The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-10-05


you've got to do is to sell your
boat when you reach Pittsburg. for
money enough TO carry you in the cars to
Richmond, and don't reckon you'll have
any tronbie in finding . customer if you
don't set too high price on the old craft. y
Further inquiry assured them that the
mans words were only too true. and so,
when. few DAYS later, they reached the
smoky CITY, they realized that their pleas
ant voyaging was over. and that new trials
were awaiting them.
II was late in dull November afternoon
when they moved the ark in the mouth OF
small creek in the outskirts of the city
and began to prepare for supper the very
last food remaining in their slender larder.
After eating their scsnty meal and after
Uncle Phin had lighted his pipe they sat
down in the little cabin for . serious dis
cussi0n OF their future plans
As their backs were turned to the
window that was nearest the shore.
neither Arthur nor Uncle Phin knew thar,
during this conversation, an evil-leoking
face was peeSing in At shem. and that It's
owner was an attentive listener to all that
they said.
Now. as they looked up, startled by an
uneasy growl from Rpsty, who had Just
detected the Strangely presence, and
sprang. barking, toward the window. the
face was hastily Withdrawn. and appeared
no more.
: The next morning they cast the ark
loose from its moorings and allowed it to
drift mile or two down past the city water
front. At length they reached . place of
apsf ~ he
number of steamboats,. tugs and barges by
which they were now surrounded. 1t was
just below . great bridge that SPAWNED the
river at this point. and here, after half an
hour of great anxiety and hard work, they
finally succeeded in making their boat fast
to the levee.
Then, not knowing what else to do, they
waited patiently for some hours in the
hope that customer would appear and
make them an offer for the ark. But of
all the hurrying throngs who passed the
place no one paid the slightest attention
to them. Uncle Phin had Just
decided that it would be neces-
sary for him to go ashore and in
some way make it known that he had .
boat for sale, when a stranger came walk.
ing briskly toward them and sprang
aboard.
Growing savagely. Rusty would have
flown at the man, whom he recognized as
the one who had looked into the cabin
window the evening before, had not Arthur
seized and held him.
..Good morning." said the stranger
politely. Zine watch dog you've got
there"
"Yes." replied Arthur. "he is; but /
never knew him to want to bite anybody
before. ("
.sOh, we'll" said the man. che probably
isn't used to city folks; but he will get
over that. came to ask II this boat is for
sale. /"
..Of course it is,'' replied the boy, de.
ightsdly; I'VE have been hoping some
body would come along who wanted to
buy it
Then they showed the stranger all over
the boat. explaining to him what an unus-
ually fine craft it was. and before long had
told him all he wanted to know of their
history and plans.
He was shabbily-dressed man, but they
were accustomed to seeing such people,
and never for a moment mistrusfed him
when he said that he had been looking for
Just tha; kind of boat in. which to take
his family to New Orleans for the winter.
They only congratulated each other on
securing customer so readily, by exchang-
ing sundry significant looks and smiles be-
hind his back.
At length he asked their price for the
boat, and Uncle Phin, emboldened by his
praise of the craft and evident desire to
possess her, answered that, as boats
seemed 10 be in pretty good demand, he
thought this one ought 10 be worth $50.
~4sNonsense!" exclaimed the stranger.
Twenty dollars! Why. she is worth hfty
ii she is worth q cent, and couldn't think
Of offering any less for her. Say fifty and
wen call it bargain"
Was there ever such q generous and
honest man? Both Arthur and Uncle
Phin thought there never was, rs they
gladly accepted this magnificent offer, and
thanked him for il besides.
"Now," said the stranger. business is
business. and l should like TO take pos
session of the boat at once; While l
presume you are anxious 10 pursue your
journey. If you will just step mp town
with me to my bank, will pay you the
$50. and on the way viii show you the
station of the railroad that goes to Viz
ginia. Then we'll get q team to come
down here for your baggage. and you'll Be
oil right"
ITO BE- Coatinucd.l