Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-05-09

BY Ju0ge fieydeii mat moluy VII.
lain. Colonel Moreuu. promised to Join
the other the moment he had secured
his pOrtmanteau.
Meanwhile Aaron Randall. an elder.
~. precise gentleman, whose long So
jouru In the north had served to some
what cool his fiery southern nature,
had promptly answered bis Cousins
urgent letter by shelving all business
demands and Fastening south. An old
bachelor. his late uncle and he had
been unusually close to each other
through life. and he had Iavished all
his affection upon the others children,
Adele In particular being his especial
favOrfte. Business cares had prohib-
tied his attendance at John Randall's
funeral, and. In fact. he had been kept
in ignorance of the facts surrounding
the others suicide. Adele holding that
1t would cause needless worry and sor.
| row.
The unpleasant duty Of explaining
the tragedy devolved upon Judge Pley-
dell. and. even while Tom was renew
ing his acquaintance with Colonel Mo-
reau. Aaron had arrived at the little
house in the old French quarter Of the
town and Pleydel was recounting to
him their plan of campaign against
Kirby.
I'VE have all our plans arranged,
sir" the old judge was now saying.
xx,h no hn in
citement. land l have taken affairs
more or less into my own hands. Tom
would have hunted out the villain and
shot him on sight. but venture to
think my way is the best. for we must
recognize the honor due Mr. Randall's
memory. and that means making no
resistance to Mr.. Kirby's claim. The
first thing to do is to send your cous-
ms out to the plantation. and they will
surrender the place to its claimant
slaves. land. everything. Then, sir, we
send the ladies-Mme. Davezac. along
with my daughter Ann and the little
boy-over to my plantation. while we
remain behind to deal with the gentle
man. You understand? l don't think
he'll live very long to enjoy the proper
ty, and this time l don't think he'll
get WE'LL"
We'll see to that" replied Aaron
quietly. There's you and Tom and
r.
"And Colonel Moreau." supplement-
ed the judge. II understand he is
dead shot. Then there is NJ. Veaud.y.
whom you know. He has long been
sutton Of Miss Adeles. but since her
fathers death naturally she has been
in no frame of mind for courtship, and
consequently poor Anatole is as bitter
on the subject of Kirby as she her.
self"
poor Cousin Adee"' murmured
Aaron. wiping his eyes. when last
saw her she was such happy, bright
eyed girl. TO think Of her young life
being made a tragedy by this scoun-
drel! I'd cut of my right hand for
that girl. Judge Pleydell. But this
Colonel Moreau, this defender of the
family-you speak Of his cooperation.
Is he, then. in town?"
II have heard So" said the other
quietly, land there Is no doubt that
he will Join us In our crusade against
this scoundrel. He Is not the man to
forget or condone such an unspeakably
vile action as he witnessed aboard the
Shotwell that night. In fact. your
cousins hope to have the honor Of
entertaining Colonel Moreau, and Tom
has gone out for the express purpose
of ascertaining his whereabouts. for
heard quite inadvertently that the gen.
tleman was in town. l reckon Mr..
Kirby is due to lose his life pretty
shortly He has made a lot of misery
for US, sir. and 1t is high time he had
some himself"