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

expecting anything. no more than the
/ Others had made believe to-; and the
long and short OF It was that the cargo
went up the north road post-haste. A.
they say. and the ,coast-guard with Il
N their own carts. to keep 'em quiet TOR
d BIT.
"Bravo" said the colonel; that's the
man TOR me! And all I've got to do now.
y to flnd him; do yod know where he
lives 2" "a $ls 81
The young man hesitated.
NO." he said: ''leastways, not exact
": bur Mrs. Briggs within there'll tell
ye."
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 tombstone
Il the gentleman would be good enough.
70 walt and see him at the Outward
Bound.
To this the colonel agreed. and Mrs.
Briggs disappeared In search Of
rusty messenger. 5s:ss .} IS
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 q party to the In
terview between two such interesting
personaees.
The colonel saw this. and recognized
that the open veranda in which they
had be-: sitting was too public place
Tor discussion Of the kind he antici-
pated; for even II he could succeed in
dtsmtssing his present companion It
was free to any passer-by to step in, or
indeed to overhear conversation from
the street.
So he rose and looked idly about him
Tor fc-' 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 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
Tor secret rotations after lawful hours.
A heavy step outside, and turning
round he saw 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 and
cholertc expression was there, and his
hair was jet-black still.
you've sent for me-" he said.
What is it? Let's be short"
His herculean strength, the violence
| OF his speech and manner, the strange
and disreputable atmosphere Of the
place, and the impossibility Of escape
from 1t, might well have alarmed even
brave man: but the colonel seemed
to be serenely unaware of being In any
way at disadvantage, and took his
own time and method Of answering.
"My name" he said, In slow, precise
tones. lis Villeroy, and live for the
present at No. 10 Canterbury Square,
Southwark. I am from time to time
engaged in importing goods without the
assistance of the custom-house officials.
I have just now an unusually difficult
venture on hand, and have come to
London to engage first-rate skipper"
Johnstone's face relaxed little. He
was pleased with the compliment inn
piled. to say nothing Of the prospect of
active employment Of the kind he loved.
where sou do want her landed?'
he asked.
"The landing" replied the colonel, 'ts
not the chief difficulty; 1t IL in taking
the cargo on board that the danger
Hes"
"And where would that be done?"
asked the other.
That" said the colonel, II shall not
tell you yet; BUTTS good long voyage
from here, and shall. want to engage
you for three months, certain
tombstone reflected g moment, going
over in hts mind the Various ports from
which smugglers came to Europe.
''Well." he said at last, never mind.
What's the work?"
1T 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. 60 on!'
The colonel continued, in the same
| measured voice.
The coast" he said, lis so well kept
by guard boats that 1t will be neces-
sary for US In loading the ship to make
use Of boat Of entirely new design,
propelled under water, and rising and
sinking at the will Of the occupant
that Is to say. Of yourself"
tombstone looked incredulous,
You shall see the plans and Judge
for yourself" said the colonel; ut is
in reality simple enough"
III 1t can be worked" said the other.
with an oath, then I'll do 1t. But what
queer start Of the coast-guard to keep
the sea and not patrol the shore at ALL
"Oh. as to that, they do; but the
watch on shore can be squared"
tombstone nodded. Whats your
| cargo?" he asked. abruptly.
The colonel smiled, and took a gold
napoleon from his pocket.
It's got that head upon it, he said,
holding up the coin between his finger
and thumb.
Something stronglsh, eh?" said his
companion