The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-03
CHAPTER III.
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hole in the side of the wall under the
stairs, for ventilating the cellars, closed
with an iron grating. One OF the bars was
gone, and through the narrow opening l
could Just manage to squeeze-thanks TO
being a kipper Once inside had the
whole run of the warehouse 1t was quite
empty, but on the top floor some old sack
ing had been left, and this served me for
bed. 1t was dry and good enough for an
outcast like me, who knew nothing of COM
fort and still less of luxury. slept there
that night, and the next morning / was
lucky enough to get work (sail mending) at
ship chandler's in Cable street, for which
he gave me my dinner and tea and paid me
scvenpence halfpenny into the bargain.
It was dark when I left there between
and 8, and feeling safe with regard to Putty
hurried down to FerryhOat stairs as quick
1y as could-running part of the way.
was anxious to know what was going on
at the Mariners Joy. had been thinking
about it all day long-feeling a strange
emotion within me such as had never felt
before, accompanied with a yearning to see
Taras again--to get another kind look from
him. resolved IL could to tell him of
had overheard, that he might be warned
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 light of the gas
lamp at the corner of Ferryboat alley. He
had long clay pipe In his mouth, and /
Judged he was looking out for Taras and
Drigo, who had not yet arrived. i 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-
membranes. 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 2, but / didn't mind that.
Il was . mild, still night. had nothing
else to do after dark but to think, and
might just as well sit there and dream as
anywhere else. heard Putty put up the
shutters about IL. and when / went up the
alley an hour later saw by the glimmer of
light through the dirty fanlight over the
aide door that he was still sitting up.
A little after the clock had struck /
caught sight of a boat coming across the
river from the Rotherhithe side. AS itdrew
IN to the steps made out one man at
the oars and two men in the stern seat.
Then my heart beat quicker, for / felt that
Taras was there before heard his voice.
I'VE shan't want you any more tonight"
he said rs the boat ran ashore, but you
- 4 xkoo x.Io 20. ~ 81
"pll be there master, no fear. Good night.
gentlemen"
"Good night"
The bostman pushed of, while Taras and
Drigo groped their way up the dark and
elippery steps over my head. 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, saw their figures
standing mp 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 q 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
overtake Taras and speak to him, even
though Drigo were still with him, over
came my fear. Then / ran swiftly up the
alley and along the lane, straining my eyes
with mad desire to see him again.
They were gone; the lane was empty.
When reached High street and stopped
there, painting for breath, not 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-
section. The light was out in the JOY
when passed. i crept into the cellar, felt
my way through the storerooms to my cor
ner in the loft and lay down to sleep, com.
lortIng myself with the reflection that I
should certainly see Taras again the next
night.
When / looked out in the morning, saw
Drigo and Putty on the balcony, giving di-
rections to q 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
al 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
5ohnson'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, bolting the door
After, and saw no more of them.
As soon as it was dark / went TO my hid
Ing place under the stairs, but was less
patient than had been the night before,
and could not control my agitation as the
time drew near for Taras TO come again.
My teeth chartered. ny body and limbs
trembled and shook with feverish excite
ment, yet knew not why. AS the clock
struck 2 the police boat passed by. About
i've minutes later another boat came out
Of the murky distance and drew toward
the stairs. As II pulled into the stairs
counted five men packed In the stern, and
knew by the number that Taras had found
his friends Nv heart sank i'm bitter dsap-