The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-06-21

TupCcu All FlSyUcu HI d AIISHtcuSO 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."
 'In that case" said Kirby, instantly serious, 'I beg of you, ladies, to retire to your rooms and permit me to in vestigate this matter. There is nc cause for alarm
 A shrill, frightened scream cut him short, and the next moment Roulette came flying into the room, moaning and wringing her hands.
 "Oh-h-hr' she cried, shrinking away from the window. "Men all round de house. Dey have gun muskets. Dey hide in de bush. Oh-h-h"
 Instinctively Kirby placed a hand in his breast pocket and strode toward the balcony. As he gained the window a hand suddenly pulled him back, and he turned to confront Adele.
 :'You think they have tracked you,' she whispered, biting the quiver from her lips. "They shan't take you! They shan't!" passionately, vehemently.
 Stand back from the window" he commanded quietly, throwing an arm before her. Ladies'" he added, turn ing to the others, who, with Roulette, had defensive1y bulwarked themselves behind the card table, there is no cause for alarm. It is possibly only a posse of our neighbors hunting run away nigger."
 Quite SO, sir," agreed a drawing voice. And, turning, Kirby discerned Judge Pleydell standing in the door way, complacently and resolutely Kirby felt quite assured that at last some one of his late friends had dis covered the true identity of Colonel Moreau."
 "I have found out who these tres passers are," continued the judge, sig nifcantly eying the masquerader, "and, ladies, it is my earnest request that you retire to your rooms"
 "Retire?" furiously stormed Adele, her eyes snapping. "I tell you I'll have them whipped off 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 Mime. Davezac gave birth to a frightened little scream Iarkin Bunce, looking considerably overheated and ernbar- rassed, pushed through the window and beamed rather foolishly upon the assembled company.
 'You changed your mind about talk ing that stroll, did you, Larkin? ?" greeted Kirby pleasantly.
 ''We1l, I didn't stroll fur," acknowl- edged the other, fastening an innocent eye upon the ceiling. "There was some men out there, strangers to me so fur. Yet they kind O seemed to show some interest in me when ran into lem. Told ne it wasn't healthy to take too long a walk in the night air. And when I went round the house the other way there was some more O them says the same thing similar. So I reckoned might as we'll come back to the house."
 '1f you will permit me-" said Kirby, facing the company and raising his voice, 'I will receive Judge Pleydell's friends on the porch wonder. No. Bunce," he added sharply as the other approached, T don't want you. It's a lone hand, partner"
 "You shan't do it," implored Adele, catching his arm. "Oh, don't you see it would be as if I had betrayed you? Anatole," she broke off 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 a service. Now I give you the chance. I want those men driven off nay prop erty."
 M. Veaudry's face whitened and set as he became the exposure of all eyes, Kirby's excepted.
 ''It 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.
 'sNo, he doesn't, but I dol" cried Adele, laughing historically. "So this ID AOW tOu VIII O WOAdu, AAdCOlCS You will answer to my brother for an attack on a guest of this house," she finished, her anger once more master ing all other emotions.
 "Mademoiselle, it is by your broth CTS orders that I act-and think it is that he is himself here now," replied M. Veaudry.
 Even while Adele laughed scornfully a confused babel of cries was heard from the garden, supplemented by hoarse oaths and the sound of running feet. Another moment and Tom Ran dall had burst into the room. Covered with dust and sweat, white, haggard, half insane with excitement, a prey to the most consuming passion, ,.he was the epitome of violence, baked re- venge and undying hatred as, throw ing off Adele's restraining arm, he launched himself straight at Kirby.
 Aaron Randall, grave and collected, next entered and methodically placed upon an adjacent chair the green port manteau belonging to the late lament ed Colonel Moreau.
 Kirby quietly awaited young Ran dalrs onslaught and, as the maddened boy threw himself upon him, pinioned his arms and, despite all opposition, forced him backward into q chair.