Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-03-30

IN
One evening, about fortnight later,
stepped out of my Office for the double
purpose of enjoying pipe and stroll
in the open air. The hour was late, at
least for that community of early ris-
ing and early retiring, and few lights
were to be seen in any of the cluster of
farmhouses. A faint CLEAN from one
of the upper rooms of the house across
the way showed that Mrs. Loring was
wooing slumbcr under the protection of
her night-lamp. She and her niece, hav-
ing arrived that day, We're now in full
possession of their new quarters. Both
had stood the journey well. Mrs. Lor-
ing, in fact, was never more cheerful
than when on the wing. The invalid
had greeted me with effusion, while
Miss Gray had displayed cordiality
that was almost too full Of friendliness
and too lacking in self-consciousness to
please my fancy. Cheerful good-fel-
lowship was, perhaps, all that had rea-
son to expect in her; yet it was u very
flattering result of many tete-a-
tete in the moonlight of the tropics.
The night was clear, and, though
there was no moon, 1t was pleasant to
stroll along, reviewing the events of
our acquaintance and specializing upon
the effects Of it's renewal. / was fol-
lowing the path to the knoll, and so en-
crossed We're my meditations that on
raising my eyes from the ground was
surprised to find myself close to the
base of it's landward slope. was on the
point of turning back, when l heard
voice recognizable as Lanar's, which
seemed to come from tie northern
side of the little hill, at the base of
which, as has been set forth, was one
of the saltwater creeks. The words
were not to be distinguished, but his
tone gave evidence that the business
he was engaged in had nothing alarm
ing about it, although, from the hour
selected for carrying it on, it was likely
that he desired to avoid observation.
1t might be well. to prove to him that
even at such time and place he could
not be sure that some loiterer was not
about, and to give a practical illustra-
ton of the need of sentinel; at least
that was the excuse FRAMED for advanc-
ing. Cautiously l stole by the spring
and up the ascent. On the dark surface
Of the creek the still darker outlines of
boat could be made out. The craft
was moored to the rocks, to which a
man was transferring number of cases
and packages. A little way up the
slope, directing the operation, stood
Lamar. Intent as he was upon the task
in hand, his quick ear caught the sound
OF my steps, and he turned toward me
like a flash.
Its Morris" called out. 1t was
too dark to perceive his motion clearly,
but I thought detected a swift move
nent of his right hand toward the
breast of his coat.
"Ah! You are a rambler until late,"
he answered. Startled as he must have
been by the interruption, he spoke with
all his usual deliberate GOODNESS.
"Ies; was wakeful and happened
to walk this way. Hearing unusual
sounds, pushed on to investigate
There was chance, you know, that a
reinforcement might be acceptable"
There was nothing in his manner to
indicate whether the explanation salts
fled him.
johnson brings small cargo. sup
plies that might cause talk if obtained
through the village" said he. "lIe will
place them presently in the house."
AN excellent plan. He buys them at
the larger ports up the coast, l sup
pose"
EYES,"
"There seems very little danger that
anyone should stumble upon you while
the goods are being landed" said I,
"but my experience tonight shows that
1T is possible. 1t might he advisable
to post sentry, for if Il rumor of these
midnight labors got about it would set
the village by the ears"
Hereafter the precaution shall be
taken. Remain a little" he added, as
/ was about TO go. ~, too, am wakeful.
Let us converse"
lie led the way to the front of the.
house and seated himself on the door
step.
'1iow of your medical practice?" he
asked, when had found a resting-place
near him.
I told him of Mrs. Loring's arrival
and of the probability that She would
remain a considerable time in the
neighborhoood. She was an old ac-
quaintance, added. That l had met
her on the voyage from Rio seemed
to be Il detail which it was as well not
to mention. Had he learned it he might
have displayed Il livelier interest in the
matter. AS it was, however, lie mere
~ said that it was to be hoped that she
would recover her health, and then
changed the subject to remark that he
desired me to bring him e. considerable