Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-07-01


II Swas i bright, keen morning. and
Il the boatman was In . cheerful mood
and incl!asd to be laxative. 90 - the
4 custom In E:s trade: but he got little
Il response or attention frora his fare. who
Il was ponaerlng his next move. and had
not vet come to the stage vixen CONVEX
sation would be OF use to him.
Az the Tower wharf he landed. paid
his passage and something over. ana
walked away from the river. taking
several turns without hesitation or IN
quiry, eEd finally making due east Tor
some distance. Another turn 70 the
right brought him. as he had calcu-
lated, straight down upon the river
again at Mapping. IN the ::ot very
4 probable case Of any one having at
tempted to follow him from the neign-
borhood Of his own house. his raplu
i voyage down the river and his devious
course through these thickly popuiateu
streets must have completely bameo ths
pursuit.
He stepped down to the water-siae am
looked at the half-dozen boats lynx
there. In moment he was surrouhusu
by their owners. each vocilerously
claiming the passenger for MS own
craft. warranted to be at once sAe
safest and speediest on the river.
He smiled. and chose the one wno
made the most noise. TINS was =
bright, open-looking young feiioW Wno
| gave every promise OF being az con-
municative as could be wished. DeAos
they had gone half mile he nao 9us.l-
fed the colonels choice OF MIN Oy re-
plying at great length to Tour. or NV
tentative remarks; but though MS CON-
panion was keeping sharp ioohou.'
nothing seemed to give him the oppotS
tunity or information he desired.
AS the corner at the lower end Of the
pool came in sight the colonel mace
another attempt.
"You must have some interesting
characters" he said, down here among
the shipping and the sailors"
"You may say that, sir" was the re-
ply: there's all sorts In Lime'us, from
a spanking lass like Susie Gaylord
down to old Nan with her black TEEN
and her fathom O. foul tongue 1Gflno
'em."
The colonel smiled. This might De
amusing. but It was not business. and
he put it by.
"Ah, women" he said; mo doubt
they are always interesting, but was
thinking Of men, and stories OF adven'
ture at sea-"
cay, ay, SIR" said the young man,
''there may be tale or two about,
but there's not much in men, to my
mind; they're every one as like the
other as a row Of bottles; but the girls,
now, young and old, glib and glum.
stupid and smart uns-why, they're all
different. and We can't but like to hear
about 'em ALL"
The colonel smiled again, but he was
inwardly dissatisfied; he felt that he
] was far from caring to hear about all
the fair ones in Limehouse. The boat,
under the combined force of two strong
arms and ebbing tide, was swiftly near
ing lis destination, and his opportunity
would soon have passed unused.
It was clear that some means must
be found Of prolonging the CONVERSE
ton, for it would be difficult to open
another with so willing and so expan-
sive talker.
TITS a sharp morning" he said, "and
| it seems a long time since breakfast; Is
there house near where we could find
anything At for a thirsty man to
drink?"
The boatman laughed knowingly, and
with an air Of pride in the locality.
| There's the Outward Bound" he
said, where yen get better rum than
ever passed the customs up yonder;"
and he drew the boat into the landing
steps.
THAT will d." said the colonel:"we'll
take glass, then, for good luck. for
don't mind telling you that I'm in that
line just now myself"
"Are ye,. thought" asked his COM
panion, looking at him with more SYM
pathetic interest; "why, took We for
Frenchy."
The colonel swallowed his national
pride and grinned sweetly.
Il am Frenchman," he said. "but
I'm running q free cargo for all that;
I'm down here now to look for smart
man who Knows the trade"
They had left the boat and were now
walking in the direction Of a tavern
facing the river. On the sign-board APP
peared a ship with all sails set. and at
the masthead large triangular patch
of brilliant ultramarine, intended. no
doubt. to represent the blue-peter, the
signal Of outward-bound vessels.
The interior Of the house proved un-
savory, so the famous rum was ordered
| OUT OIL uOOES 1nSO q lu0S tSIoAOds WhACA
they had entirely to themselves at this
early hour Of the morning.
EYES," said the colonel, smacking his
lips critically over the liquor, II want
a man to help me with a heavy cargo,
and I'm told that shall find down IN
these parts certain Herman John
stone, who'll do it as well as another"
BLACK Johnny, eh?" said his COM
panion: well, We may find him and We
may not: but I'll tell We this-there's
no man like him If We do
why should not ind him? Is he
In hiding?"
"The revenue coppers have had an
eye on him since that Esmeralda busi-
ness, We know, and they say the Ad-
miralty beaks d like to ask him some
Questions, too, about the Jamaica trade.
Mind We, say nothing beyond what
I'm told myself, but I've heard that the
Jolly Roger and him have been fairly
well acquainted time and again."
"Ah," said the colonel, that's an old
tale; but what's this about the Esmer-
aida? I've not heard that" And he
called for fresh supply Of rum for his
| companion. who indeed required no
l q - L. a