The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1910-09-22

@8~@A tOGLAA2 LIZ
costing its brief contents. In silence
she handed IL 70 her brother. and he.
after . long. incredulous stare, ex-
claimed:
BE gives 1t back to buy his safety.7
Read the date" commanded Kirby.
addressing the girl.
In the same mechanical manner she
obeyed. spelling it out as If it were
written Ia some strange language with
which she was but vaguely familiar.
He wrote that the first day the doc
tors let him set up to a table after
Jack Moreau shot him." sharply ex-
planned Bunce, angered at the recep-
ton accorded what be considered a
sublime act Of generosity, f-orbearance
and asininity.
Slowly Adele raised her eyes from
the paper and looked steadily at the
common gambler This was in re-
morse-for my fatKer?" she whispered
NO" It was said quite simply and
emotionlessly. as IL the question were
too absurd TO seriously consider. He
would have employed the same tone in
refuttng the statement that he was a
Chinaman.
That doesn't agree very we'll with
Colonel Moreau's story" sneered young
Randall. loath to credit such an enemy
with one worthy motive.
"You bet your bottom dollar it don't"
agreed Bunce.
s'That viii do. Larkin." said Kirby
sharply. There's nothing more to be
said. We're through here
Despite Adele.s earnest request to
remain and the plea that she had the
right to know the meaning of this
strange contradiction OF evidence, he
resolutely turned to leave the room, his
partner obediently following.
But once again M. Veaudry, sinking
his own interests in those OF justice.
stepped forward and detained his
sometime rival.
Make him speak. Tom. he cried.
turning to young Randall. AThis min
nature Of your mother we found in
Colonel Moreau's portmanteau." And
he handed the other the red morocco
box.
"But-but my father lost it to you"
exclaimed the bewfdered boy. turning
to Kirby.
mo. not % me, MI. Randall" Again
that same patient. emotioaless tone. to-
tally devoid of resentment or even in
terest.
Tiff we've been in the wrong"
TREMENDOUSLY whispered Adele, raising
her head proudly. but pleading suppl
cation speaking strongly from her eyes.
you viii set US straight. you will be
fair?"
For a long moment Kirby hesitateds
then finally turned &c the now eagerly
waiting boy.
"Mr. Randall he said. with elabo-
rate irony. 1.-THE question involved in
my conduct k<so purely professional
that it may be almost impossible to
clear 1t up to the satisfaction Of a lay
man. Mr.. Bunce, being one of the
brethren, would comprehend me per-
fectly. but / shall have to point out
that In my profession there r sepa-
rate castles. both high and low. each
controlled by its own standards"
syou accuse Colonel Moreau Of being
a gambler said young Randall IS
the other paused.
ST regretfulIy admit that he had
some claim to the title" replied Kirby.
with intentional elegance of manner,
"for the group to which the colonel
belonged c-ountenances certain prae-
tees, such as the intoxication of OPP
ponents aud The elimination of chance
In the fall Of the cards. and this. we
feel, shows a1ack OF foresight tending
to bring discredlt on the entire profess
sion, which might in time drive its fol-
lowers from their legitimate field Of
Industry. For that reason. when I
discovered the late Colonel Moreau in
Q private stateroom OF the Shotwell
dagp0iling a gentleman who was-who
~as net himself. ! took charge OF the
despcitation OF what remained, intend
ing to make restitution In the morning,
when the victim should be in better
condition"
Young Randall being one who cher
ished his hatreds and affections and
renowned them with difficulty, this
new and obviously accurate version OF
his fathers sU5c4de left him in a state
OF mental fog. Where Adele al only
too willing and eoger TO believe, the
boy was loath To the girl Kirby had
once appeared all that woman can
think OF man. but to her brother he
had eyer been the personifcatioA OF
evil. Tom had blindly nouriahed his
hatred. Now he felt strangely bewil-
dered. self ~distrustful and u%nclean.
His credulity had been shattered with
his self respect. He flushed hoIT at
the thought Of how implicitly and on
such meager evidence he had believed
the spectous and @tally INSCRIPTIONS
Moyeau. how ff6M@ucb a tissue of
falsehood he had carefully erected his
elaborate feud. He had even stopped
to the unutterably foul act Of wear
Ing. a murder upon this man, whs.
rather than being an enemy. had stood
his fathers sole friend. To him it was
aana- - - -@-v