Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-10-01
arashin9ton tanaard
AN ACTORS STORY,
Related ~ JOHN COLEMAN
CHAPTER w.
ON THE TRACK.

After a night u horrors, Curly arose Win
the sun and rushed to the window. The sea
was still raging furiously. The ferry boat
was mere cookie shell; 'twould 10 sheer
madness to try the pas a-e till the storm
abated. Then he went 10 look up the pos
tillons and the horses. to zee II it were pos
sible to get on as far as Dundee. Alas! the
postillions were dead drunk-the horses dead
beat. and lame besides Obviously there
was nothing for it but to wait He walked
by the shore and tried to cool his fevered
brain in vain. Then he turned into the inn.
Flora Yves already up. rosy as her namesake,
and hungry as a hunter. No bread-and
butter miss this, but a woman-a true.
large-heerted woman-with WELL balanced
mind enshrned in a well-balanced BODY
She was elate and contident; he was fever
isn and anxious The breakfast, which con-
sisted of an abundance of fish, fresh from
the sea an hour ago, dish of ham and eggs,
and delicious fresh bannocks and butter Law
untouched before Curly. As for Flora,
she had the healthy appetite of young,
fire. h. vigorous womanhood, and was
not ashamed of it. She did ample
justice To the simple fare. He
coul mt ta.te a morsal, and called for
VII sky. She lookel on with wonderful
eyes astoni,hei ard. it must b, confessed,
not over pl ,asai. When e had got dram,
OF Two down he began to pick up litI,,
and trifed with the breakfast but it was n
vain. He became fretfui and irritable;
every sound disconcerted hiln-the waiteIS
footsteps in the passa ye, the cracking Of the
door, the whistling of the wind
All at once. as ii by magic, the storm
ceased, the sea became calm as a mill pool
The ferryman came bustling In.
y h. L.
Int, and the shentleman would like to
twa minutes Curly Lccatne radiant; in
fact, became the young hero Fiora's fancy
had painted him. Recovering his appetite,
he attacked the breakfast vigorously.
As he did SO the clatter of horses hoofs
and the roll Of distant carriage wheels were
heard. At the ound he started TO his feet,
and turned pale. whats the matter, my
lover inquired Flora
Nothing" he replied. Nothing, darling,
nothing; only Pm not quite myself this
morning. Slip on your hat and cloak, dear
est. while settle the BILL" So saying. be
rang the bell, and Flora left the room to
prepare for her departure. The doddering
old landlady came creeping along like a
snail, and snail-like departed to make out
her bill Meanwhile the sound Of the ap-
preaching carriage wheels got nearer
''Gracious God!" he exclaimed, "shoull it
be- How long is this horrible old woman
gong to be making out her beastly bill'
How long is Flora going to bel She might
ue getting herself up for presentation at
courtr'
At last the bill came and was paid-at
last Flora had completed her basty toilet
The sounds were getting nearer. The
farmer was ready and waiting. A moment
mora. and
Leaving the house rapidly, and hurrying
down toward the ferry, some three hundred
Yards distant. they stepped on board the
bout At that moment carriage and four
horses IN Gather Of sweat" galloped like
mad round The corner Of the hill immedi-
ateiy cverhanging the beach. Two men
jumped out. The one roared, in q voice Of
-, I'll shoot the pair of Your
Flora sprang before her lover like lion
ess defending her young, and called out:
Snoo. me first, thenl'
>, MS rage Mac Allister fred, and would
certainly have killel her, had not Deempstor
struck up his hand. He then callei out to
the ferryman: 'Ho; you there, David Don.
sldsonl You ken me: I'm Dan'l Deempster.
of Strethm,nes You see thesep and he
f. iIished a handful Of greasy one-pound
lu,es ''They ara yours il you put back and
land those two"
There was moments pause, and the fer.
lyman remained irresolute Then Curly
Or qducei handful of sovereigns and forced
item upon him, whispering:
Al yours now, and as much more when
we land on the other siIer'
David hesitated no longer. He pocketed
the gold. and sung out with q laugh:
Hugh, StrathmineS bird in the hand is
worth twa in the bush; paper Is guild, but
goli is betterI"
"Ay mon," replied Deempster; ''but lead
goss .urther than either in pinch like this
SEQ that, moor As he spoke he fired, and
nj: the side Of the rowlock nearest to him,
completely carrying it away.
Now, David, my mannie," he continued,
70 advised; for it fire again shall put a
'ei et in your shoulder as sure as nv name $
IN Daempster." There was an awkward
ls:'l,e, then the ferryman replied: "Say nae
iri sly nae mair, Strathmines! Enough
"a as feast; I'm comm back" So
:s'lug, with a sudden and dexterous move.
n swung the boat round and headed
her for the shore. He had reckonel. how
eVor, without Flora, who was sitting behind
hen in the stern. With q movement as
sudden and as daxterous as his own She
Licked the fellow from his seat, down came
hrs lead athwart the gunwale, and there be
stunned and senseless. Unfortunately
q me struggle one Of the oars was I'M
~ pped and fell overheard, where it driftod
out OF reach. Curic who was q capital
Doa man, seized the remaining oar and triei
TO sculi out to sea. The ferry was only two