Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-05-09

| Ht ei5C WIFI
ERN1A/W blew n strong salt
OZA4cteSsSHSy harbor.
.>SsASES Last nigh t 8
furry ofsnow was turning black with
the mud of the cutters, and ngeneral
look of dirt and discomfort prevailed
the narrow streets which led up from
the shipping.
An old crone, with q tattered black
shawl over her frowzy head, hurrying
around the corner, with n black
bottle in her hand, and disreputa-
ble-looking ragman, with a tipsy
hand-cart, were about the only living
objects which met Georgia Dalton s
eyes as she rode from the steamer
landing in her guardian s brougham.
But as it swung around a corner a
group of boys, who were on the verge
OF a rough-and-tumble fight, lodged
and ran to the Sidewalk.
Georgia leaned out, odstensibly to
look after them.
Her guardian, erect and watchiul in
his corner, did not know that she
held, crumpled in one hand, n slip of
paper, on which she had scrawled q
few lines in her state-room.
As her large eyes swept the walk they
fell upon n man who stood close to
the CURLING, smoking cigar.
lie was young and brawny, with a
pair of bold. blue eyes, closely crop
ped brown hair under blue cap, and
n long, curling, golden brown mus
tache.
He looked what he was-a frank
and fearless man, and n sailor.
AS he met Georgia's wildly implor-
ing gaze she dropped the little slip of
paper to the ground, and then threw
herself back into Che corner of the
carriage with sigh.
Capt. AL Britton, master of the
ship Sea Gull, waited until the broup-
ham had whirled about another cor
ner, when two strides took him to
the tiny slip OF paper.
He opened 1t and read these words:
my guardian is my jailer. l am
in a strange country, without friends.
Help mel"
An address tollowed-presumablv
that Of the guardian home.
All the chivalry in AL Britton's
nature famed to the surface, and the
promise of an adventure suited him.
off | can serve her in any way, |
will, he said, thrusting the note in
to his pocket.
But even he-dare-devil as he was,
hero OF many exciting adventures on
sea and land-was not prepared for
what followed.
1t was afternoon before he found
chance to hunt up the address writ
ten on the paper slip.
lie found the house-a great,
gloomy mansion on one OF the gloom
lest streets, and was sauntering by
with the most careless air imagin-
able, when voucher voice-called
to him through the closed blinds of
n lower front window.
AT once he wheeled about, leaning
his shoulder against the building,
and planting his feet sturdily apart,
he pulled an account book from his
pocket, and appeared to be looking
it over,
"l'm listening he said cautiously.
"What is your trouble, and how can
l help your"
"My father died in England year
ago, said the. girl in low, hurried
tones. MY guardian has control of
my property, which amounts to
nearly 81 100000. do not come
IN possession of it for two years I'M
less | marry. My guardian is trying
to force me into marriage with him,
and on my refusal he threatens to
me with private insane asylum. | Il
am going to ask strange thing of
you. fyou will marry me and help
me TO gam possession of my money
l will make rich man of you, but
our feldIlOnS must DE that OF the |
merest strangers.
Al Britton whistled under his
breath.
Here was an adventure indeed.
His native recklessness asserting
itself, he replied:
very well. Fortunately | am a
single man. But as | am master of
n ship which sails for Liverpool to-
morrow morning you will be obliged
to go with me. If you can escape
from the house tonight at any time,
will be here to take you aboard the
ship with me. Early in the morn
ing will have parson aboard"
AT midnight, then. For heavens
sake do not tail me. Think how des
perate must be my strait, when |
throw myself upon a strangers
Her voice was broken an! husky.
and Capt. Britton responded with
some warmth:
Il will not fail you, lady; and YOU
shall never regret that you trusted
Al Britton."