he whole
thing was puzzling. I had come expecting a mere bit of play-acting,
with all details left in the control of others. I anticipated no more
than a few weeks of idleness, with, perhaps, the overseeing of a
plantation, to partially keep my time occupied. Instead I found myself
instantly involved in a network of mystery where even murder was part
of the play. Little as I liked Coombs, this Creole was even more
dangerous. The one was a rough, the other a venomous snake. So far as
the original purpose of my adventure was concerned it had already
largely faded from recollection. The swift recurrence of more
startling events dominated. The spirit of adventure, with which I was
liberally endowed, was fast taking possession of all my faculties.
Whatever mystery surrounded this house, whatever of crime lurked in the
neighborhood, I became determined to solve. For the moment I forgot
even Mrs. Bernard, and my own assumed character, in the excitement of
this new chase.

"Ze right; turn to ze right, M'sieur," said a voice behind me, and then
I saw Coombs standing before the door of the second cabin. Half
dressed as he was, his ever-present "gun" hung low at his hip, and his
face scowled in surprised recognition.

"What does this mean, Broussard?" he growled savagely. "Where did you
pick up that fellow?"

CHAPTER XIV

THE CONFESSION

I caught the wicked, snaky gleam of the Creole's eyes. All his early
suspicion of me had revived instantly.

"At the landing," he hastened to explain. "How could I tell? He said
he knew you, M'sieur."

"Oh, he did, hey! Well, all I know about him is that he blew in here
last night with a woman; claimed to be young Henley, and took
possession of the place. I reckon it 's about time I saw some papers
to prove what yer are, young feller, 'for yer go snoopin' round at
daylight. What's yer game enyhow?"

The man's bluster gave me my clew. The thought suddenly occurred to me
that, for some reason, he was more afraid of me than I of him. And if
I met him on the same ground he was of the disposition to give way
first.

"You can see my authority, Coombs, any time you are ready to exhibit
your own," I returned coolly, leaning back against the side of the
cabin, and staring him straight in the eyes. "I 've got more occasion
to question you, you big brute, than you have me. Who is going to
prevent my walking about these grounds? You? Just try the experiment,
and see