The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1910-09-01

Il
Just discoursing with Group on che
beauties Of the night, he preyaricated
cheerfully. You see, have been
quite deserted Ny secretary, feeling;
the heat. stepped into the garden Tor
breath Of air, while Miss Randall
| evidently had duties elsewhere. Shah
we continue our game? Or perhaps.
Miss Adele viii sing for Us again,
I'll am little frightened, Colonel
Moreau." interrupted Nine. Davezac,
her emotion mastering all repressive
measures, while she glanced apprehen-
sively at the window. There are
strange shadows moving in the garden.
We saw them from the parlor.,
AAh, undoubtedly my secretary" re-
piled Kirby, "a most active being for
one Of his excessive displacement I
assure you he Is entirely capable OF
creating more than one legitimate.
shadow
"It was more than one man." inter-
rupted Ann Pleydell In q frightened
voice OF conviction. please do not
Jest with us, Colonel Moreau We are.
convinced that some men are watch
ing this house both front and rear"
I'm that case" said Kirby, instantly
serious. 81 beg OF you, ladies, to retire
to your rooms and permit me ito In
vestigate this matter. There Is no
cause for alarm"
Il A shrill, frightened scream cut him
short. and the next moment Ppulette
came flying into the room, moaning
and wriuging herr hands. 81
81 'sOh-h-h!f she cried. shrinking away;
from the window. Men all round de
house. Dey have gun muskets. DeT
hide in de bush. Oh-h-h!'
Instinctively Kirby placed q hand
Ii, his breast pocket and strobe toward
the balcony AS he gained the window
d hand suddenly pulled him back. and
he turned tooconfront Adele.
? .'You think they hare tracked you, 2.
she whispered, biting the CULVER from
her lips. 'sThey shan't take you. They
,shan't!' passionately. vehementIy.
Stand back from the window" he
commanded quietly, throwing an arm
! before her. Ladies" he, added, turn
ing to the others, who, with Poulette,
had defensiveIy budwarked themselves
behind the card table, there is no
cause for alarm. 1t Is possibly only a
posse of our neighbors hunting run
away niger"
"Quite so, SIR agreed a drawing
voice And, turning, Kirby Miscerned
Judge PleydeH standing in the door
way, complacently and reso1utely
blocking the one avenue of escape.
Kirby felt quite assured that at last
some one of his late friends had dis
covered the true identity Of Colonel
Moreau."
81 have found out who these tres
passers are continued the judge, sig
nifeantly eying the masquerader, land,
ladies. it is my earnest request that
you retire to your rooms.
"RetfreY furiously stormed Adele.
her eyes swapping. 81 tell you I'll
have them whipped on the placer
"You can't do it; he's right, !" cut in
Kirby, nodding toward the judge.
A heavy step In full retreat now
sounded on the balcony, and as Nine.
Davezac gave birth to frightened
little scream Larkin Bunce. looking
raised, pushed through the window
and beamed rather foolishly upon the
assembled company.
'You changed your mind about TAX
ing that stroll, did you, Larking'
greeted Kirby pleasantly.
'sWell, / didn't stroll fur" acknowl-
edged the other, fastening an innocent
eye upon the ceiling. There was
some men oHt there, strangers to me-
so fur. Yet they kind o. seemed to
show some interest in me when ran
into 'em. Told me it wasn't healthy to
take too long walk In thes might air.
And when went round the house the
other way there was some more o.
them says the same thing similar. So
reckoned might as well come back
to the house"
eff you viii permit me-" said Kirby,
facing the company and raising his
voice. 81 will receive Judge Pleydelrs
friends on the porch yonder. No,
Bunce." he added sharply as the other
approached, 81 don't want you. It's a
lone hand. partner"
''You shan't do it, implored Adele,
catching his arm. ''Oh. don't you seel
it would be as If I had betrayed your
Anatole!p she broke OF sharply. note
Of agonized relief In her voice as the
young creole appeared in the doorway
and gently shouldered his way past
the judge-"Anatole you've told me a.
hundred times you'd die to do me al
service Now give you the chance.
/ want those men driven OF my prop
erty."
NJ. veaudry's face whitened and set
as he became the cynosure Of all eyes
Kirby's excepted.
SIT is service that do you, made
moiselle." he said at length, with quiet
dignity. ''Those are my men out there.
told them to surround the house, and
this gentleman knows what for" bow
ing gravely to Kirby.