The Raymer enterprise., 1923-10-04


man In buff and broadcloth, and were
Fastening. Il see, Monsieur" retorted
he, "that, despite your services with
the American explorations in the
West, you know ship?"
Il have seen the sen, Monsieur"
Sazarac bowed with searching
glance at the younger man. "And
you-an eye for ship is an eye for
a woman. did not expect to
meet the Count de Almonaster SO far
from the fashionable promenadey'
Nor ! to find Captain Latitte so
near again to the Place dArmes 7"
sazarac studied him gravely: "Your
pardon, sir! I think"
Raoul snapped his fingers laugh
ingly at old Dominique putting up the
levee. Admiral Beluche had drawn a
cutlass In fervent salute to his cap
tain.
"Come-come. gentlemenw Saza-
rac's voice raised sharply.
"Thou-Jeanl" whispered Doml.
nlque In the Acadian patois Of the
coast.
"Laftte Of Barataria. Come, you
sir! Did you think you could tread
these streets and not be recognisedr
murmured De Almonaster. N
The two old adventures crowded
around the stranger. ''Now, am Q
man again." chuckled Dominique. "And
not clerk droollng over city affairsl"
And suddenly. with an affectionate
gesture. he lifted slightly the whited
peruke above Saxarac's ear. Raven
black the hair. tinged with gray. "Ths
beard shaven." droned on old Domi.
nique. "The cutless scar concealed
which you got from the Spaniard at
Trinidad! And these arms caught
you as you fell"
"And this cut the fellow down |"
cried Beluche. "Jean. cease this fool.
ing"
The Captain Sazarac was laughing
In turn. His old lieutenants seized
his hands, stroked his sleeve, crying
out brokenly. Sazarac glanced keenly
at young Almonaster.
"No fear" mumbled the alderman.
II have heard this young gallant say
but yesterday that he would draw
sword in any affair II Lafitte was to
commando"
AYE, for the emperorl" growled
Beluche. THE clipper, Jean! Did
you ever see a fneri Monsieur Girod
brought her from Charleston new
from the ways! The finest teak
lacquer tables, tapestries smuggled
from Bilboa! All for the fallen en-
peror! Perhaps You have heard, my
captainT
1--WE were saying who so worthy to
command as Captain LafitteY fumed
old Dominique, eager a 4 boy, did
we not, young sir7"
Sazarac smiled. Raoul interposed: !:
'The plot! All. yes the plot I"
'They have built mansion for him
In the rue Chartres-" protested Domi-
nique. Financed the ship-not q
first family In all Louisiana that will
not have at least a midshlpman
aboard But old Bosslere to com.
mand-bah! I would balk at It II I
had skin to risk r. .-s.......
'You might well with the English
ring Of ships around St. Helena" said
Sazarac gravely. "Well, I am Lafitte.
am at your mercy. Monsleur!"
The restless eyes of Beluche were
upon trio Of officers from the
American garrison who came slowly
along the promenade. TOO much
talk" he muttered. "Since that old
affair Of yours, Jean-the seizure of
Galveston island, despite the Presi.
dents pardon, you have long been pro-
scribed. As to this emperor-the devil
with him! The Seraphine-look at
her now! Is she a toy for the dam
dies Of this town to play withl A
ship-Jean, and a good shipl"
"Eh" put in Alderman Dominique: :
"Robber, what's in your mlnd?"
"The American officers" retorted
the admiral "Let us be on"
"The Yankees" murmured Saza.
rae, throwing his sllken neck scarf
higher as the meeting groups saluted
courteously. when will Louisiana be
done with this idea that she Is a prin-
cipallty aloof from the Washington
government? The Yankees, gentle
men, are here taking your little Paris"
"They might better have left their
manners In the Kentucky woods" said
De Almonaster. "And cease meddllng
In the affairs Of Spain across the Sa-
bine. You, yourself, sir-what Is the
feeling In the WestT
Sazarac stopped to look over the
darkening river 1T is far road to
Washington. In the Ohios there Is
gossip. A new republic to be carved
from the wilderness, the Spanish
provinces to be seized; and among the
discontented spirits are the exiled To
rfes from the Canadas and the agents
of His British Majesty ever watching
with Jealous eyes. You saw, sir, the
affair Of yesterday at Maspero'sT
Colonel Carr, who came with you
down-riverf ! cannot make bis mis-
sion out as l might WISH"
"N0r !. Now and then, on the
packet, he boasted Of curious things.