The Bolivar County Democrat., 1922-10-21

resDects TO Miss Lucy and took his
departure.
on his way to the Frenchman's he
stopped at the hotel, where he found
Shottle strapping up their baggage
and police official paying an informal
/ but suggestive call. An hours grace
remained. Drace paid his score at the
desk, sent his baggage to the boat and
! then, summonng cab, drove off with
! shottle to the house Of the French
man. 1t proved to be a mean abode,
both wineshop and dwelling. Drace
Knocked eagerly. A small man, his
mustache dyed, came to the door,
blinking.
81 beg your pardon. sir, but l am a
friend of Mr.. la Vitte, and"
Pardon, monsieur, but you do not
look like him, re friend"
"But I am. And l came with word
that will be of advantage to him. The
police are after him"
"Aw. he know zat Monsieur would
trouble himself for nothing. Good
morning"
Just a moment, please. You have
no need to look on me with suspicion.
l am his friend-and-"
'If you his friend" interrupted the
man, you know he gone-to Europe,
on steamer to France"
Drace was about to abandon the man
in despair when Shottle. who had been
staring at case of wine which stood
by the door ticketed and sealed for
shipment, suddenly interrupted.
"Ah," he cried. "can this be the
famous Chateau Yquem?" And brush.
ing past the Frenchman. he leaned ov
er as if to examine the bottle. With 8
cry, the wine merchant showed him
rudely away. "Zat is re private stock.
he snarled. "He is not for sale. l air
not yet open for business, sirs. Good
morning"
Shottle grasped Drace's arm and
drew him away. A cart had halted
outside, and as they entered their cal
they saw the carter shouldering the
case of wine and bearing toward his
vehicle.
AS they turned the corner, q deep
throated blast from the Bumblebee
sounded a warning. Shottle turned
upon the disappointed Drace with Il
gleeful countenance. Master" he
said, "I'll thank you for that money
again. I've found him."
Found him. exclaimed Drace
"How?"
THAT case of wine was addressed tt
Stepho la Vitte at Farnums Landing
Mississippi. That wine is going tC
Stepho on the Bumblebee. And sc
are we!'
An hour later Drace sat with Shot
tie on the deck of the Bumblebee
watching the ever-changing panorams
of the Mississippi and musing upor
the sudden shifting of his quest.
! Liberty" asked Drace presently
''how far up is this Farnum's Landing
Do you recall it,"
Yes" said Liberty. II know thi,
river. Farnum's Landing is-by gol
ly!" he exclaimed, breaking off, Far
NUNS Landing is the next stOI
below Bethpage's Landing! And Gen
eral Bethpage is my uncle! Well g
| there"
But" Drace said obviously, ''he'
not my uncle, and I'm afraid 1t woult
1eointruding somewhat on his hospi
| Iality IT, ="
Nothing OF the sort" averred Lib
erty. ANY friend Of mine would b.
doubly welcome. You can't know
much about the General. Tanning
now, but he used to be the most re
markable character. in q quiet way
along the river. And when tell yol
about him, Virgil, you'll laugh. Befor
the war he was professor at Newsome
little college up in the scrub-oal
country. He entered the army as
colonel and came out as brigadier
Il don't see anything to laugh at ii
that"
NO but wait. He had considerable
money, and at times used to com
down to New Orleans to enjoy him
self. On one occasion he lost all hi
money at roulette"
"Still nothing to laugh at"
No? All the property he had witt
him was bodyservant, a Guinea he
gro named Dip So what does he do
He says to the proprietor of the gam
bling house: 4 wish to play this nc
gro, sir All right; I'll take off tn
limit and let you play him. How nue.
iy he worth? says the gambler.
don't want to play his value in money
but him, | tell you,' says the General
Say the word, and I'll bet him on on
of these numbers He had been los
Ing every bet, and the proprietor kne,
that 1t would he safe. So he says
'All right. go ahead