Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-08-18


maxwell! ! Maxwell! are 20 u
awake ?" said the voice.
eyes" replied another voice, in
a hoarse whisper.
"When do the clubs eat break
fast 2"
"About five o'clock"
abe sure that soups doctored r.
eyes, no mistake"
"Good a dose that will settle
Windham,-blast him He's the
backbone of his crew and IL We
can only weaken him they'll loso
the race sure. It'll weaken 'em all,
I'm thinking. Wen rake in our
money, eh 7"
"That's so! !"
There was a pause, during which
Tom strained his ears to hear more.
"Say, Maxwell, did We shake
the can when you put the stuff in Z"
eyes, punched a bit of q nail
hole and blowed the powder in
with this little quill then l shook
'em lively. l did it to 'em all.
They're fixedw
"And Betsy won't get the wrong
ones g"
"She's more conjurer than .
cook if she does, I'll hide all the
rest of the cans"
"Then we've got 'em sure !"
By this time Tom was sitting
bolt upright in bed, with his mouth
and eyes wide open TO their widest
extent. The horror of his discov-
cry chilled his blood. His uncle,
then had arranged to drug the st.
GATHERINGS crew 4! He sat q min
ute, shuddering, and trying to
think what to do. He did not hes
itate long. His opportunity had
come to do something for Wind
ham
Carefully displacing the clothing
that lay upon him, he put his feet
out of bed and stood upon the
floor. Then he noislessly put ON
his pantaloons and his jacket
That was all. He did not dare to
take his shoes. His hat was in the
lake somewhere.
He crept toward the door. He
feared that his uncle was awake.
He raised the latch very softly, and
'elt the night air upon his face. It
was moonlight without, and beau
.ifully clear. He closed the door
behind him, but to his great alarm
The latch clicked. He thought no
heard a stir in his uncle's room.
Then lie ran like frightened deer.
His body was weak, but his heart
vas full of desperate resolutions.
Two skiffs with their oars in
hem, lay upon the beach. Tom
yrasped the oars of his uncle's
,kiff, placed them in his own, push
I'd off upon the lake, and rowed
with all his might toward the boat
house of the st. GATHERINGS crew.
He had hardly taken q dozen
strokes when the door of the cot
age burst open, and his uncle
eaped out, calling in a terrible
voice.
"Tom Tom Tom !"
But Tom pulled furiously on,
md uttered no sound. He heard
lis uncle rush toward his boat, and
le heard his frightful curses when
lie discovered his oars were gone.
The next morning Tom was hid
len from view by foliage at .
)end in the shore. He knew that
lis strength must fail him soon ON
he water, and now turning sharply
II he ran his boat in to bushes, and
hiding the oars, took to the land
md forest.
He had long run before him.
lis head was dizzy and his limbs
rembled. He feared he should be
ate. He heard in the distance
he calls of his enraged uncle and
Maxwell, but he turned . resoluts
ace toward st. GATHERINGS quar-
ers and pressed on.
The crew of the st. Catherine's
ad gathered for breakfast. Be-
ore them was their plain and SIM
lie food, and they were all merry
nd hopeful. 1t was steamiug and
lvory, and the mems sharp appe-
ties welcomed 1t. The golden
ght of the coming sunrise rested
Ike glory on the flne muscular
,rms of the six young boatmeu.