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

Itole. an exultanf light 1eaping Co his
eyes. See. there they are. Now
know. You saw Colonel Moreau when
he started for that meeting this morn
ing. You saw him when Tom Randall
has meeting this morning. You saw
him when Tom Randall has give him
that pistol OF his fathers to go and
kill-who? But one man-Cameo Kir-
by!' he cried. leveling his arm at the
startled Aaron
And, as &c further proof were need
ed, evidence which proved beyond a
doubt the sinister identity OF the un-
welcome guest, Group entered with a
note, which he handed to M. Veaudry.
Man on horseback, ride all de way
from de city wiz IT,. he explained
Hastily scanning 1t, the young creole
handed 1t In silence to Mr.. Randall,
and the latter read:
have one more clew TO run down, but
shall follow this within the hour.
hear q rumor that Colonel Moreau took
the journey with you this morning. II
this is true, secure his portmanteau. and
IT. he IL still at the plantation do not al
low him to quit the place till I come.
Use any means TO prevent his leaving.
Do not hesitate at force Colonel Moreau
was murdered this morring by Cameo
Kirby TOM RANDALL
Aaron gravely returned the letter to
his companion. and for long moment
the two men looked at each other in
silence. Then M. Veaudry quietly
placed the paper In his pocket, turned
on his heel and strobe from the room.
Mr.. Randall obediently following. At
last they had arrived at complete I'M
derstanding regarding the identity and
disposition OF the troublesome guest
who boldly masqueraded under the
name OF Colonel Moreau. That no
words had been necessary testified to
the sinister character Of the resolve
upon which they had mutdF deter
mined.
1 From the balcony Larkin Bunce,
chewing impatientay. on his cheroot,
waited for Adele to leave the drawing
room. It was imperative that he
should have a final word with Kirby.
Escaping from the music room before
the others, he had been in time to
catch. a glimpse OF Aaron Randail's
face, as the latter followed NJ Yeaudry,
and the sight had not been comfort
ing one, the old gambler feeling. assur-
ed that something untoward had hap
pened. It would not have surprised
him If their respective identities had
at last been discovered.
ST knowed we'd get it if we stayed"
he commented gloomily. 81 wonder If
this means it's come" glowering at
Aaron's retreating back.
And yet, looking through the WIN
dow, he discerned Kirby seated at the
card table negligently toying with the
pasteboards and fritterlng- away the
time with Adele as If secure In the
peace and happiness Of his own home.
Such indifference was maddening, in
applicable, and the old gambler, with
a final imprecation, decided that the
moment Adele had gone he would con-
vey last warning to his partner, and
if it was still unheeded he would then
think Of his own safety and, however
difficult it would prove, leave Kirby
to the fate he deserved. "A
Meanwhile that gentleman was calm
lyopursuing his dialogue withAAdele.
YOU ask me if am sorry I did not
CO." he was saying. Miss Randall,
what is a man who acts against all
the reason he hasT'
Sometimes he is a hero.s she re-
piled; STEADILY meeting his eyes.
"And sometimes he's,a fool" he add
ed grimlg. Things come so suddenly
sometimes that you can hardly get
your breath Quick enough to tell what
to do Yet" he added musingly. ''you