Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04
OAAUNCY O. HoTCEIKIS9.
Copyright by Appleton Co.. All rights re.eyed1

fail to be back in time for you to get ashore.
IT'S summers fog, an will melt by sum
rise! Tell him l will fetch the rum"
Fetch it, then, but not in yer skin" was
the return. If they speak O me, say We
heard was going on quest to Kingsbridge,
to be back on the morrow. Ye had better
Delay yer lip, for we are off post, an hold
ye in my hand"
"Ay, ay! Never fearl Good night" was
the answer, and the boat moved off with
steady strokes of the oar, while the first
speaker evidently entered the cabin, as
heard the companion door open and close.
Then all was again silent.
Here was an unexpected situation made
more mysterious from the fact that there
was something familiar in the voice of the
man who had just gone below. could not
place it, only noticing that both men spoke
with the SAVIOR of sea brine in their words,
and though one was totally strange to me,
the voice of the other hung in my ear as
misty dream hangs in the mind after walk
ing, naught but its effect remaining
Getting to the deck again, l moved slow
ly aft, stopping as noticed slight luminos
ity at the side of the cabin, but on further
cautious approach found the cause The
cabin was lighted To prevent the light
from going beyond the vessel tarpaulin
had been stretched over the cabin house
from rail to rail, thus leaving an open space
betwixt the rails and the headlights, where
by was served the double end of obtaining
air and guarding the outward show of light
Here was deviltry for sure. Dropping on
to my stomach, snaked myself beneath the
tarpaulin, brought my eye to the swung
back port, and nearly betrayed myself by
the start | made.
A lighted lantern hung from a carline, the
remains of meal were spread on the table,
and there, half reclining in bunk and with
his head in bandage, was Capt. Scammell,
haggard from fever and somewhat the
worse from liquor, while on the transom
, and by his side sat my whilom mate, John
Lounsbury, of Rye, laterisen from the dead.
Here, then, were my two arch enemies;
probably the only living souls whose animos-
/, ity toward me was both of personal and
political nature, saving perhaps that of
Clinton himself. Possibly my gorge would
have risen sooner against Scammell than at
the man by his side, though the latter was
none the less villain, and it seemed as
though fate, having given me friends when
in need, had guided me thther to test my
mettle to extremity.
Giving no thoughts to those in the boat,
settled myself to hear the opening dialogue
of the two, for it Immediately transpired
| that Lounsbury had but just arrived.
MY God! ! thought you would never
comet" were the first words by Scammell
"What news do you bring?'
None to warrant grin" was the an
! swer. Il can give we no end O. advice
/ though, an tits to get from this an have il
out wi Clinton while there's yet chance
Damn your advice! What's your newsT'
''Well, Belden goes scot free, an is back
| in favor an on the Sprte. He lays the
fault O. palming off that devil Thorndyke to
We. He says we called Thorndyke by my
name in the tavern yard, and that he is in,
nocent of all fraud"
! Course the stunted coward And is moi
| Thorndyke caught? or-or-the girl or hel
brother?"
NAY, but peg worse. Thorndyke hal
Drained Lowney, whom we must know, ant
then escaped, God knows how, being mixed
up with Quaker at Stryker's tavern on thu
road. Stryker was arrested, but afterward
let go, for he was not thought to have had a
finger in the pie. As for the boy an girl
naught has been seen O. them-not q smell
] and there We have all know. They sa,
the girl is in the woods to the north, bu
she may ha' gone to Heaven by this!"
"What? what?" said Scammell, starting
up, but sinking back with curse as h,
placed his hand on his bandaged head. "Ir
the woods! Known to be there and no
taken! Are We all cursed babies on tn
trail? Fore God, you are right! l was
fool to fly at shadow! I'll back to Gin
ton and plead fever to explain my absence
III back with you this night. The first tall
told is the best! Is it not known who's
name she mentioned to Clinton?"
NAY, man, she gave no name that cal
find. Clinton but suspcioned We. Go t.