Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-01-16
CHAPTER VII.
Ryanne Tables His Cards.

During this time Mrs. Chedsoye, the
major, Messrs. Ryanne and Wallace.
officers and directors in the United
Romance and Adventure Company,
Ltd. sat in the majors room, round
Ltd, sat in the majors room, round
rarily been given the dignity of a
table. The scene would not have been
without interest either to the specula-
tive physiognomist or to the dramat-
list. To each it would have represent
ed one of those astonishing moments
when the soul of person comes out
into the open, as one might express 1t,
incautiously, to be revealed in the ex-
pressions of the eyes and the mouth.
These four persons were about going
forward upon a singularly desperate
and unusual enterprise. From now on
they were no longer to fence with one
another, to shift from this topic to
that, with the indirect maneuvers of
a house-cat intent upon the quest of
the Friday mackerel. The woman's
face was alive with eagerness; the
oldest man looked from one to the
other with earnest calculation; Wal
lace no longer hid his cupidity;
Ryanne's immobility of countenance
was in itself tacit admission to the
burning of all his bridges that he
might become a part of this conclave
Smuggling" said the major, with
prudent lowering of voice, evidently
continuing some previous debate,
smuggling is fine art, a keen sport
ing proposition; and the consequences
of discovery are never serious. What's
a fine of a thousand dollars against
the profits of many successful excur-
sions into the port of New York?
Nothing, comparatively. For several
years, now, we have carried on this
business with the utmost adroitness.
Never have We drawn serious atten.
ton. We have made two or three
blunders, but the suspicious Of the Sc
cretservice were put to sleep upon
each occasion. We have prospered.
Here Is gem, let us say, worth on
this side thousand; over there we
sell it for enough to give us clean
profit of three or four hundred. Forty
per cent. upon our investment. That
ought to be enough for any reasonable
person. Am / right?"
Mrs. Chedsoye alone was unrespon
sive to this appeal.
Il continue. then. We are making
enough to lay by something for our
old age. And that's the only goal
which never loses its luster. But
this affair.""
Talk, talk" said Mrs. Chedsoye i'm
patiently.
my dear Kate, allow me to relieve
my mind"
You have done so till the topic is
threadbare. 1t is rather late in the
day to go over the ground again.
Time is everything just now"
Admitted. But this affair, Kate, Is
big; big with dangers, big with pit
falls; there is hidden menace In ev-
cry step of 1t. Mayhap death; who
knows? The older l grow, the more
cling to material comforts, to enter
prises of small dangers. However, as
you infer, there's no going back now"
NO." assented Ryanne, his mouth
hard; mot If have to proceed alone"
She smiled at him. you talk of
danger" speaking to the major. What
danger can there be-"
"The unforeseen danger, the danger
of which we know nothing, and there
fore are unable to prepare for it. You
do not see it, my dear, but it is there,
nevertheless"
Wallace nodded approvingly. Ry-
anne shrugged.
Failure is practically impossible.