Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-07-23

ful climate OF Mexico. He knew that
Kirby was not the type OF man TO for
get or coHdone q bullet In the back
or the smirching OF whatever little re-
maiRed OF his once fair reputation.
and had he even remotely suspected
that be would recover he (Moream
would not have prevaricated so cheer
fully and with such abandon to young
Randall. How much did the boy now
know That was the all important
question. Kirby. Of course. had learn
ed that he stood accused OF the late
John Randalrs suicide. but had ne
taken the trouble to refute it? No
reau did not think so. and Moreau
was right
Kirby had but vaguely heard Of the
unjust accusation and, having been
long since casehardened 70 calumny
I'm all its phases. paid little II any at.
tention. Had any member OF the Ran
dali family sought him out he would.
as matter of duty. have proved his
innocence But they. believing him
dead. had not done So and he refused
20 take the initiative. partly because he
could not give absolute credence 20
the rumor, but in a greater measure
because OF the demands upon his
time. After ALL It did not matter II
meant only another tally TO the score
Of Jack Moreau. and all would be
wiped out 10y that gentleman's death.
an undertaking upon which he had
definitely decided. What stood be
tween them could be ersdicated only
by the bullet
Meanwhile the passing year had
brought with it many changes for the
surviving members Of the Randall fam
ily. Life is tenacious. and they had
persisted IN surviving as best they
could the shock incident upon their
fathers suicide. The one small meas
ure Of satisfaction in the whole ter
rible affair was the knowledge that the
despoiler OF their home had promptly
met his death and that in consequence
they were at least saved from pauper-
ization. for they were entirely igno-
rant OF Kirhy's recovery or the meas
ures he had voluntarily taken FOR their
protection.
To the only girl. Adele. had fallen
the brunt OF suffering. The General.
a child Of eight. was too young 10 fully
comprehend his loss. while Tom.
hot headed youth I'm his early twentles.
occupied AN his time with the planta-
ton and devoted an spare moments to
nursing his hatred against Kirby's
memory While glorying I'm the lat
ters supposed death he deplorcd that
his hand had not effected a. Where
grief hgd paralyzed Adele it had but
further aroused the boys militant and
aggressive nature. addigg moreover. a
veneer of youthful and bitter cyuicism
he abhorred Nirby's memory with an
Intensity passing Che hatred OF mau
and, even had he been n stranger 90
the then prevailing and primitFe no
lions Of justice, would. had be known
the other lived. have immediately
sought him out aud killed him. ~ his
fathers memory demanded that mo- re-.
sistanee should be made 20 the gam.
bler's claim Il likewise demanded shat
the latter should not live oyerloug To-
enjoy his newly acquired property.
More than once, as n uneasy mtui-
tion sought 10 prompt the truth. the
boy had suggested TO his sister the pos
sibuity ~ Kirby having survived Mo
reau's sincere attentions. Then he
would break out tn AN ungovcruable
az OF fury and hatred
"Supposing That scoundrel has lived
and Intends reaping the reward OF his
crime" be would cry. He gained
that deed by the vuest scoundrelisn
ever practiccd. Well. let him make
good his claim n he can"
"But who Will dispute itr' Adele
would hfelesSly inquire. plucking at
her black dress, while twin patches OF
scarlet would begin to burn in the
dead white Of her face. do you think
we could stoop 20 ask mercy from a
man Of that stamp Whether the
deed was gained honestly or not, 81
does not matter. Fathers signature
Is on the paper. and we must stand
10y II. Tom. You know that. Any
way" she would finish drearily. what
does IL matter? What does IL matter
where we 60. what we become7 Let
this Mr.. Kirby-if that be his name
finish the work be began so we'll"
IL wish you could pluck up a
little more spirit Dele" he would re-
turn. sollcitous and resentful in the
one breath. Doesn't the thought OF
that scoundrers possible recovery
make your blood boil? Don't you ever
~ e