The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-03-23
CHAPTER vI.-CoNr1NUED).

walked away from the river, taxing
several turns without hesitation or in
quiry and finally making due east Tor
some distance. Another turn to the
right brought him, as he had calcu-
lated, straight down upon the river
again at Mapping. In the not very
probable case of any one having at
tempted to follow him from the neigh
borhood of his own house, his rapid
voyage down the river and his devious
course through these thickly populated
streets must have completely baft1ed the
pursuit.
He stepped down to the water-side ana
looked at the half-dozen boats lying
there. In a moment he was surrounded
by their owners, each voc1terously
claiming the passenger for his own
craft, warranted to be at once the
safest and speediest on the river.
He smiled, and chose the one VINO
made the most noise. This was a
bright, open-looking young fellow VINO
gave every promise of being as COM
municative as could be wished. Before
they had gone half a mile he had Justl-
fed the coloneTs choice of him by re-
plying at great length to four or nVe
tentative remarks; but though his COM
panion was keeping a sharp LOOKOUT
nothing seemed to give him the oppor-
tunity or information he desired
AS the corner at the lower end OF the
pool came in sight the colone! Sa6de
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
spanking lass like Susie Gaylord
down to old Nan with her black teeth
and her fathom O. foul tongue behind
en-
The colonel smiled. This might be
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 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 it's destination, and his opportunity
would soon have passed unused.
oil lot eft
be found of prolonging the conversa-
ton, for it would be difficult to open
another with so willing and so expan-
sive a talker.
Its a sharp morning." he said, "and
it seems a long time since breakfast; is
there a house near where we could find
anything fit 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 do said the colonel; "well
take a glass, then, for good luck, for 1
don't mind telling you that I'm in that
inc just now myself
Are We, thought" asked his COM
panion, looking at him with more SYM
pathetic interest; why, took We for
1 Frenchy."
The colonel swallowed his national
pride and grinned sweetly.
II am a Frenchman," she said, "but
I'm running a 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 We're 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 a 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 of doors into rude veranda, which
they had entirely to themselves at this
early hour of the morning.
Yes" said the colonel, smacking his
lips critically over the liquor Il want
man to help me with heavy cargo,
and I'm told that / shall find down III
these parts a 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 ye do
"Why should l not find him? Is he
in hiding