And the Quinte area, says the writer who has also lived in London, Sudbury, Peterborough, Kingston and Toronto, "is a hothouse of individuality. "It tends to throw up real characters. This area is full of eccentrics. That's what I find fascinating to write about." Jennie Batley is just one of those characters. "She was a very unconventional female. In those days, there were respectable women and there were those who were below the pale." While in the Quinte area, Bat- ley's respectability was certainly ques- tionable. But, later in life, as a farmers' wife, she seems to have achieved that mark. The role of women in the booze busi- ness reflected the role of women else- where in business at that time: they typ- ically didn't have one. While writing his earlier popular book, Booze, Boats and Billions, Hunt remembers thinking it "a terribly masculine book. "I just didn't find much about women." In his book Whiskey and Ice, Hunt wrote about Ben Kurr's mistress, Kate. Still, her role was not major. "I'm very aware of that fact that women were just appendages," Hunt noted. For this and future publications, Hunt set up his own publishing com- pany: Billa Flint Publications. Ever fond of irony, Hunt pointed out Flint was not only a businessman and Eolitician in the area/he was also a3ading prohibitionist. Works in progress include Dancing In the Sky, about the First World War air training program, and Dockside Democ- racy, a piece about the Wharf Street Debating Club. In his latest research, Hunt uncov- ered more information pertaining to his earlier book Whiskey and Ice. "Anybody who has the book can send a self-addressed stamped envelope and I'll send them the twist ending," Hunt said. Gentleman Charlie & The Lady Rum- runner is available in Belleville at W. & R. Greenley Booksellers, Changing Times and Chapters, in Picton at Books by the Bay, and in Trenton at Des- jardins Books. Or, readers can drop by the Mariner's Museum near Milford to pick up a book and see the tender used by Mills and Batley in their escapades. The book costs $7.50. PS.z When smuggler Charlie Mills owned the Adele, it was painted i grey making it especially difficult for the Coast Guard to spot it in the dark of night. Photos submitted. -After leaving the Quinte area Jennie Batley and Charlie Mills lived briefly in Erie, Penn- sylvania where this photo was taken, before settling on Mills' father's farm outside Sanborn, New York.