The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-09-17

as friends should Whats WrOng2 Do you think us a government revenue boat and are you smuggling stuff from Cuba through the light here?'
 we no make hany smug',' replied the keeper. But we know you, who you beenr'
 CHAPTER XXI. Tn Which Find Two Estinable
 Friends. .-. TTE smote now upon an open H newspaper. whose wrapper still RK lay on the floor. I glanced. and - this time I saw half page cut of the Belle Helene herself, together with portraits of myself. Mrs. Daniver. Miss Emory and two wholly imaginary and fearSome boys who very likely were made up from newspaper DOT traits of the James brothers. More over. my nasty glance caught sight of a lineIof large letters reading. Ten Thousand Dollars Reward.S
 Peterson" said I calmly, handing him the paper. they seem to be after us and to value us rather high
 He glanced. his eyes eager, but Pc terson. while professional doubter, was personally q man of whose loyalty and whose courage I myself had not the slightest doubt
 Let em con8e.'' said be- We're on our own way and about our own busi- ness and outside the three mile zone. Let lem follow us on the high seas if they like. She's sound as a bell. MP. Harry, and once we get her docked and her port shaft straight there's nothing can touch her on the gulf. Let 'em comer
 ssBut we. can't dock here. my good Peterson
 Well. we can beat 'em with one en- zine and one screw. Besides, what have we doney'
 'fHain't you was hrobber. han ron hod with those sheep?'' demanded the Keeper excitedly.
 ''No. we are not ship thieves. but gentlemen. my friend,'' I answered. suddenly catching at his long gun and setting it behind me. .'You might let that go off,. I explained. At which he went yellower than ever, a thing had thought impossible.
 ttNo, look here." said I. Suppose we are robbers, pirates, what you like, and suppose price is put on our heads "a price which means jolly nice libel suit for each paper printing it, by the way. or a jolly nice apology-none the
 
 fear either of the law or of you. Here you are alone. and not a sail is in sight. We could blow you out of the water. couldn't We've and these ruffians of our crew? ?" and l pointed at the two low browed pictures of L4afitte and L'OlonnoiS.
 A shudder was my only answer. I think the two portraits of my young bullies did the business
 Very well, then.'' resumed: .sit Is plain. messieurs. that there is many slip between the reward and the pocket. yoyez vous? Bien! But here"-and I thrust a hand into my pocket-t'is reward much closer home and far easier to attain
 Their eyes bulged as they saw two or three thousand dollars in big bills smoothed out
 '.Ecoutez. messieurs!'' said I. Be hold here not enemies. but men of like mind. l speak of men who live by the sea. men of the old home of Jean Laftte, that great merchant. that bold 1 soldier, who did so much to save his country at the battle. Even now he has thousands of friends and hun- dreds of relatives in this land. You yourself. I doubt not. messieurs. are j distant cousins of Jean Laftte? Nest l ce pas?'
 They crossed themselves, but mur- mured .'Baouii' Est eeS the trut'. :, How did monsieur know?" asked the tender.
 II know many things. I know that any cousin descended from those brave ! days loves the sea and its ways more i than he loves the law And if money | l. l if a cousin should take the price of a ratskin or two and carry out a letter or so to the railway and keep close mouth about it as well? To. the good old days and messieurs. my friends?' i I had seen the neck of flask in Peter i sons pocket. and now I took it forth. unscrewed the top and passed it. with two bills of $1OO each.
 They poured. grinned and handed the i flask-not the bills-back to Peterson i and me.
 '.Merci. mes amis!'' said I. And l drink to Jean Laftte and the old i days! Perhaps you may buy mass i for your cousins souI?,' 'Ah. non,'' answered the keeper. 'Hees soul she's bout of purga toire l long hago -eef she'll goin' get hout. l Me, buy me some net for s'rimp.''
 An me. two harpent more lam for my farm y quoth the tender.
 Alas. poor Jeanr' said 1. 'sYou will l take the letters and this for the tele- graphT'
 ''CeEtain.l I'H took 1t those.'' an- swered the tender .sYou'll stayed for dish coffee. yass?". inquired the keep CT. with Cajun hospitality No. I fear it is not possible. thank you" l replied I've must be going seon..
 s'An' where yon'n goin'. monsieur?''
 Around the Island. up the channel, up the old oyster boat channel of M. Edouard. The Nletters are some of 1 them for NJ Edouard himself. And l you know well. mes amis. that once