The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-07-15

There, rolled up, as though they'd
been slapped there in a mighty
hurry were these papers--Loure's
grants-right from the king o.
Spain. / sure read enough TO
that! Why, the looks Of it's
enough to scare mel"
"Yes??" ! queried, for l had not
thought as fast as he.
What would you do, Doctor
Dick?"
"I'm not saying. | won't be
wholly ruined II the land company
blew up tomorrow. But there are
at least 20 widows and poor folks
who, one way and another. have
been led to invest in the Isle
Bonnie lands through me. Old
friends and neighbors, that I got
in--somehow, because you said
-
Don't" he said. 81 got as
many mo-! / amt worrying about
those New York fel-los. The spec
ulators and financiers; it's the
little ones who-who-well, they
been pretty patient with me-let
me vote their stock SOS / could
fight the big fel-los who wanted
to pull out all the time. Yes, sch
they stood by me--trustin'-
and now"
He looked out at the blue
culver of heat against the cypress
isle--the timber alone of 1t would
fight off disaster If all else quit
him.
WELL" he muttered briefly. 81
wondeh why God made me find 1t?
1t wouldn't have been SO hard on
you - Doctor Dick-or Clell-
or anybody. But me" he look
ed up to the high silent house.
and she-she's asleep in the
and knows she's lost-yes sch
and me-I'm walkin' around with
this stuff in my pockets. Yes, sch
and she won't compromise -
she'll go away beggar with that
old fool. Yes-seh!"
Then he stood up and put the
papers in his pocket. | followed
him out and under the awnings of
his own boat-the gay little
white cruiser with her brasses and
mahogany cabin that he had
bought In his first exultance of
victory to have for journeys "out
front" to the city in busy years
of the exploitation and selling of
his lands.
Doctor Dick, will you go send
her down here? | CANT go face
'em all. / wouldn't know how to
talk. But Laure-the grants are
hers-I expaict / must pay EN-
right into her hands. And tell her
we quit-to-morry. I'll jerk the
dredges out of the ditch, wire the
New York fel-loes to get a new
manager to pull what he can out
of the wreck-and then I'll find
a steamer TO- British Honduras.
I know a fel-lo mimi down the.
You watch me some-a-time!
"Tut-you!" / suffered at him
for the tears kept to my eyes.
And l went out and up the hot
wharf to Papa Prosper's house.
found them all idlins about in
Prosper's chairs and hammocks.
1t was mid-noon now, August in
Louisiana, without the Gulf
breeze; and that is something bad
when the sea breeze fails.
a r1I., cd;
head from the hammock. 81 Won
der what is next?" she murmured.
"Clell, won't you fan me again
please?"
He had been, it seemed, even
after Laure had come out of her
darkened chamber. She had re-
fused a chair, and sat now in
small crumpled heap just in the
shade of the door.
When I spoke quietly to her she
looked up but without interest.
So, without answer, | brought her
into the cabin where Virgil sat by
the mahogany table.
She looked at Virgil silently.
and then sat across from him with
an air of Indifferent expectancy.
| stood in the doorway to the en-
CINE room irresolutely. Virgil did
not give me chance to excuse
myself and get away gracefully.
1t was with his usual blunt sure
ness that he spoke, waving his
hand briefly to the ancient docu-
ments upon the table.
"Laure, there they are-I give
EN- back to you"
Without understanding, she
reached to the papers and drew
them toward her, about to read.
After a moment she looked up
gravely; her bright eyes on the
Texans face.
What is this all, m'sieu? The
French on the margin, 1 know
well enough, though 1t is queer.
But the Spanish do not know
much of that. Only-here is my
name"-and she lifted the papers
from their leather backing and
shook them decisively: "Bouligny
de Drouillot-he was the first of
u.s."
Virgil reached finger to touch
the paper at the bottom. THAT is
his signature-his bond to per-
form certain things-and in re-
turn they gave him-this!" His
arm went In a sweep out to the
forest isle.
"M'sieu-" Her breath was
rising quicker. you mean-this
-"