The evening world., 1914-03-23


Capt. Sagessc. since the day
thirty years aud more ago
IEU when dessrtinG from Z
French ship. he had taken
up his abode At St. Pierre. BEGIN.
ming At the very bottom. he had
worked his way up TO comparative
arluence. and whifs plying Caspard
with auesticns he intsrpoiatsd frsg-
ments OF his own history.
He told Of how he worked the vessel
entirely with blacks, Barba dams, and
when he had exhausted his slight In
tcrest IN oaa ,ard and his history he
returned to himself. talking ~ though
Gnspard we're an old friend Just
stepped aboard. the fresmasonary Of
the south and q common birthplace
giving him tho familiarity OF long ac-
quaintancsship.
There was scarcely . disrcputabie
transaction In which a ship's keel
could find a place. but II seemed that
Capt. SaGessc and his bark. the Belle
Arlesicnne. had been In it-gun run.
ming In the Spanish- American war.
smuggling, and worse. He owned
tho vessel. he owned property In
Martinique and very questionab bio
property In 1t. Pierre. and inspired
now by rum and what seemed at
first blush a charming and natural
natvcte. he told about himself and
his doinga. his possessions and as
p'rafions with charcteristio force and
L., tom.
i'c mad got tho better Of govern
m"nts. men md women; he rave
neither names nor dates nor places,
talking In his loose way with moth
ing more definite than. 1T was an
islct. II might have been nifty miles
south or nifty miles north OF Rum
Cay-but that doesn't matter" or
"donorine. that might have bc:n her
name. but II wasn't anyhow, m tell
you tho trick she served Pierre IA
xettc. and then III tell you tho trick
he served her.
All at once the brain Of Oaspard.
drowsed by tho events Of the dnv.
cleared. perception became acute, Ner
satioh bcatined. two glaaaes OF atronx
rum and tho Martinique boat which
the captain had given him. had
opcnH Tor him the door OF the
i'rhady Paradise; the deck house of
La Belle Ariesienne seemed psis tisi
Sagesse the greatest Of men. and he
Gaspard Cadillac. the equal OF IA
cease.
lilo held out his xlass for more
rum.
And mark you." said sagcsse a.
ne poured II out. II got nv hold ON
ner IN that way. bcca use. mordieu. I
remembered those two words sho
said that night to tho mate OF the
Enyonnaise. They thought I was
drunk. but ] have never bean drunk
IN my life. and I never forget"
nor L." said Gaspard. never
pcch drunk and never forget" The
recollection OF Anisettc and Yves
IN" table with his fist. "I have served
my man out. No. never forrct.
.,ow you listen" BUT Has~ssN war
this time. ""
ANA u was worth seven thousand
collars American gold coin" sagesse
was saying In the course OF his yarn.
whom tsaspard. whipping the belt ann
pouch from HIS waist. brought them
uown on the table with a bang. 40
that the gold coins rolled out.
Look at that" cred 0aspard.
What you say? Wasn't that worth
me thrust Of n knife7" The coins
uairod before him as he sat rocking
w his scat An abstemious man AZ 4
rue. tho weartness and the strong old
rum had done their work,
Sagessc stopped short In hls storv.
stared Mt the belt and the gold ana
Then A. tho man before him. Snsesss,
thouSh hc chattered Of his own do
ihgs. never by any chance gave n man
handle to use against him: hia
tales were az vague. all save tho vii.
Iainy OF them. as clouds; his ono
weakness was talking and he know Il
ana guarded against n. Tho VII
lalnic. he boasted OF were all apoc.
ryphal: based they were on black
deeds. Just an clouds are based on
mountains. The Sroundrel In him
had 10 boast. but 20 bring Sageaae 70
Dook on on" OF his stories would be
like attempting TO bring n bird 10
Earth by grasping at It's shadow on
the ground.
Men had tried 10 blackmaii this
raconteur on the strength OF mis- state
lnenA: 10 bring the vulture 10 earth
by catching Al his shadow. only 70
ma the!ns"lyes In the vulturp's
clutch, bl1ckmaiied themselves most
cruelty. Aud he never let 90 aS long
~ his clutch held, and there was a
feather on the victim. But though he
'hattered fables. he knew when 10 be
silent in face Of facts. He was silen,
now He laughed. but said nothing
'or moment. while Gaspard. gather
ng the coins together In a heap, re-
terated his question.
What You say--isn't that worth
he thrust ~ a knifa7--given in fair
,ght' mind you, man 20 man. and the