appeared to