The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-09-21

very important messa ge''- ] By wireless, MT. Harry?'' chuckled l the old man.
 4tYes. by wireless (and I looked at 1 Partial, who wagged his tail and smil- l ed- "So must get into Manning is- ! land the first possible moment tomor- row." E
 * / Before the white sea mists had roll ed away+I was on deck and had sum- moned a general conference of my crew.
 "'Polyte,a I demanded of our odd pilot. cit will be three days, four days, before letter could get from the light 1 house to New Orieans?'
 '3Qui, maybe so.''
 s.And how long will it take us to get In to the plantation of M. Edouard, above there?''
 FIFTH could not said, monsieur. Maybesthree, four day-'sais pas.''
 Holy sMackinaw!'' I remarked sotto
 By now Williams, who, judging by certain rappings, hammerings and - clankfngs heard through the cabin. walls back and above the engine room, had been at work much of the night, had reported and, much to my pleas reported we could go ahead.
 E So at last after many windings and doubhngs, we came in at the rear of the timbered slopes and could see the mansion houses and the offices of the stately old plantation where dwelt my friend Edouard Manning, who knew nothing of my coming.
 After custom I signaled loud and off, ten with the boats whistle, so that the men might come to the landing for as. and in order that Edouard himself might be warned gave orders to my hardy mates to make proper nautical l salute of honor.
 Cast loose the stern chaser. Jean gLaftte," said l, ''and do you and L'Olonnofs load and fire her often as you like until we land or until you. burst hers' Gieefully they obeyed, and soon the roar of our deck gun echoed fermida- bly, along the slopes as had no gun since the salt seeking Union navy in ahe civil war had pounded at the gates of Edouard's father and until scores l of .coots and rail chattered in excited l chorus for answer and long clouds of wild ducks arose and circIed over the I marsh.
 1 I saw now the two ladies. their fin. 1 gers in their ears, also on deck pro- l testing at this cannonading at their cabin door, and so raised nly hats 10 a very radiant and radiantly appareled l Helena for the first time that day and heard the answer of I4f fOionnois to the dour protest of Auntfe Lucinda- i We follow Black Bart the Avenger, and let any seek to stop us at their per-rul! Jean, run up the flag while | load her up again"
 And Jean having once more hoisted the skull and crossbones at our mast 1 head and assumed a specially savage scowl as he stood with folded arms on our bow deck, we made what l mild imagination might have called rather an impressive entry as we swept into the Manning landing. <
 I was not surprised to see Edouard himself there, and his wife and some thirty odd dogs and as many blacks, waiting for US at the wharf. Nor was 1 T surprised to see that all seemed somewhat to marvel at our manner of advent, though I knew that Edouard, through his sfieldglasses. had recog- ,nized both my boat and myself long before we made the last curve and came gently in to the wharf where the l grinning t1arkies could catch our line. What did surprise me-and perhaps I for a time I may have shown sur prise-was to see, in all this gay 1 throng, two forms not usual on the Manning landing. One was the ele- gantly garbed and rather stunning fig ure of Sally By1ngton- and the other the robust, full bodied, gorgeously ar rayed form of my old friend Gal Da- | vidson! How or why they came there could not for the moment guess. I. "'Tis he-yon yarletr' I heard a stern voice hiss at my ear. tBeshrew me, but it shall go hard with him. Pm loading her up with marbles now!" But I had no more than time to per suade my two heutenants to modify this purpose and partially to disarm themselves before the two groups were ] mingIing. 0fth much chattering and laughing and gay saluting.
 Edouard. hat in hand, was on deck before our lenders touched the wharf laughing and grasping my hands and looking up at my flag.
 ''I knew you were coming said he. "Fact is, all the country's been look ing for you. Davidson just got in couple of hours ago. and you know his lady is an old friend of Mrs. Man ning's. And
 He was shaking the hands of Mrs. Daniver and Helena almost before could present them.
 (To Be Cont3naed.)
 
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