The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-04-02
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run In. seeing that the revenue men had
WORD OF her. and were out and about
every night. So this Johnstons O. yours
nits upon plan. and just like himself
le va too. He goes to the ast-guard
ana sgtves information that the Esmer-
aida's to be run on such . night, and
volunteers to take the officers to- the
place himself. Sotksy 90, near q dozen
OF them. and watch found 1 corner till
all the cargo's ashptk. and then they
jump out Of sudden ana collar thu
men. they not being more than six 81
seven, and taken BY sufpiisS so they
seemed. So the coppers made them fast
ana began to load up the cargo ON a
couple O. Carts. Only. while they were
fuli-handed, down came half ! score
more on the other side, and the prison.
ers they got loose somehow wonderful
quick, and there was 4 bit Of a fight
but no firing. ye see, the oficers not
expecting anything, no more than the
Others had made believe to-: and the
long and short Of Il was that the cargo
went:up the north road post-haste. as
!ley say, and the coast-guard with It
d bit., -. :
"Bravo!" said the colonel; "that's the
nan Tor me! And all I've got to do now
Hvesss ~ Il - So &.
The young man ,hesitated. !.
No heAsaid: .leastways, NOT exact
"; but Mrs. Briggs within thereil tell
This. however. Mrs. Briggs in her
turn was equally unwilling to do.
though the colonel stated frankly the
nature Of his assumed errand. She
offered. however. to send for Johnstone
1t the gentleman would be good enough
to wait and see him at the Outward
Bound.
To this the colonel agreed, and Mrs.
Briggs disappeared In search Of a
'trusty messenger.
The waterman. who had by this time
finished his second glass and had been
literally paid both in coin and thanks,
showed no disposition to hurry his de-
parture; he was evidently hanging
about In hope Of being party to the in
tervtew between two such interesting
personages.
The colonel saw this, and recognized
that the open veranda in which they
had beca sitting was too public place
Tor q discussion Of the kind he antici-
pated; for even IL he could succeed in
Diminishing his present companion It
was free to any pcsser-by to step in, or
indeed to overhear q conversation from
the street.
So he rose and looked idly about him
for few moments. and ended by drift
ing round into the bar. Mrs. Briggs
was there. and understood what he
wanted before he spoke.
You'll like to be alone. SIR" she said;
there's an; empty room upstairs, two
pair back: I'll send him. up to you as
soon as he comes; 'twon't be long now"
The colonel stumbled up a narrow,
rickety staircase. filled with dusty twi-
light and the smell Of stale tobacco
smoke. At the top he found the room,
low-roofed den, evidently used by the
more intimate customers Of the house
for secret potations after lawful hours.
A heavy step outside, and turning
round he nav man in sailors dress
enter the room.
There was not a moments doubt as
to his identity. There he stood, stout.
swarthy, fierce. and resolute, as Est
court had described him. His face was
in all probability more weather-beaten
and furrowed with deeper lines than
when Dick saw him twenty years ago
at Copenhagen, but the force AMI
choleric expression was there, and his
hair was jet-black still.
you've sent for me-" he said.
what Is IL? Let's be short"
His hercu1ean strength. the violence
Of his speech1 and manner. the strange
and disreputable atmosphere Of the
place. and the impossibility Of escape
from It, might we'll have alarmed even
brave man; but the colonel seemed
to be serenely unaware Of being in any
way at q disadvantage, and took his
own time and method of answering.
"My name," he said. in slow, precise
tones. sis Villeroy, and I live for the
present at No. IL Canterbury Square,
Southwark. am from time to time
engaged In importing goods without the
assistance Of the custom-house offlcials.
have Just now an unusually difficult
venture on hand. and I have come to
London to engage first-rate skipper. /"
Johnstone's face relaxed Q little. He
was pleased with the compliment i'm
piled. to say nothing Of the prospect of
active employment Of the kind he loved.
5sfts - AASA = .SSss AV WANT uSE 4AuVSOs
he asked. !.
1.-THE landing replied the colonel, ''is
not the chief dihiculty; It II in taking
the cargo on board that the danger
lies"
"And where would that bs done?"
asked the other,
That" said the colonel, II shall not
tell you yet: but it's q good long voyage
from here. ana shall want TO engage
you< for three months, certain"
Johnstone rslected moment, going
over in his mind the various ports from
which smugglers came to Europe.
well. he said at last, never mind.
What's the work."
ut is work Of an unusual kind" re-
piled his companion; needing skill.
strength. and courage; but I'm told
you don't shirk danger when It comes in
the way Of business"
"Danger" said the other. with rude
contempt. "Go on!'
The colonel continued. in the same
measured voice. !. /
''The coast. he said, '.is 20. well kept
by guard-boats that It Will be ,neees-
sary for US in loading the snip to make
use Of q boat Of entirely new design.
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