The morning call., 1891-06-28
CHAPTER ".
on BOARD THE FIY1yG CIOTrD,

Half-past eight was just striking in the
belfTies OF san Diego as Mrs. A4iaire and
the nurse, who was carrying little Walt,
left Prospect Cottage. She passed quickly
through the broad avenues OF the upper
city, bOrdered with villas having gardens
inclOsed by ornamental fences, and soon
reached the narrow and more built up
streets Of the business portion. 1t was in
Fleet street that Lewis Barker resided, not
lar from the wharf belonging to the Pacific
Coast Steamship Company. All in all it
was pretty long walk, and it was 9 O'Clock
when Kate opened the door for Mrs.
Allaire.
1t was residence, plain almost to gloomi-
ness. The blinds of the front windows
were almost always closed, as Lew Barker
received only business acquaintance and
main tanned no friendly relations with his
neighbors. People knew the man very
slightly, even 10 Fleet street, as his business
affairs kept him away from the house from
morning till night Besides he was out of
town great deal, going most frequently TO
San Francisco in pursuit of schemes Of
which he said nothing to his wife
This particular morning he was not in his
office when Mrs. Affairs reached the house.
Kate made excuses for her hush nd's not
being able TO accompany them on board the
Flying Cloud, adding that he would GER
tauly Join them at luncheon.
Pm ready, my dear Molly" said she,
after having kissed the baby, but don't
you want to rest for moment?"
Pm not tired, replied Mrs Affairs.
you don't need any hinge"
Nothing, Kate. / long to meet Captain
Willis. Pray LET'S start at once"
Mrs. ParkePs only servant was an old
woman, a mulattress. whom her husband
had brought from New York with him.
This woman, whose name was Nanny, had
been Barker's nurse. Never having served
in any other family except his, she was
completely devoted to him and still called
him by. his first name, as she had done
when he was a child This creature, gruff
and dictatOrial, was the only one who ever
seemed to exercise any influence over Lew
Barker, and he intrusted her absolutely
with the management Of his house. How
often had Kate been made TO feel the
weight of this dOmneering way which was
pushed at times TO disrespect But she
bowed to this tyranny on Nanny's part as
she did to that exercised by her husband.
In her resignation. which was but another
name for weakness, she let things go as
they might, and Nanny took no counsel
with her in relation to the management Of
house affairs.
As Kate turned to leave the house, the
mulattress enjOned upon her the necessity
of reaching home before MIDDAY, as Lew
would soon return, and it would not do to
! keep him waiting. Besides there was an
| important matter of which he wished to
What does she refer top asked Molly of
! her cousin.
How should / know" replied Mrs.
| Barker Come, Molly, let's be off"
There was no time to be lost AIrs. Al
laire and Kate Barker, accompanied by the
| nurse and child. turned their steps toward
the wharf. which they reached in less than
/ ten minutes.
The Flying Cloud. which hal now passed
! through the formalities Of quarantine, had
not yet been locked, but lay at anchor at
! the farther end of the bay, a cables length
| inside Of Iona Point 1t would. therefore,
| be necessary to cross the bay to go on board
| the vessel, which would not be hauled up TO
the dock until later. TWAS about two miles
/ across, and the passage was effected BY
means Of steam launches, which made half
! hourly trips.
! Molly Allaire and Kate Barker took seats
| in the steam launch along with dozen
other passengers. Most Of them were
friends or relatives Of the crew of the Fly