The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1910-10-20
kIRBY Y
Adapted From
the Play of the Same
Name by w. B. N.
Ferguson
INSLEE MAGAZINE COMPANY
AINsLEE MAGAZINE COMPANY

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bles. Colonel Moreau. he says he will
do us the honor to dine with us and
remain the night. and that decides it..
You are his friend and secretar'- So
l shall see you at dinner. NJ. Bunce.
Group, the gentleman's room"
And Larkin. making an uncouth bow,
swallowed his curses and followed the
old servant. Passing Kirby. he breath
ed scornfully. If l was some people
I'd find out more about other people"
Alone with Adele. Kirby leaned
against the old sundial and attentively
watched her deftly arrange in the bas-
ket her freshly gathered bunch OF
flowers.
"Your friend evidently thinks you
are not safe here" she said at length.
But you won't go? II know you
are safe here"
"I doubt it." he calmly interrupted.
"why?" sharply, looking up with
startled, wounded eyes.
Because you are giving me a longer
time to remember your kindness than
I expected. and I'm afraid I'm finding
that that isn't the safest thing In the
world for me-"
"Great danger In that. sir?' she gay
ly asked. sr ss.E.
He Joined in her laugh, but his eyes
were half serious. People who play
with ire"-------'------.l&--
"Ah. but don't believe you are .
coward. sir. OF what was your friend
afraidY
"well. mainly he seemed disturbed
because I didn't know your name,"
smiled Kirby.
But you do"
Pardon, don't. This is the 6rst
time I've been alone with you since We
started. I've only heard you called
Miss, Adele 1 don't even know whose
plantation this is" -
"Neither-do-we,"s she added sadly.
IL want to show you something"
And, as If yielding to a sudden i'm
pulse, she unfastened from about her
neck q jeweled miniature and handed
it to her companion.
Kirby instantly recognized 1t as .
portrait Of the late John Randall. and
in q breath the full significance OF
Bunces 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
ther?"
II met him-once," replied Kirby.
taking deep breath.
II was proud Of him." she continued
steadily, refastening the miniature
about her neck, land 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
of-Cameo Kirby" She dragged forth
the name with an accent an0 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.
1T 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 a creature who preyed upon
the weakness Of good man like my
father%
But has it ever occurred to you,"
he returned quietly, that possibly this
Kirby might never intend to claim the
plantation"-
"No! No! she interrupted vehe-
mently, shaking her head. HE is too
infamous. But l don't want to think
Of him today. A change has come
over me, and-and somehow the world
Is different place. She stopped
and then, with flushed cheeks and hur-
ried breath, added: Il feel as If had
been living a long time in the shad-
ows-shadows full Of darkness and
ugly thoughts. But 1t has lifted today
somehow. What is it?'
She turned, asking the question with
wondering eyes, her face TRANSPORTED
And as If the heavens, bearing out her
statement. offered sign which pre-
saged future peace and happiness. a
surcease from all tribulation and suf-
fering, the final and complete oblitera-
ton Of the shadows of the past. the
homing sun, peeping from over the dis
tant house, bestowed its last caress
upon Adele Randall, transforming her
somber dress into one of gayety and
splendor. True to NJ. Veaudry's proph-
ecy, it appeared as if her long affected
mourning was to be at length discard
ed: but, contrary to that gentleman 5