"
"Why did you warn the detective?"
"I did not wish to see the man murdered."
"And you turned against your father and us all?"
"I have turned against no one. I only sought to save a man's
life."
"The man is a friend of yours?"
"I never spoke to him before in my life, until I warned him of
his danger."
"Where is the man?"
"If he is wise, he has left the coast."
"Will you tell me how you have learned of our plans?"
"I overheard you discuss them."
"And you are the traitor
"I am the traitor!"
"Girl, never confess to anyone else what you have confessed
to me!"
The old smuggler was a listener to the foregoing conversation,
and he said:
"Renie is tender-hearted."
"Yes; but, Tom, Renie must go away."
"Yes; she is going away."
"Have you a place for her?"
"Yes."
"Will you tell me who assailed you?"
"Ike, I can't tell you all; but I was assailed on Renie's
account."
"You were assailed on Renie's account?"
"Yes."
"This is a strange story!"
"Some day you will know why I was assailed."
"Was it one of our people?"
"No."
"A stranger?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"A man you know."
"Name him."
"Not to-night."
"When will Renie go away?"
"As soon as possible."
"Tom, I am a friend of yours, and your daughter's; but I tell
you the girl is in a bad fix."
"She shall go away."
"To-morrow?"
"We shall see."
Ike Denman remained to exchange a few more words, and went
away; the father and daughter were alone.
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