Show w s I John JJohn Solomon Incognito o oI I r i I Bij H. H JONES BEDFORD I Copyright by brit II IL Jon Jonea i ww v o 10 a e s soo L WREXHAM TAKES MANOR SYNOPSIS Aline AUnt Alln Laver Lavergne owns own Cypremort a plantation In i E rth the Louisiana bayou She leave leavea the management to John Philbrick Phil Phil- brick an old retainer and uld faithful faithful faith faith- ful but not not a good rood bushes man man ai as Ah Ab Lee I the Manchu who I. I trying to help Aline explains to th the mysterious John Solomon Allne uncle David Macarty and Pala hll hi on ion Fel Fell Felix under pretense of looking after her Interests plot to get control of the plantation One of their schemes schema Is I. to dam the bayou barou and thus thu dry up her herrice herrice herrice rice fields Then they try to get gret rid of Philbrick Aline Allne suspects the Macarty and consults Jack Fortier a young lawe who takes take her case cue He lie finds find a I big light ht on his hands for the Macart Ma Ma- cart are all an They try to bribe him o off If Then they theT have him beaten up but he Is II rescued by John Solomon The Macarty drop open hostilities and Invite Fortier and Aline Allne to tofa togo togo go fa on their yacht the Water Water- sprite to inspect the plantation Solomon has haa secured the Job of steward Aline Allne gets ceta a telegram from Philbrick saying that he Is I. going away for a while and has ha left the plantation In charge of Captain Wrexham The Water Water- sprite starts tarts on her mile hundred voyage Quartermaster of Wa Wa- found dead on deck deckwith with Second cond mates mate's knife In is his back back- Captain Wrexham entertained entertained entertained enter enter- at Cypremort CHAPTER VII VII Continued e 6 And no wonder your friends the Macarty want to loot this house bouse l I Wrexham's eyes jes narrowed Any want to Id I'd want to myself I 1 Might come and do It some night Your You Philbrick smiled In his hili gray beard Youre not that sort Wrexham suddenly flung a snarl at him Dont know m me flab Dab l I You fools who live and rot and die here under the hand band of the law I 1 You dont don't know what g goes es on In the world I I tell you ou there theres no DO crime worth the name that I haven't haven't- lie He cb checked ked himself with an oath Too Poo much liquor 1 I he be went on gruff gruff- Iy ly If I could carry It like you now I IVell Well Vell It Its It's a rum go So youve you've uve pirated In to your time said aid softly Like they do doIn doIn In fn book bookar T leaned back In his chair and vented a ti burst of hearty laughter You are a boy arent aren't you ou he said sale amusedly I believe on my soul you oU Just watt wait and scheme to get me talk talk- In about bout pirates piratE's an an murders on the high seas lIeas and so fIO forth 1 Well I like If It admitted Philbrick Hillbrick Phil Hill brick sheepishly A wistful note crept crep Into his voice velee Ive always alwo's to go to to sea and never had the chance With all the sea sen at your door doorK scoffed Aye And Ive I've liked to talk with will tailors sailors and hear them tell things things- Wrexham sniffed In wondering acorn Then Thene youve you've e l learned a fine lot o o profanity and smut smut he said brutally If It you think theres there's an any d d-d d d romance le II 1 II Yf Youre You're ure a Lo boy that's all was silent under this outburst outburst out out- burst tie lie Derat was probably ashamed of i r f f until 1 1 7 v a A Knock Had Sounded at the Door his hla own half halt confidence When Rhen he spoke again the subject was changed I w MW now that I hadn't killed that fl tI b bJ a said laid like noth noth- I g bet M than han ian to get me oft off the place long enough enough hl h- h l Aint you ou got the right tight to protect your own home end and nd life sniffed 1 Wrexham Its not that Philbrick frowned Macarty owns the parish sheriff and all He Ile can frame up anything Theres There's no ultimate danger of f course tOUne but lint If he could have this thU pUre place at atM fits M mercy for a little while be hed he'd pIa play perry airy h h l 1 with things thing 00 that Ph come com com la In Uncle Undo N Neb N. b f C A knock had bad sounded at the door At the knock Wrexham Jumped ma His Us eyes dwelt delt upon the advancing figure pure of the negro netro with a strange uneasiness un un- easiness as though he be divined something some some- thing hing of Miff Import to himself Philbrick suh suhl I exclaimed Uncle Neb his voice tremulous One Oneo Onea o a dem slue-footed slue town Jest down to de landin and anI left note fo to yo yo 0 He lie broke off to extend a folded dirty scrap of paper Philbrick took It opened It U and I held It to the light Then he crumpled i ithe the he paper and flung It Into the fire le Lie leaned back put put his cigar again between his lips and gave Uncle Neb Neba a calm order Get that little brown hand bag out of my room and bring It downstairs Put In It that bottle of whisky Captain Captain Captain Cap Cap- tain brought And fetch a aride rifle ride Uncle Neb dont don't forget a box of cartridges That'll do The old darky retired and the door closed looked calmly calmly-at his guest Some kind soul sent me a warning warnIng warn warn- ing he said coolly cool The sheriff will wl willbe willbe be here bere In half an on hour or so to take teke me away for that shooting Its It's a pretext text but good enough You cant can't murder negroes even In this tills country All they want went of course Is to have bave havethe havethe the place left at their mercy for a awhile while Wre Wrexham ham stiffened In his chair What the devil I Are you serious man man nodded Im off Cant Can't take the chance of f lying In Jail a month or two before I get loose Theres There's too much at stake Ill I'll take one one of the launches or a canoe and go Into the canebrakes brokes like many a better man 1 I Ill I'll find plenty of friends friend never fear He lIe spoke calmly of this Calmly Calmly- as though It meant nothing to flee I from the law to live In canebrakes canebrake and bayous like a wild beast In the company of rogues and murderers and devils Incarnate Wonder sat In the eyes of the staring seaman Youre devilish cool about It I Isaid Isaid said Wrexham doubtingly Philbrick smiled Why not Theres There's no rush Five minutes' minutes start Is quite enough they enough they cant can't trace me at night you VOU know Will you send a wire for me tomorrow tomorrow tomor tomor- tomorrow row or next day One of the boys will be glad to take you up to town Of course coune Do anything I can rose and went to a desk deskIn In one corner Here lIere he be moved a candle closer and nd sat down to write out a telegram Just to his right was I Ithe the case of Jeweled orders and decors decora After a n minute he lie looked up and ond Jerked his head Come over o here cap capo n. n The seaman obeyed When he walked It was with the peculiar side sway of or one who sets his weight a against the tile swinging heave of a 8 deck feeling the tile ground round as he lie treads trends It Philbrick handed handell him the tele telegram better read It hut But first look here here here- As he hc spoke Philbrick loosened a b.- b. he case ase 01 of He swung the me CUBE ut it t from the wall well like a door Behind It t was revealed a safe set In the wall er E In there he said calmly Money and family Jewels ewels and papers Eli Kh What dye de mean meant W Wrexham's Wrexham's Wrex Wrex- nham's n- n hams ham's voice was startled The door opened Uncle Neb appeared ap ap- carrying a rifle and a 8 email small grip came to his Ills feet end and hid held out his hand to Wrexham He lie was laughing silently Good by Wrexham 1 Head th the telegram tele tele- gram Ill I'll leave lea now Ill ril perhaps be beable beable beable able to send a message to you yU In hi a 11 afew afew few luck days luck to you your OU I r Wrexham astonished shook hands Philbrick turned to fo the old darky You I hear from me later uncle unde Now give ghe me the cartridges please sir I Thanks Im I'm off IT to the brakes brake While Im I'm gone Wrexham will willbe willbe be be- beIn In charge harge Understand Hell He'll look after things until Miss Mies Aline Anne gets back Wrexham 1 Young l a Macarty marshow may mar show up with the sheriff If It he does look out I 1 Theres There's a brief note Inside the desk placing you In n authority here you here you may need It Good night Philbrick turned to the the door and his hl great figure vanished Uncle Neb Nb followed him and the door slammed Wrexham was WI left alone In the room a picture of blank astonishment astonishment astonishment astonish astonish- ment staring after them Presently he recollected the telegram In fa his hla hand and glanced at It It- ItHe lie He seemed to waken from his daze with a start The devil I l he be cried out protest protest- Then he realized there was none to hear henr hits his protest Why the old scoundrel I lies He's a slick un and no mistake Worked me he did worked did worked me like a blasted fool I l I A note of admiration crept Into his Ills voice olce Ill be d d-d d d I If the old vas ras vascal rascal cal didn't go away and leave me In charge mE charge me mind you I 1 He lie stood gazing around the fhe dim room as though unable to comprehend It It Thrusting the telegram Into his pocket locket he went to the center table Thc There re he took a cigar from the open box bit tilt off the end and returned to the desk lie He dropp dropped Into the chair before fore It It and held the candle to his cigar Then he leaned back and surveyed sur sus the room again A struggle le was In his face This Is a rum go ro a rum go to I he exclaimed toughly roughly Fancy Foncy this now I What ud old say to this eh ehl I What ud any anyone one say who knew me met me i Presently he rose again and went back to the fireplace He lie stood there his feet planted wide apart and end stared hard at the enlarged photograph of the girl on th the mantel It gazed down at him from wide gray eyes crystal crystal- clear The struggle deepened In his face His brows drew down as he looked at the picture I wonder If that old rascal realized a few things he be cogitated aloud D n D n him I believe he did I Told him too much about myself that's what I IdId Idid did Well young lady your our property Is In the hands of oVa ofa a cursed bad ras rascal al and that's the truth I Nothing to say about It have you you Rut But Its It's a d d t 1 mess mes mesa It It dont don't look at me me that way I I didn't mean to swear in front of you ou I INow iNow Now maam ma'am do you suppose that If I was to stick on this here hue Job that little matter back In the corgi coral cot 1 sea would be forgiven rne met me Do you maam ma'am lie stood motionless his bis head slightly slight ly Iy cocked staring up at the picture Suddenly as though some Inner answer had come to him his lips parted part parted ed cd in a ri wide smile Through his beard flashed strong even teeth like white Ivory Well Miss Aline Its It's a bargain 1 l he cried out i exultantly Damme If ever I thought Id I'd look Into eyes on onearth onearth onearth earth like yours 1 Eyes of an angel that's that what Im I'm Im I'm a rotten rotte fool tool and no mistake mistake but but do It I expect It'll come to no good rood end neither If this Ilant Isn't a crowd bad were we're up against I dont don't know one onel 1 Dut But It'll It be a novelty to be for something decent wont won't It ItT lie He laughed again and bowed to the photograph Ill 1 do It It maam ma'am and thank you for the chancel chance 1 CHAPTER VIII Captain Wrexham having made malle his decision displayed no further lon Lion from froni the fireplace e walked over to the case of dc decora- decora cora Ions and planted himself before ItAh it itAh Ah Ab 1 I l he observed blowing a cloud of smoke Its only fair to have a alook alook look ook at ot what Im I'm Im I'm In charge ot of eh He Ho swung back the case caso from the wall held a candle closer and Inspected inspected In in- the wall safe A chuckle broke from him White teeth O flashed through his beard The old rascal left her In charge o me but thoughtfully forgot to tell me the combination I Well If it that safe thirty years old Im I'm n a Kanaka Still chuckling he leaned forward and touched the knob I For or a little while he stood thus only his fingers moving mo deftly Then he lie straightened up nodding as os though well pleased with himself The safe door swung open to his hand I Decidedly this was not Captain Wrexham's first encounter with n safe I The scene which followed flung a singular light upon the ethical Impulse Im tin- pulse of this wolf waif cast up by the sea sen Another man inan would have e been in thought of the coming officers and amI In n nervous waiting but not 1 I IThe The skipper attended to the business bustness bust busi ness in hand with a 0 cool cowl and unhurried ried enjoyment nt an nn air of relish of keen satisfaction Indeed since he had looked Into the pictured eyes of Aline Allne Lavergne and made mado his decision there had come a 0 new flash flah Into his Pala eye a new resolution Into his Pals manner a 1 photograph should so sway the mind of such luch a man even to altering his very life lite course 1 I The safe IafE open he laid bare hare the drawers rs within M One by hy one he removed removed removed re re- moved them for his Inspection If he had expected treasure he found It It- It not In money but In the Jewels of dead women glittering things heirlooms heirlooms heir heir- looms of vanity and love Into the theman's theman's theman's mans man's face came a fiercely predatory air Lord I l he exclaimed throatily Ive I seen the time when Id I'd hallIe have hate l He lIe did not finish lie He had drawn forth a packet of papers heart heart sacred sacred documents of the family's past post These he opened and read coolly all aril and deliberately deliberately de de- quite Ignoring the obvious fact that he was wal violating the first principles of a gentleman In five fI minutes he had absorbed from these papers a tremendous tremendous' amount of Information matlon mation about the family There was nas little else In the safe to repay his exploration Last Lost of all he drew out a thick package wrapped sealed heavily and addressed to Aline Allne Lavergne La After turning I It over oer In his hla hands Captain Wrexham calmly broke I Ithe the seals and Inspected the contents I He lie found to It to be he a book rather book rather an astonishing book too I Sitting down dawn comfortably In the desk dek chair Captain Wrexham puffed d his cigar alight and gave his attention n nto to the volume In hand Evidently John had bad had tail this book made It was a thick book with blank leaves bound In leather upon the cover stamped In gold were the words The Book ook of Aline AUne Her For Beauty For tier Her Eyes Only Only Only-by by John Gent John Philbrick Gent l commented the skipper sardonically A rum go ro I call caU It III I Ilie He lie opened the volume and gained his first Information that John Phil brick w as a poet Upon the blank pages Philbrick hadIa had hud Ia laboriously ly and ond beautifully Inscribed his own verses erses most of them tributes personal and delicate to the girl whom he loved Wrexham glanced through the pages s. s reading a line here and there Ihre Then he tossed the book carelessly carelessly carelessly care care- lessly back Into Its place and sat in moody silence his fingers curling about Pals his square brown beard Ive lve lived too long that's what's the trouble he said at last with n a sigh For a at little he was silent again then he broke forth petulantly I got out of It all now that Im I'm Im I'm here Not much Lechery o 0 l' l J C O Ho He Drew Cut Out a Thick Package Package- Women in till tile high latitudes anI and strength o 0 men in the low well Ive I've held up my cud end with em all b bad |