The Washington times., 1912-07-05
CHAPTER xvI-(continued.)

=
The pace had been easy. There had
been plenty of rests and her mind had
been too much occupied for WEAKNESS.
The smugglers paid no heed to her.
In this connection she also observed that
the contrabanditu paid no attention to
the Frenchman. Jules Guerin always
walked alone, with his chin on his
Frenchbman invariably drew apart from
the others and stood with his arms fold
ed, staring up meditatively at the moon.
1t is she, and It is not he," concluded
Margaret, feeling rather glad that she
did not care whether II was he or not he.
BY first dawn the cart was meanderinS
along the down-slopihg road by the side
of the river Echaig, which flows SOUTH
the Firth of Clyde. The river roared
amid the blackness of surrounding thick
woods. '..
..'It is but two miles to the cothouse."
whispered McHendfick to Margaret.
You must be tired, little lady?"
All at once there was a movement
on the road ahead. The darkness and
approach Of a body of men. The horses
came to a standstill, as II by instinct
and training. Tie last light OF tive
moon. and the first gray DINNER of day
Now for it, whispered the shepherd,
bracing his shoulder and grippingI his
stan.
of red came man on horse. Mar
garet at once recognized him as one of
the officers. OF Fort James. 1t was
Lieutenant Yorke.
who comes?" he demanded, riding
into the -smugglers' midst.
One of the smugglers-a red-headed
man-immediately wrung his hands and
burst into loud wailng;
oh. sir. i beg of YOU to snare mo,
Twas but for a little profit Times are
hard on on the poor man. and 1t is no
Smuggling? Ha" .Yorke's tone was
amused, rather than stern.
Very Well, my good man., said he.
Stop whining, | am not after smuS-
enue collectors, however. Look out, fer
yourself. But / want to have a lock
at your men. Line up there!'
The Red Mole-as the smuggier lead
er was nicknamed. for his hair and his
cunning-ordered his followers to stand
up for inspection. The Red Mole SEEM
ed nightly relieved although he had
counter. The Soldiers would not trouole
the smugglers-indeed. they traded with
them for cheaper whiskey-and the red
'headed man. having something else to
conceal. had made a fash about his
minor iniquity with eminent success.
Line up! Line up" he cried eagerly.
Let the gentleman see you all. Take
off your bonnets to the kings officer"
The party lined up, Margaret standing
close by her friend, the shepherd, who
Immediately began to growl.
"Smugglers-hey2" he grunted. Fine
dor an honest s d,S dnd
kings officer string ye to rowan-tree.
Then I'd be rid of ye."
He went on snarling. half to himself,
Of Jules Guerin, said:
What is that man growing about?'
Growing about? Growling"', rum
bled the shepherd. who would not
company Of honest merchants who turn
out TO- be robbers and smugglsrs
= Yorke laughed at the shepherds dis
lieutenant sobered up. Was this a
trick?
Here! Let me see your facew
McHendrick raised his dour visage to
salt plaid, the crooked staff. the i'm
mense horny hands. the bristling gray
brows-and laughed again.
ture' my man. Is this your lass? MAJ
! ask you to take the shawl from your
face, my dear?"
Margaret obeyed, revealing just
the Soldier that she was a woman. The
gallant redcoat smiled and took off his
cooked hat
Then Yorke hesitated asHe was sat
istied, and yet His eyes travelled down
the line of faces, and settled once more
upon that of the Frenchman.
"Yog" said he. What is your
"Ju-ju- ju -ju- iu''-began the French.
man, like a steaming kettle spout.
Heavens" exclaimed Yorke. What
ails the MANI"
lips with a note of triumph 'Gu-gu-gu'
Ru-gu-'
Somebody help him." said the red
coat, with a laugh.
assisted.
He suffers" said Yorke, his mind
diverted for the moment. What are
you doing here, Jules?'
Then the oddity OF the thing drove
suspicion clean out of the officers head
His men, too, seemed to be enjoyins
the entertainment of a man speaking
French with a bad stutter.
Yorke understood French, and Guer.
ms lengthy explanation, prolonged In
every syllable, was screamingly ridicu
lous to him.
II appeared that Jules was a sailor
He did not, understand English, ant
found IT h-hard en-n-nOugh to speak
his o-own Language without t-tryins
any o-other.
1t mattered little what else he said BY
way OF explanation. Yorke was lean,
Ing back in his saddle, laughing up
roariously, whereat Jules became an
BT1B anu SlutleIeu 80 Dduly III MS IuTy
that he choked green-red in the face
and threw up his hands in tragic
despair.
Presently, the cart having revealed
no prince in hiding, the redcoats al
lowed the smugglers to proceed, York;
playfully remarking that 1t was a baC
night for smuggling as the red-headeC
man and his party would be likely I,
learn before they reached their destina
tion-if they were allowed to reach 1
at all.
An hour later the smugglers lef
their mysterious cart in a coppic,
and themselves entered the Cothous,
Inn. The inn was an innocent-lookinI
place. The only person in sight wa
a woman. rather handsome in
worldly way, but with every symptom
of private tippling. 1t presently ap
pCered that the Red Mole was he
husband, and that her name was hi
real one. with a mistress tackled on
Mrs Baldy Currie.
The Inn was plain, two story af
fair. Upstairs were lodgings 70
gentlemen, downstairs were accom-
modations for man and beast. Int
the big living room at the head o
wooden staircase Margaret and tn
shepherd were presently ushered.
A huge man, remarkably handsom
as masculin type, arose at their en-
trance. He, stared at Margaret. nod
ded curtly to the shepherd, and thel
turned an inQuirinR eve upon the Re-