ger Pete drove them out here, and we
can close his mouth easily enough. It's been easy, Herman, and now
with these two settled it leaves me a clear field."

"Maybe so--yes. But vat you think it all mean? I would know how eet
vas dey come."

The younger man shuffled the papers restlessly, his eyes on the face of
the other.

"I confess there are some details missing, Herman," he said slowly,
"but in the main it is clear enough. I take it this man Neale is a
damned rascal. He went North to find the heir, discovered that he was
either dead, or had disappeared, ran into some scamp of the same kidney
as himself, and, between them, determined to cop the coin. That's my
guess. Then they picked up this penniless soldier, who, by the way,
resembles the missing son a bit, and sent him down here to play the
part. Wrote him out full instructions," tapping the papers
suggestively, "and then sat down there to wait results."

"Vel, maybe so--but vat about the girl, hey?"

"Someone they picked off the streets. He 's told to do it in this
letter. They thought it best to prove their man married, and so had to
procure a woman. We won't have any trouble with her."

"Vat you do to be sure?"

"Turn her loose in New Orleans with a few dollars," carelessly. "All
she knows about the affair can't hurt us if she does squeal. There are
plenty of ways to shut her mouth. I 'll know better how to handle her
case right when I see her. Broussard is a long time at his job."

"Perhaps she fight heem--hey?"

"The worse for her--that Creole is a wild-cat. But I wish he would
hurry, so we can get through the Gut on the flood tide; that boat draws
more water than is comfortable in this lagoon."

"You need not worry," said the German, placidly looking at his watch.
"I take eet through safe. She dam good sea boat, an' where I come in I
can go out. Ach! 'tis the fellow come now."

The newcomer passed so close beside me I could feel his foot touch
mine. As he hurried forward I realized the eyes of the two men would
be upon him, and that any movement of mine would be unobserved. The
door remained ajar, and, if escape was possible, now was the time.
With head reeling dizzily, I crept through the opening, yet held the
latch, fascinated by the first spoken words within.

"Well, Broussard, what is it?"

"All seen to, sir."

"The bodies are planted then?"

"The men attended to that."

"And the woman?"

"On her way; there was n