The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-08-15
Chapter 20
IN THE MUD

IN TIE MOD
you may not be too many" he
said deeply. at is only In the
woods that they are children. They
win fight like the devil and they are
well armed. And. besides. they are
looking for you. Yes! And before
they ever saw me. Don't forget
that"
Colin instinctively leaned for.
ward-as though in concert with
Larocque and Bolduc. Larocque and
Bciduc had thrust their bodies for.
ward over the table. staring at
Bouchard.
what do you mean?" they de.
fnAnded In chorus.
Bouchard laid a significant finger
along his nose.
II will tell you" he said; "but-
auother little drink, eh?"
mol" decreed Larocque with a
forceful oath. "You have had
enough"
Zut!" complained Bouchard.
What is the use OF bringing bot.
tie? Is 1t to look at? But will tell
you Just the same. Listen! Someone
In 81. Pierre has talked too much.
That is sure. One OF the big power
boats takes the stuff from the club
here over to the Gaspe coast every
two or three weeks. though some.
times It goes every week. and one OF
the gang us left there with 1t.
where he goes from there and
what he does with 1t. | don't know;
but 1t takes always maybe a week
before he comes back. You see
Well. a few days ego. the boat
brought back one of them, a man
named Joe Lazarre. and he said
that one OF their agents had told
him that a fellow called Dollaire,
who was big bootlegger and q
smart crook. was certain 1t would
pay to make little visit to the club.
when Lazarre told the story at
the club they laughed at him. But
since they saw me. do not think
they have laughed at all. They know
It Is not the police. or they would
not be there now; but as 1t is, tell
you again. It is only In the woods
that they are children, and they will
fight like HE'LL"
TGood!" grunted Larocque. "Well,
II We are not too many-we are
enoughl All right. We win so now
and walt for Dollaire. and you. will
come along, too. Bouchard. But first,
Bolduc. you and viii see what is
in the bottle. and perhaps we may
even let Bouchard have"
Colin waited for no more. He
turned, retreated noiselessly from
the shack. regained the wagon
track, and. once satisfied that he
was far enough away so that his
footsteps could not be heard, broke
Into a run. Hallway back to the vii.
lage he missed the track again In
the pitch blaekness as he had done
on the way out, but instead OF mere.
lly going In over a boot top. he
lpltched headlong into the marshy
ground. covering himself thorough
Ily with mud and water. Dripping.
he picked himself up. He was in a
lstatel-and humanity enough he
swore again.
LIE went on once more-but more
4 circumspectly this time. Lazarre
must be warned. There was only
lons way, OF course, to get 10 the
club now. and that was by boat. Sc.
crstly. God knew what the after.
lmath Of tonight was going to be! A
schooner full OF thugs!
A dead LaEarre was disaster. A
live Lazarre. backed by Reddy's let.
ter. should DO Eratefnl-more amen.
able to an alliance, Meanwhile he
already had an ally. Germalne! He
was going now to ask Germaine to
lend him her boat. But what were
those Thousands" thar Bouchard
talked about. and what was
His mind worked on. ignoring
time and distance. until suddenly
he was standing in front OF the
fTremblay home. There was a lamp
burning In the living room. It was
early yet. OF course. and It was
quite possible that Germains was
attn expecting him. He smiled wryly
~ the thought OF the appearance be
presented. as be mounted the steps