Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-03-30

and them
But how. Jim" Molly asked, could
.ou have foreseen anythnc like this"
ANDY told me the history of Meyer
and his island" he answered. Since
the days Of the buccaneers, when they
Jared bring their ships in here to
careen them. it has offered refuge
for lawlessnesS. He also spoke of that
fisherman's tub. moving silently
through the water at night That
meant a new, expensive engine in a
worthless boat: and no one was allow
ed on that boat. Meyer could smuggle
slaves in here unmoleSted after the
law had made il deadly crime, be-
cause, as Andy explained, he island
was completely isolated He was king
of II and of this inlet and Of this lone
~ coast Is The island any less isolal
cd now than it was then? Isn't the
dweller in this plantation house as
much of a king now as Meyer was he
fore the War-proyided, of course, that
The coquina house doesn't shelter
strangers? Morgan had heard the his.
tory of the place. and, since he was
ont for that sort OF thing, it suggested
The ideal Notwithstanding.
there is only third rate revenue Of
iicer in Martinsburg, and this coast
has seen no smuggling since before
he war. The island has been uninhat.
tied since then. Now respectable
northern family makes a winter home
Of il. There wasn't the slightest grount
for suspicion. 1t was ideal except for
you and Molly. Your renting Of the &C.
quina house was the fly in the oint
ment. And YOU must confess it was
hard on Morgan when both places had
stood empty for fifty years You can
imagine his fury He had to sc, ycu
)u. Of that house aud off the island
Eyes" Anderson agreed, from hi,
point of view we had TO go. He had
10 have a clear field. But, Jim, you
beard yourself there in the coquna
house.
"Yes, but inevitably that was the
lever he'd use-the supernatural for
which the island was notorious, with
its rotten loneliness to back it, and
The decayed unhealthy atmosphere Of
the coQuina house. You see he had
time after he heard you We're coming
to arrange the trickery of your house
to his fancy He did it cleyerly. Since
YOU discovered nothing, well have TO
grant him that"
He glanced at the girl.
"Perhaps we can be guided to the
'ools. But | think probably in that
thieket back of The Kitchen
He stepped TO the table and finger
ed the jewellery,
He had to take chances. He was
ready to 90 any length. There's more
profit in this stuff, YOU know, than
there ever was in flesh and blood. And
/ | Nouldn't he surprised if there was
larger merchandse--furs for instance.
He was the man TO do it on huge
scale, to squeeze the last drop from
'is opportunity"
"Then where" Anderson began.
certainly not in the house, II has
no cellar, and he had to keep it free
/ for your friendly visits. Pm afraid We /.
never see that evidence 1t was prob
| ably stored in the slave quarters in
+ .he ones he had repaired. The fire
He broke Off looking at Tony. Tn
derstanding flashed from the natives
eyes He wanted to speak.
What is it, Tony
The natives lips parted. He pointed
towards the ruined slave quarters.
1T was kept there" he, said,
GLOW can you be sure of that" Mil
! Ter asked.
Il saw it. didn't know then"
Ebony, You idiot! Aud you never
apoke. When
"Th--the night | was caught in the
woods. | don't know how thai happen.
ed. but
Miller glanced significantly at Ar
derson
HE was caught, as he calls II, af.
ter he had seen enough TO give tho
whole game away. But why didn't h.
know? Why did he see no one Tony,
why didn't YOU tell me YOU had discos
cred The loot?'
Il only saw big packing cases.
guessed 1t was furniture they hadn't
unpacked. | didn't think any more
about it ill now
"Tcl us how it happened. Talk now.
Make yourself talk
The native swayed from foot 10 foot
embarrassed. unaeeustomed and W.
happy IN the center of the stage.
II was waiting for YOU at the end
" The avenue. II was light then.
wasn't afraid. reckoned I'D stand odi
side and peek through The window
they tell such stories about the guam
tiers. YOU know. And il was daylight.
torler dared myself went over. The
window was broken. An old rag hung