HAV COUNTY TIKES, SEA ISLE CITY, N, J.

b <3 , “Tnana > c7honvptem.i " ‘DavieM Copyri B ht. 1916, by th» R.illy A Britton C«.

r »!:h

SYNOPSIS

Ri*bert«. an orphan, half French, half -oHraa. ■tartlns for America to atay uncle, mrcta Count do Laaoolloa cr aalne to aocure mules for Franca. Hy .. nlatake. Roberta's undo bollcras

•lia U a nephew. Knoalnc him to bo a

* “ A hater. Roberta adopts man's attlia.

t Waa k rarj funny sipbt to bcboid that amall conductor stand with my larja ba*r and overcoat and look around at that car full of ladles for a place In which to deposit me and them which was not previously occupied by

some 4cms'it- of crest nervoesnesa : —— -«■ y "Madam, I will have to nse ihe upiwr '/ of £ula section," be finally tamed and ✓‘wy. /> raid to the occupant of the nutnt«er of ^ -

B with a very fine determination.

"Certainly, conductor! Let me re- “Thank you for much gracli

DOT, lay L.1 .ad cy.1," cm. bart lb, ^ rttb . ^ answer la a voice of very great sweet- wUifuInmm. for I had told her of his ness as tbs conductor deposited me and aummons 10 me. and i-be knew already my bass down in front of the most • ,or r of hl “ hardness of heart

l>aautlful lady in all America. I am •** lu »* mT n,other -

_ nnre. “Tlse geneial la a very dlfflcult par“Thank yon for much gradousnews. » utl -“ »•» , “« d * answer to me. and 1

madam.” I said, keeping tW gray «»« "'ftneas of her beautiful wi tweed knees straight out in fniat of lno “ ,b •* »teel aa «be spoka himself off with my bass ai.d 11 to prevent trembling, b >“- To a woman be la Impceel-j [hl( of tlle braullful Madam Whit

I glory. Mind, yon kin my hand ao hr can see yon 1 want to give him that sensation in payment of a debt I I him. Now. do go and smooth the , If It takes o pint of water to do it 1 That New York tailor has turned yoc out wonderfully, but even those very square English tweeds do not entirely disguise the French cavalier. You're a beautiful bo;, and the girls It llayesviile will ent you up—If the gen entl ever lets them get a sight of you which be probably won't. Now go tt

the mop!"

For many years, since the kniHj day Just after tbe death of my moth er. when my father took me into tbi farthest depths of his sad heart and told me of his exile from tbe place tu which be had been born and aboul the elder brother wbo bad bated m) beautiful mother, who hated alt wt> men. ! had ^.|■out much time erecting In my mind a statue that would la the semblance of that wicked and cruel untie. 1 bad taken every dla arm-able feature of face and bod} that I b id beheld in another human ot ! in a picture or bad read of In the tales of that remarkable l!r. Dickens, wbo could so pulut in words s monstrous , iierson to come when the lights an I out to baui.l tbe darkness, and had ' carefully |ia!cbed them one upon sn ^ other so aa to make them Into an Id'-a) of an old ancle of great wickedness. On that very ship Itself I had beheld | a man, who came upon the lower d«ck from the engine, who had but one ey* and a great scar where that other eye should hare been placed. Immediate ly my Image of the General Robert Carruthrrs lost one of tbe wicked eyes I had given him from out the head ot the stepfather who did so cruelly at the pwr young David Copperflrld «nd becane a man with only one trt which Mill held the malevolence that was buried at that amall David. And with this squat, (rooked, evil Imags of the General Robert Carrutbers in my heart I alighted from the train Into tbe city of llayesviile. which U the i-apltal of tbe great American statf Harpeth. The black man had

wss the last ot

. I l»v. W “I j , bo wllh

.lore hta ,,,<! lollow tin,

so I suppoar bis attitude to-1 .j.,,, of tIlp

Ocult for yot

me. as I—1 want you to be." "Neither the General Cnrruthera n

any man. madam, dictates in mattera of tbe bean to the Marquise de—that la, to Robert Carrtithcrs of Grex and Rye. If that ta the way I must so name

“Not at all, sir. I bought only the ble - lower half of this section. I am n«

*Bt all nervous.'' And I could see her I u ,

month, that was curled like tbe |e-t«l- »•«» «««««• different from hi. attl-, rtMi clH «lme.! my so of ac opening rose, tremble from a ,ude « ow » rd husband and ! • n<iw fr| , nd „ >(k . ra , 1MK j bft mlachlef as she regarded tbe stiff black [ > * ,t VT ,r • 1 { OU ' tbe ^ er * 1 veil for a very seemly Wss from a silk back In tbe front of tbe car and “f, l *" , UB and qnlti- broad gentleman with tbe two huge females on our right. fr' D ‘ r J “ l " 0 .";“ a very wide bat and long mnrtachl * whose eon and brother was to arrive In . * f ™’ d “ l * k . e U I that dropped far down with want of

Philadelphia for tbelr protect!,m. 0n,lt tor > 00 t0 friends with;

Aa equally gay mischief rose In my ^eyss and responded to that In tiers as

1 responded also by word

“For which also let u» 1*0 In grati-

tude."

Msny times In the months that followed have 1 thought of the lure of 4he laughing mischief tu tlnwe eyes v .at were like beautiful blue flowers • t in crystal and bow the? were «o ad me on Into the strange land of en in search of those forbidden fruits. And from that moment on 1 did vety uocb enjoy myself In conversation rtth that Madam Mischief, while we together did watch the retirement of all of the persons in the train. Bbe had many funny remarks to make and made me merry with them, so that the hour of 11 o’clock had arrived before we Had summoned the very black male chambermaid to turn our seats into beds. All others were In sleep that was a confusion of sound from crery- - where, and we must stand In the aisle while the beds were N-lng abstracted.

CHAPTER III. I THs Impossible Uncle Robort. A FTER many montliE, In which came to me cruel imlu and a long, hard light for tbe honor of my beloved. 1 -annot but remember that feeling of gratitude that came over me an I went Into sleep on that narrow sbeif under which lay tbe beamy of that Madam Patricia Whitworth. In the eight years tbat I bad be S, come all of life to my father we bad made many travela Into distant lands rfud bad ee-eu all of beauty tbat the o!& world had to offer seeker* after It. but nowhere had I seen the uinjcutlc wunder of this hla own land that I beheld paas by like a aeries of great . pictures wrought by a master. All of the morning I could but sit and gw with eyes that sotuetlmes dimmed with tears for him as faster and faMt-r 1 was carried down Into hU own laud of tbe valley of Marpeth. which Inhad given up for love of my mother and from tbe cruelness of uiy wicked | uncle, wbo would not welcome her to I his home. When tbe great Harpetb | hills, in tbelr spring tlu-di from the rustuecs of what 1 afterward learned j Waa their honeysuckle and laurel, shot with tbe Iridescent Ore of the pale ye! I low and green and purple of redbud I and dogwood and maple leaf, all veiled In a creamy cilxt over tbelr radiance. | came Into view aa we arrived nearer i and nearer to llayesviile my baud went forth and grasped closely the hand of Madam Whitworth "And tbe amall homes In tbe valley madam." 1 sakl. "w-llh tin- sheep and cattle and grain and children -.urrouiel ed. tbey need never fear ibc tire of ; shell and tbe roar of the cruel guns ThU Valle; U a fold In I be ganu.l.t self, and ll ba« lit* cberisiilnc is It that there *i!| U u h mie fm Be In lt» peace a tel for tlw small I true and i the old and faithful Nanie-Ur r'

that It D the c:r-tom to use fori thefr elevation In France, as I well | know from my father's wrathy remarks to his valet if he made a too great use of It upon bis. "And this Is General Carrutbers' nephew who came down on the train ivlth aa

myself now." 1 answered In the man- .. .

ner of the old MarquU of Flanders. ^ hQlb * nd - Mr - <«rruthers of Grro tinged with the grande dame manner B)re " w,,b wbicb haroducUon .ha of the beautiful young Marquise of! «®fro“‘«l * b i' gentleman Gres and Rye whom I bad murdered ! “ Gud to inow r oU - and left In that room of tbe great bo- slad ,0 kn0W ^ou •" he n “’’ wcre<! “ tel In New York | be ,ook “J" ll,,nd «a» d Rave It an cm"11 WU !» tu ""f *“' b 1 i,™ .. )yu i .urt, im.: U» l™>»l tmln toRrll.r-r b., r «in |* Yortli I °"' r fl,r T“ c ““* “ the trouble of this Lurried trip to New ! ^ u ’‘ • on,p Comr l*«Uyr' York to be Introduced to a person who ' • Ur. farruthera. I'll see dUappcared suddenly In a tugboat In I ,ou ,l<,on " “ ,d ‘h*' b< '» atlfal Madam the -ix-n ocean when be should have! "'hitvvorth as i.he held out her baud to landed at the docks with the propriety m '' '' ,,u " now—there come* tbeg>nihnt would liave been expected of him."! cral—quick, klaa my hand!" And a» abe ai»ke I could see that | 1 heut and did as she bade me and something bud happened In New York ' 1 had promised her to do. and ar I which bad brought much Irritation to ! ra*«sl myself she slipped away qul< kthe 1-cauilful Madam Whitworth. ly after her husband with a aalutiitl >n “It would seem tbat It la one of the! of great cooluesa to a person over my eualoma of tbese great ahlja to Bend shoulder and a "How do you do. Genout i-a Meager* from them In those very i oral Carrol here i" remark aa she went funny amall tuglxintK." I remdfked ns luatantly I turned and faced tbe rraI leaned forward to catch a last fleet- terlallxaiiou of the ogre It bad tak-u lug glliuiro- of a level} girl ataudlug me yeatx to bibld up Into my wtcM tn the doorway of an ancient farm uncle. And what did 1 aoe' Louac. giving f.«*l to chu-krna ao near Dy r; : _,-d atralght Into eyea of the four** " f _«he railroad train that It ,i lt . great,, i kludncsa and wisdom 1

'‘ ha-: ever la-fore U-lieM. and It w>a

wlib dinieulty I rotralmd myaelf freia hinging myself and my auit of KngU h tweed atralght Into the strong arus and burying my bend on the brad deep chest that confronted me aa lue Luge old gentleman, with aa |H-rfcct a mop of W hile hair aa la mine of Llaik. rioting over lib large head, tower-d

over me.

“You gallivanting young Idiot, wL«re did you pick up that dimity}" be ceua tided of me as he laid a Urge bn .d wltb long, strong Huger* ou my shoi| dors and gave me a slight shake. "I'm your I'ncle Robert, sonny, aud dout you ever forget that, air." ha continued, aud I could see a loug'ug for the embrace, which 1 »o deslr d, lu hla keen ryes that had aofteni a veil of mlsl lu the hut second I'm glad you're not a woman! And from now on }ust atop knowing the ereatun-a ext«t—|*at Whitworth aud her Lind. We've got work to do to

put out a fire devastation t

there; we've no time to waate. Ih to the governor's mansion and d. aprout grass under your w bccla," eummanded the black chauffeur—** goveru-T's mansion, iirivale door

Sixth street."

i- sluiuld dbiK-rsc them

tart! to the rental grant of the lands, make a getaway with tbe money and let the state crash down upon hlx besd when It finds out tbst he baa been led Into bringing It and himself Into dishonor. Why. dash it. sir. I'd like to have every one of them, especially Jeff Whitworth, at the end of a baiter and feed him a raw mule, hoof and ears l'm probably going to be done death all alone before tbe pack of wolves, but I'm gohig to die hard—for Util Faulkner, who holds lu hU hand the bouor of his state and my state. 1T1 die bard!" Aud be sl>o'-e the words with such a fierceness that hb white mustache, which was waxed with the propriety of tbe world, divided like ciuaced silver swords beneath hb straight nose with its thin and trembling nostrils. "It will lie that 1 can help yon protc<t ibis honor of tbe Gonverneur Fctilkner and the state of Harpeth. will It not. my L'ncle Robert?” I asked wltb a great anxiety. “If yon moat fall on tbe Held of honor It wtU be the glory of Robert Carrutbers of Grex and Bye to fall beside yon. sir. 1 am a very good sport, my father baa said." “God bless my aoul. bow like Henry you are. boy!" exclaimed my unde, the General Robert, and be did lay one of hb long and very strong arms across my shoulder and give to me the embrace for which I had so lenged, bnt for not enough time for me to yield myaelf to It. "Henry always wanted to tag 'Brother Bob.' and be. too— would—have died—fighting for me—at my side. I've been hard—and when I beard of hb death—I wanted yon. boy, I wanted you more— Now, what do yon mean, sir, by making me forget for one moment the fix Bill Faulkner and I are in?" And my nude, the General Robert, gave to me a good shake, as be extracted hb very large white handkerchief and blew npon hb nose with such power that the black chauffeur looked around at ns and made tbe car to Jump even aa be and I

bad done.

"And tboae moles that It would be your w!sb to feed to that Mr. Jeff Whitworth, my Uncle Robert, will you not tell me further about them? In Paris It U said that tbey are a very good food when made fat after being old or wounded in tbe army. I have* That will do, air. If yon've had eat male In Paris don't tell me about It. My constitution wouldn't stand that, tbough during our war. Just before Vicksburg. I ate—bnt we won't go Into that either. Now this la the situation, as mnch at a led from the wilds of Paris could understand It. The French government wants 5,000 mules by tbe tall of tbe year, and there are no *uch moles tn tbe world as thb state produce*. Tbey are send tng a mau over here to try to make a deal with tbe state of Harpeth chase tbe mules from private

Then ai I oesRatM tn terror at tb* revelation of my woman's estate I had been about to make, my uncle. tb( General Robert, made this remark tc me: “Women are like crows—all black, and the exceptional while one only makes the rest look blacker. The only way to stop them In their depredatlon> is to trap tliem since tbe law forbid*.

"I will help

, M "I wept when I must pro 1 friend. I'npltulne. the Count *• ih*. depait from our ship li '«• tugU-uta It was a pain rea*l that he must leave me tc the wlldm-s «.f Canada." h*-n **<• »vi.t t« Canada Brat? - >1 that Madam Whitworth as ■ed back on her seat as If tv i.-m *,-me form of a great aux uit the departure of that Cap that you are al o a friend ol

u friend, wbo might

111

of dishonor aud

CHAPTER IV. “Hare's My Boy. Governor."

graze them ou the government lands aud deliter them In a lot for shipment the 1st of August at Bavannah. There la no authority on tbe statute book for the state to make aucb a deal, but Jeff Wbltworth baa fixed up a sort of contract, tbat wouldn't bold water In the courts, by which tbe governor of tbe state. Williamson Faulkner, grants the grazing rights on tbe aute'e lands to a private comjiany, of which he 1* to be a member, which In a way guarantees the deal. They've made him believe U to be a good financial thing for the state, and he can't that they are going to bny cheap stock, fatten it on a low rate from tbe atat« and hand It over to the French government at a fancy rmkeoff, and then leave him with the bag to hold when the time for aettlement and complaint cornea. There la a strong Republican party In this state, and they're keep Ing quiet, but year after next, when BUI Faulkner cornea up fur re-elec-tion. downright Illegality will be al-K-ged. and be will U- defeated In dla honor aud with dishonor to tbe state 1 am hla secretary of state, and I'm going tu save him If 1 can. Aud you are going to help me, sir.*” Aud an he spoke my uncle, the General Rob ert. gave to me a distinguished shake of the hand that made my pride to rise In my throat, which gave to my aleak

tug a great huaklueas

“I w 111 help lu the rescue of the lain or of that Uouverueur Bill Faulkner tuy Unde RoU-rt. with the last breath In my body, and I will also assist ti feed mule to that Mr. Jefferson Whit worth, though not to hla beautiful wife, whom 1 do ao much admire.*' That's Just It. shell have to eat mule the first one. She's at the gov ernor day and night with her wllea aud in my mind ICa her dimity Influ eucr that Is making him ace thingwith hla alaut. They say she put bet brand on him tn early youth. He's tbi »«ul of honor, but what chance has a man's sonl honor got w hen a woman wants to cash tt In for n fortune with which to lead a gay life? None! None slrr And tbe •vuntenanev of in; uncle, ihe General Robert, became n ficn-e that II was dltB- ull to find WOfflt “Oh. my l'ncle Robert, la It tbat a woman would make a cheat tn giving the mule animal of not sum, lent strength to cany f<«-d to |»s.r boys ol France In Ihe lreu< bee when there b loo much mud for gasoline!" 1 ex claimed wlib a great horror froa knowledge given me by my capltalne

the «

I de l

what s

• trying t<

Let Hn*e poor . haps will ir luieL to defend Iter rlv well as lheir* die for warn v train hauled by rellabl. ii unreliable guoullue falls

r

i Into the very

•There Robert i

shooting them." And aa he made Judgment of women 1 forgot for a moment that we discussed that Madair Whitworth whom It was causing great puln to discover to be the enemy of France, and I thought of my bcautiful mother, whom he bad Judged with out ever havin'* encountered, and a great longing rose In my heart ao tc comport myaelf that hla heart should learn to trust In me aa a man and then discover the honor of woman through me at some future time. I took solve that such should be tbe case, and to that end I asked of him: “How is It that I can serve you In these serious troubles, my Uncle Robert?" And aa I asked that question I made also a vow In my heart against that bla' k crow woman. "Now. that's what I'm coming The French government is sending an army expert down here to look ovei the sltnation and make tbe contracta I can't si>eak their heathenish tongue w read It. and I want somebody whom 1 can trust—trust, mind yon—tv help me talk with him and make an; necessary translations. That Whit worth hoasy has lieen translating fot as. and 1 don't trust her. Your lettet was handed to me In the governor'private office, and both be and I saw what a help it would lie to have you here when till* Frenchle—wbo la a Count Something or Other—and hl« servants and secretaries, what he call. hU suit, crrlve. By George, air. wi need your advice In eating and drink tmg them. Do you suppose they'll havi Intelligence enough to eat the manna of tbe go.ls. which is corn jwae, and drink the nectar, which la plain whisky. or will wc l>e expected to furnish them with anal la and absinth?" At tbat 1 laughed a very large laugh and made this answer to the ix-rturba-tloii of my uncle, the General Robert: "1 will tell you after luncheon, my Uncle Roltert, because 1 have not as yet eaten In this Harpeth country of America.” “All right; we'll talk about It after you've had one of old Klzxic'i fried chicken dinners. Hero we are at the mansion. Remember, you know the whole situation and are only supposed to know the part that Governor BUI thinks la the v.bole. Ixmk at me, boy!" And aa tbe big car drove np to the curb before a great atone bouse with tall pillar* on guard of Its front, be laid both hU bend* upin my abouldcra and turned me toward him with force and no gentlcm-**. aud thru with hla keen eyea did he look down Into the very aoul of me. "Yes, I see I can trust, you. air. God bless you. boy!" he said, after a very long moment of time. “Yea. my Uncle Robert." I answered him without turning my eyes from

bis.

“Well, then, here we are. 1 came to the aide door ao I wouldn't have to Introduce you to any of the boya this morning, for we want to have a talk with the governor before dinner, and I don't dare keep Klzxle waiting. It riles her, and a riled woman burns np thing*, masters, husbands, cooking or w-orae. Come on." “Here's my boy. governor." waa aU the introduction my uncle, the General Itobert, administered to me: then 1 stood and looked Into the face of him whom afterward 1 discovered to be the greatest gentleman In the world, with my heart U-atlng tn my throat aud yet astir under my woman's breast In the place It had always liebefore resided, after we had been Ushtnto the gouverneur'a room by an old black servant called Cato. CHAPTER V. •Wa Both Need You." DO not know- how It is that I shall lnd words In which to write down he loveliness of that gouverneur , •f Old llan'eth. He was nut aa I all aa my uncle, the General RuU-rt. ud he wa« slender and lithe aa some I wild thing In a fores}, bni Ihe jwwer tn | e tM-oaducaa of hla aboukler* and lu <■ strength of Ids nervous band* was of a greatueea of which tot* frightened —that Is. I think, of which a man sti be frightened, but tn which a wo would take much glory III* hair of I lie landsUisl gold of a suns-t *| and uis-n hi* ti-mi-le* was a rti • Test of while l ha I MIS riled like

I

hie in r way which at dawn my eyes have gased Into the morning star rising near to me oyer the little wood ot the Chateau de Grea. It la good that yon I Carrutbers, for the general « both need you." were tbe word* I heard him saying to me tn a voice that waa aa deep and of as mnch Interest aa the eye#, and aa be spoke tboee words he took one of my hands In both of hla strong ones. "And If yon say snails, a nails It shall be. If Cato and I have to Invade every rose garden In Hayes ville and vicinity and stay op all night to catch them." “I think I (hall choose that corn pone and whisky that my uncle, the General Robert, has promised to me from one bad tempered cook at the time of my luncheon." I found myaelf saying wltb n laugh that answered the barefooted boy who suddenly looked at me out of the cool eyes. “I thought I would let him have a tryout with Klzxle before we decided to feed the savages." also said my uncle, tbe General Robert, with a laugh. "Besides he's one himself, and 111 have to go alow and tame him gradually." "No. he's ours. He's just come back to bis own from a strange land, ftmnral. and you 11 kill the fatted calf or rooster, whichever Klxxla decides, with joy at getting him.” And this time the star eyea gave to me the quick sympathy for which I had prayed before the Virgin with the Infant In her anna In the little chapel of the old convent Just before we bad to flee from tbe sheila, leaving my father to tbe sister* to bury after the enemy had come. I think my eyea did tell that tale to hla. and the tear* ached In my throat “I know, boy." be said softly, and then turned and presented me to the Ur. Clcndeuning. wbo was arranging papers at a desk beside the window. I do like with my whole heart tbat funny Buzz Ciendennlng. wbo has the reddart hair, the largest brown speckles or. hla face and tbe widest month that I have ever lie held. Also, bD laugh Is even wider than Is hla mouth, and overflow* the remainder of bis face In rlpplee of what is called grin. He Is not mnch taller than am L but of much more powerful build, as la natural, tboagh be did not at that moment recognize tbe reason thereof. "Shake hands, boya. Don't stand looking »t each other like yoong popplea." said my nncle. the General Robrrt. at be clapped bis band on tbe liack of tbe Mr. Buzz Ciendennlng "Yon don't have to tight It out Yoor father* licked each other week aboo: for twenty years." "Can't I even ask him to taka off Ids coat once, general?" answered that Mr. Buzz with the grin all over his face and spreading to my countenance he took my hand In hit to administer one of those abakAi rf which l had had ao many since my arrival Ir America. For a second be looked startled and glanced down at my whits band that he held In hU. and from It to my eyea that were looking into his with the entire friendliness of my heart. Suddenly I bad a great fright of discovery within me. and my knees began to again tremble together for tbelr skirts, bnt before that fright had reached my eyea quite I had borne to me an elder brother In tbe person of tbat Buxx Ciendennlng. and 1 now know tbat I can never lose him. even when he know* that— "I'm no shakes In the doeh prince, ao let's klaa and make np before you get oat your sword.” be said aa be also, as my nncle, the General Robert, had done. Uhl an arm across my shoulders In an embrace of affection. It waa then I made a discovery In the strange land Into which 1 was pene-trating-men have much sentiment lu ibetr beans that U U impossible for a woman to discover from behind a fan. They keep It entirely for each other aa comrades, and I received a Urge portion of such an affection when that Mr. Buxx Ciendennlng adopted me In what ho t bought waa my foreign weakness as a small brother to be protected In hla Urge heart. “I am very happy to so salute yon Instead of tbe duel." 1 made answer and did Immediately put a klaa on kts

■prey of a

lifted IheniM-i the carpet lu

All o

ibt'-> were looking lutu

one cheek, expecting that be would return It uikju my cbi-eka. Drat one and then another, aa la the custom of comrades and officer* tu France. "Help, help! Don't do that again, or IH call out the poUce." res|>oaded that funny Mr. Buxx Ciendennlng. aa ha ■hook me away from him. while my uncle, the General Robert, and the great gouverneur did both Indulge 1c

laughter.

I am atwabed. and I beg yoor parn for offending against tbe customs - your country I do remember now lhat my fattier did not penult auefc a salutation from hla brother officer*, and 1 will not do so again. M Hqtt ' i.-udrunlng." I said as my cheeks became crimson with mortification, and tear* would have come over my ey had my pride permitted. This 1* what be meant you to d Burn, you duffer I said good by twenty two of my friends tide way day 1 art sail from eld Held ether and be spoke Croat and beat