Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-06-06

again percmptOrily demanded.
II see them speak together sly" said
Poulctte, nodding her head and screw
ing up her eyes in Il manner that bod
cd i'll for the amative and untruthful
Mr.. Group. II can tell that they did
not wish you to see. Then when you
come from dinner Colonel Moreau he
hand this to Group behind the door
Group he keep it in he breast pocket
I have look. 1t is all those camels"-
"Camcls?" dryly echoed Aaron, with
raised eyebrows.
"Oui. niche" confidently nodded
Poulcttc. evidently no whit amazed ut
the idea Of the spotted handkerchief
being able to accommodate such ami
mails. "4All those camcls the colonel
gen'eman wear when he is come, wear
them on his fob chain" And she
opened the spotted handkerchief.
"Cameos, NJ. Aaron" exclaimed Ana
tole. an exultant light leapins to his
eyes. See. there they are. Now
know. You saw Colonel Moreau when
hs 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 20 and
kill-who? But one man-Cameo kir
by" he cried. leveliny his arm ut the
startled Aaron.
And. as If further proof were need
ed. evidence which proved beyond a
doubt the sinister identity of the ua-
welcome guest, Group entered with Il
note which he handed to Nj. Veaudry.
Man on horseback ride all de way
from de city wifi it," he explained.
Hastily scanning it. the young creole
handed it in silence to Mr.. Randall.
and the latter read:
/ have one more clew to run down. but
shall follow this within the hour.
hear a rumor that Colonel Moreau took
the journey with you this morning. II
this is true. secure his portmanteau. and
II he Is still at the plantation do not al
low him to quit the place till come.
Use any means to prevent his leaving.
Do not hesitate at force. Colonel Moreau
was murdered this morning by Cameo
Kirby. TOM RANDALL.
Aaron gravely returned the letter to
his companion, and for u long moment
the two men looked at each other lii
silence. Then NJ. 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 ut complete UNI
Outstanding 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 mutely deter
mined.
From the balcony Larkin Bunce.
chewing impatiently on his cheroot.
waited for Adele to leave the dra wing
room. 1t 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 glimpse Of Aaron Randall's
face as the latter followed NJ. Veaudry.
and the sight had not been comfort
ing one. the old gambler feeling assur-
ed that something untoward had hap
pened. 1t would not have surprised
him If their respective Identities had
ut last been discovered.
Il knowed we'd get it II we stayed"
he commented gloomily. Il wonder if
this means it's come" glowering ut
retreating back.
And yet. looking through the WIN
dow. he discerned Kirby seated ut the
card table negligently toying with the
and frittering away the
time with Adele as If secure In the
peace and happiness Of his own home.
Such Indifference was maddening. in
and the old gambler. with
a final imprecatiOn. decided that the
Adele had gone he would con-
vey last warning to his partner, and
If it was still UNDECIDED he would then
think of his own safety and. however
difficult it would prove. leave Kirby
to the fate he deserved.
Meanwhile that gentleman was calm
~ pursuing his dialogue with Adele.
'You ask me If am sorry did not
co." he was saying. Miss Randall,
the reason he has?"
Sometimes he is hero" she re-
piled. steadily meeting his eyes.
And sometimes he's Il fool" he add
ed grimly. Things come so suddenly
that you can hardly get
your breath quick enough to tell whas
to do. Yet" he added musingly. 'you
do know all the time, underneath.
what you ought to do. For instance.
! know that l ought not to be here
now. haven't any right. And. then.
! ought to he hunting the man who
stole a silver mounted pistol at the
oaks this morning."
But you cant do that" she expos
nodding wisely. "Your friends
Miss Randall. I've got only one
friend in the world. and he's out there
on the balcony swearing cuss words at
me because ! don't go"
She turned away. evincing sudden
and vital interest in book she had
read twice over and knew by heart.
DO you think you have Il right to
say that you have only one friend?"
she asked gently.
IL hadn't thought of you as a
friend. Miss Randall"
why? How do you think Of me?"
suddenly facing him, her eyes half