The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-07-13


of night, ferried by other agents
across to the warehouses of the city.
And to Pierre Lafittes cloaking smithy
on the rue Bourbon came the winking
merchants to watch the slaves work
the FORCES while they slyiy murmured
to the proprietor: II hear that a ship
from. Bilboa strangely foundered in
Yucatan strait? What, pray,
is the price of brocade and silver
plate at Monsieur Lafitte's Red house
at Grand TerreY'
"Hypocritical dogsl" muttered the
master now. II respect the toughest
scoundrel of my own band more than
| the SNUG merchants who enriched
themselves on our traffic, covertly pro-
tecting us while they profited; eager
to denOunce us when our last ship was
driven from the Gulf"
The liquor decanter was on high
| turer's melancholy eyes lighted as he
examined 1t, the great fourpost bed,
the table and the mirrors.
Loot from the Isle o. Pines ! re-
call Gambio's sweating blacks polling
it from the swamp to be sold to city
| factor 1t turns up at De Almonas-
| ter's and / am entertained with 1t !"
His laughter had hardly ceased
when he Joined his host at dinner.
Never a more well-appointed guest
had Count Raoul greeted than the
last sea-royer who sat across the board
beyond the golden candelabrum.
Monsieur Sazarac raised hand. He
held glass before him.
"As to the wine, young sir, could
swear there had been mischief in the
Gulf againI"
Raoul laughed ardently: IF ever,
sir, one of my uncle's ships, which
bring our wine from Bordeaux, had
fallen your way. all the wars of Bona
parte had been nothing 10 the uproar
he would have raised"
Come smiled the guest. II
would forget 1t all !"
'If we let you" he signaled the
serving men to withdraw. snow, 1
am delegated by your own worthy
companions for this-the Napoleon
plots not that adventure enough?"
More" Sazarac smiled distantly.
II am done with adventuring. l
dream of a plantation in the Indies.
In Louisiana, even if again granted
amnesty, my presence would be a sore
spot Let any thieving brawl come in
the ports, and at once Lafitte's old
men are charged with it. They are
peaceful men now, scattered on the
coast-hunters, raisers of truck, and
fishers. Let the dead past lie, my
friend. l am an evil legacy
and l am forty-twow
"And yet-the lady Of the packet
boat I" unused Raoul. Strange"
"To her, Sazarac, the gamester-to
you, Lafitte, the outlaw. And yet"
the older man stopped, his gaze out
the glass doors to the starlight
"And yet, eur-Sazarac-what
If you, of all men, brought Napoleon
triumphantly out of exile to the New
world? What proud lady of all Lou
isiana would not be thrilled by the
name-LafitteI !"
'Now, that is ridiculous" frowned
the other man. "She-an English
Tory-an intrigue to aid Bonaparte
win her approval? He laughed: "Ah,
well, lovely lady for whom 1 would
have fought; and had to turn aside
in silence. / am LATTE. That Is the
irony of it-at forty-two, discredited,
a fugitive under q mask and
knave in either role. l did not chal-
lenge Colonel Carr" he concluded
pointedly.
II saw that" Raoul repressed his
curious note. eve knew you went to
confront him" He shrugged. "Come,
my Captain jean 1, too, have greatly
loved-and lost. Now, this affair Is
of the sea and men. Would you not
listen? You heard last night your old
wild fellows chuckling with itw
The guest stared hard at him. INA
poleon? The devil they would care
for him Tooth and nail on the first
merchantman-loot, scurry, spend fist
fuls of gold in the ports of South
America-and then the yard-arm for
them all Monsieur, the world has
shuffied off our gentlemen of for
tunei"
ut is the English woman holds you
from u.s." said Raoul, and then saw
the black line deepen on the others
brow The host bit his lip; and then
upon the silence, there came rapid |
footsteps. A doorman was expostulat-
ing at the broad gallery. There was
scuffie. an oath.
but l shall enter, fellowl Out Of
the doorl"
De Almonaster had arisen by the /
silver-laden board, with hasty glance
at his guests impressive face under the
golden candelabrum, when the burly /
grizzled Johannes charged from the
hallway He turned without greeting,
staring at Sazarac.
you. Captain Jeanl See, have
fought for youl A customs guard, I /
think it was, went down by the cut
lass. Nez Coupe, Bohon and stopped |
them from the first crossing. but the |
1,, roonc o-o haro