The times., 1897-08-01
The Slippers Wooing
by w. WI
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by w. w. JACOBS.

pauf5ng a. the doJrw ay and peering through
the gloom. ''AIl alone?"
..Au alone" repeated Capt. Getbing,
looking upand wondering whe thisniightbe
It's too dark TO see you far" said TIL
letson, in a mysterious whisper, but it's
Capt 6ething ,ain'tit?''
That's me-" said the captain uneasily
''Going 10 Northrleet?" inquired MIR. Til
lotson in another whisper.
What 90 you mean" inquired the cap
tain quickly, az he gripped the edges OF the
table
Are you sure it1l be all right" con-
tinued Tilletson
What do You mean?" repeated the cap
tain from lis seat. ''Speak plain"
II mean that you had better bolt"
said Tillotson in a hurried whisper.
There's 4 heavy rev ard outfor you, which
Capt. Wilson wants. You can't do what
you did for nothing, you know"
Capt. Gething sat down in his seat again
and shaded his face with his hand.
TN go back lie said brokeniy. "Wil-
son told me he was alive and that ii was
al mistake. If he's lying To ME for the
price of my old neckIet him have it.
what about your wife and daughter
said IiIletson, who was beginning TO have
a strong disreliSh for his task. Il saw
in the paper last night that Wilson had
got yOu. He's gone ashore now to make
arrangements MT the station
he had a letter from my daughter this
morning. said theold man brekeniy.
He told you it was from her. said Til
lotson- Get your things and come quick
Excited by the part he was playing, he
"A
Ern. Capt. Gething. obedient to the touch,
rose. and taking his battered old cap from
a nail, followed him in silence above.
We're going for a drink said Tilnt
| son TO tile boy. Wen be back in ten
| minutes
''Al night" said Henry cheerfully; wish
| / was going with you
| The other laughed airily, and gaining
the quay, set off with the silent old man
| by his side. AT first the old man went
listiessiy enough. but as he got farther
and farther from the ship all the feelings
OF the hunted animal awoke within him,
and he MAS as eager TO escape as Tillotson
could nave wished
Where arc we going?" he inquired. as
they came in sight of the railway station
| I'm not going By train"
| London" said TilIotson. That's the
| most likely place to get lost in
I'm not going in the train,'' said the
other doGgedly
Why not?'' said Tiliotson, in surprise
"When they come back to the ship and
find me gone they'll telegraph to London, -
said the old man II won't be caught like
a rat in a trap
What are YOU going to do, them in
CURED the pcrpleHed TiIlotson.
Il don't know" said the old man
walk. think It's dark and we might
get twenty miles away before daybreak. -
Yes, we might" said Tillotsen, who
had no fancy for nocturnal pilgrim agt
OF the kind; but were not going to-"
Let me go aloDe,'' said the old man
Tili0tson shook his head.
They'd be bound TO spot you tramp
ing about the country" he said. conf
IDENTIFY. Now do let me know what's bes
for you, and 90 by train
Il won't" said Gething, obstinately
You've been very kind-raore than kind
in giving me warning Let me 90 off b,
myself
Tiuo.son shook his head and CLAN II
carelessly in the direction of Glover, VIII
was some yards behind.
Il wish you'd trust me- be said
ga mestly You'll be safer in Londor
than anywhere"
Capt. Gething pondered THERE'S
schooner, about half a mile up the river
which is getting away about 1 o'eloc
this morning he said. slowly Nv
worked on her once or twice, and tn
skipper might take rs ON if you can pa
| Ill Ha bt,,
III youth wait here a minute or tw
I'll go to the Hallway station and re
my bag" said Tillotson, who wanted 1
{ confer with his chief
{ ''I'n wait up the road, under the arch,
, said Capt. Cething.
Now don run away" said TillotsoE
inpressiEely. 'lf you won't go by TRAN
: perhaps the schooner is the best thing W
! can do
/ He set off 10 the station, and after
hurried consultation with Glover, returne
I anXiously To the arch. Gething, standin
in the shadow with his hands in h
} pockets, was patiently waiting.
2 It's all right" said Tiilotson chez
; fully; land now for sea voyage Yo
r know the way to the schooner, suppose?
: They made their way back cautious
e Captain Gething turning off to the left b
r fore they reached the harbor and leadir
r the way through dingy little streets
: private houses and chambers shops
e was not a paTt usually frequented b
!. people taking an evening stroll and Henr
e who had begun TO get uneasy at their al
sence, and starting In search OF them lia
piC1ed them up at the corner, followe
y wondering.
r His wonder increased as they left Il
!, houses and met the cool air blowing fro
the river The road was dark and uneve
: and he followed cautiously, just keepir
e them in sight, until at tumble-down lit
wharf they halted, and after a low co
C suftatin, boarded a small schooner lyir
n alongside. There was nobody on I'll
C | deck. but Ii light showed IN the cabi
e and after minutes hesitation they wei
Il below
}. An hour or two passed, and the sms
d watcher, ensconced behind pile OF boxt
is shivered with the cold. Unconscious
e the amicafle overtures In the cabin, whi
had resulted in the master of the IF roll
y taking a couple of cabin passengers w
Were quite willing TO rough 1t in &
W matter of food and accommodation a
a, willing TO pay for it, he was afraid
desert his post Another hour passe
sr A couple of seamen came by his place
coDcealInent, and stepping aboard, We
- down the foc'sle A clock struck eleve
and few minutes later the light in Il
- caiin was extinguished
The boy watched another quarter of
" hour, and then, the ship being dark a
- still, crept noiselessly on board T