The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-10-17


lucky enough to get work (sail mending) at
ship chandler's in Gable street, for which
he gave me my dinner and tea and paid me
sevenpence halfpenny into the bargain,
IL was dark when | left there between Z
and s, and feeling safe with regard to Putty
hurried down TO Ferryboat stairs as quick
ly as | could drumming part of the way. I
was anxious to know what was aoinR ON
at the Mariners Joy. I had been thinking
about 1t all day long-feeling strange
emotion within me such as had never felt
before, accompanied with yearning TO see
Taras agan-to get another kind look from
him. l resolved If / could to tell him Of
Drigo's second visit to the Joy and all l
had overheard, that he might be warned
against the treachery which il seemed pret-
ty clear his companion intended.
Putty was lounging against the doorpost
of the front door of the Joy, in Sweet Apple
lane, under the Pickering hight of the gas
lamp at the corner of Ferryboat alley He
had long clay pipe in his mouth, and l
Judged he was looking out for Taras and
DriSo, who had not yet arrived waited
in the shadow of an archway until he
knocked the ashes out of his pipe and
turned into the house, yawning and scratch
ing the back of his head. Then slipped
down the alley to the stairs.
There was no light to be seen at the back
OF the house. The passage door was shut,
and the rickety shutters Of the bay window
were closed also for the first time in my re-
membrance. Under the stairs | found a
dry timber where | could sit secure from
observation, and there waited for Taras
He was not likely to come for five or six
hours, having fixed the hour for the escape
of his friends at 9, but didn't mind that,
mil 1.
else to do after dark but to think, and I
might just as well sit there aud dream as
anywhere else. l heard Putty put up the
shutters about H. and when went up the
alley an hour later saw by the glimmer of
light through the dirty fanlight over the
side door that he was still sitting up.
little after the clock had struck 9 I
caught sight of a boat coming across the
river from the RotheThthe side. As it drew
in to the steps l made out one man at
the oars and two men in the stern seat
Then my heart beat quickeI, for | felt that
Taras was there before heard his voice.
I'VE shan't want You any more tonight"
he said as the boat run ushore, "but you
will be at the same place tomorrow at the
same time"
I'm be there master, no fear. Good night,
gentlemen"
Good night"
The boatman pushed off, while Taras and
Drigo CROPPED their way up the dark and
slippery steps over my head. l knew the
other was Drigo by the sound of his harsh,
cultural voice cursing as he stumbled
As soon as dared slipped from my hid
ing place and ran up the stairs like a cat
When reached the top, l saw their figures
standing up sharp and black against the
light farther up the alley-Taras, square
and erect; Drigo, with his head buried in
his shoulders They stopped at the side
door of the Joy and raped lightly. The
light from within fell upon Taras' fair
beard as the door opened A few words
were interchanged in low tone the door
closed, and the two men went on, turning
the corner under the gas lamp into Sweet
Apple lane. | did not attempt to follow
them, dreading TO pass the door where
Putty might still be standing but stood
there with feeling like the craving for
food in my breast until the impulse to
ovcrtake Taras and speak to him, even
though Drigo were still with him, over
came my fear, Then l ran swiftly up the
alley and along the lane, straining my eyes
with mad desire to see him again.
They were gone; the lane vas empty.
When l reached High street and stopped
there, painting for breath, not Il soul was to
be seen to the right or left; not a sound
broke the dead silence. gave up the pur-
suit in despair and returned slowly in de-
lection. The light was out in the Joy
when passed crept into the cellar, felt
my way through the storerooms to my cor
ner in the loft and lay down to sleep, COM
forting myself with the reflection that
should certainly see Taras again the next
night
When looked ont in the morning, saw
Drigo and Putty on the balcony, giving ui-
rections to a carpenter who was patching
up the window shutters When that Job
was done, the man put some screws in the
bolt Of the passage door, Drigo and Putty
looking on all the while Taras was not
with them, nor did see anything of him
all day, though only left the spot once to
buy some food with the money had earned
the day before, creeping under the stairs
and behind the barge and SO round by
John On's yard into Sweet Apple lane that
! might not be seen from the Joy. When
the carpenter had done his work, they all
went in by the passage, boting the door
after, and saw no more of them.
As soon as IL was dark went to my hid
ing place under the stairs, but / was less
patient than had been the night before,
and l could not control my agitation as the
time drew near for Taras to come again.
My teeth chartered, my body and limbs
trembled and shook with feverish excite
ment, yet ! knew not why. As the clock
struck the police boat passed by. About
five minutes later another boat came out
of the murky distance and drew toward
the stairs, As it pulled into the stairs
counted five men packed in the stern, and
Iknew by the number that Taras had found
his friends. My heart sank in bitter dissp-
pointment, for had made up my mind to
speak to him ii he came alone with Drigo
Now, there was no pretext for speaking to
him-he was not in danger. With his
three friends he was more than a match
for Drigo and Putty, supposing they had
evil intentions toward him
ITO BE CONTINUED