Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-09
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
Searching a
SmUseler's Cottage

bold smuggler on the Maine coast. He
was so desperate that custom house Of
ficers were prone TO let him alone. One
day new man, Jim Apherson. was APP
pointed 10 the district where Trimhorn
lived. Apherson was one of those men
who are always in state of unrest
and consequently liable to overreach
themselves. He could see no reason
why Trimhorn should be let alone
while others were hunted down. Be
sides. Apherson had ambitions TO do
other men at the custom house what an
inefficient lot they were.
Trimhorn. with his daughter, occu-
pied cottage on the rocks overlooking
the ocean. 1t was an unfrequented
place. and no old customs man would
think of tackIing him there without as
sistance. Apherson resolved to search
the house. saying nothing about his
feat till il had been accomplished. One
evening he walked off alone and knock
ed at the cottage door of the redoubt-
able smuggler. 1t was opened by n
young girl, and TrimhOrn was seen sit
ting by n table reading a newspaper.
1--WE come 10 search your house.
said Apherson.
search it, replied TrimhOrn, with
out looking up from his paper.
The customs man went down into the
cellar. then through the closets of the
main floor, anu all the while the smuE9
gler sat alphabetically reading his news
paper. never SO much as deigning to
hn off 4 . 10 CT -
remained hut to search the space I'M
der the roof. Looking up. the customs
man observed a square trapdoor.
Il want 10 go up there" he said.
well, why don't you go?"
NO conveyance"
That's easy enough TO get. Kath-
leen. bring the ladder for the gentle
man."
Kathleen obeyed. the ladder was
brought, and Apherson was putting his
foot on the lower round when Trim
horn stopped him.
III tronble you fer the fare for the
conveyance. You can search my house
as all officer of the law. but I'm not
bound to furnish you transportation"
How much:"
a nickel"
Apherson produced n nickel and
handed it to Trimhorn, then proceeded
to mount the ladder. After making a
careful examination and finding moth
ing he returned TO the trap and was
about to descend when Trimhorn call
ed to him:
Throw down the fare
1--WE paid the fare"
For going up"
"Oh. well. here's another nickel for
going down" He tossed a nickel down
on the floor.
stop cried Trimhorn. Il want the
rest of the fare. The government reg
ulates the nations duties. l regulate
tolls in my own house"
'Well, how much more do you waut:"
'Nine-nine dollars and ninety-five
cents That with the nickel paid.
makes the fare to come down"
flush. man. You're joking" And
the customs man stepped down to the
second round. TrimhOrn reached 10
the wall beside him and from n rack
took down n short. ugly looking gun.
stay where you are
do you mean to interfere with an
officer of the law in the performance
of his duty?"
NO You have been free to search
my house. but You must pay my price
for using my ladder"
'And If | decline?
'You can do as you like about that"
And, resuming his chair and his pa
per, with his gun in the hollow of his
arm. TrimhOrn looked prepared to keep
watch till the day OF doom. Apherson
began to wonder how he would get out
of the difficulty. Since he had not told
of his intention to make the search. if
missed no one would look for him at
Ben Trimhorns. An hour went by,
when he decided to propose terms.
'I'll give you So" he said.
'All or nothing" replied his jailer.
81 have only that with me-"
you can sign Il check on the bank
1t was not till noon the next day and
Apherson had become faint from hun
ger that he capitulated and signed the
check, which Kathleen took to the bank
for payment. When she returned with
the money, her father permitted the
searcher to descend.
Now. my man." said the latter,
whats to prevent my proceeding
against you for thiS?"
-NOtuihs,' anu SOu IL Sel hOthihS II
you do
Why"
NO witnesses"
Your daughter"
WAS not present during the transac-
ton
Apherson, who was somewhat versed
i'm the law. saw that his case would he
doubtful enc.
However" said Trimhorn. ''compro-
mise is good policy, and to save the
stuff from the lawyers I'll divide with
you on your giving me bond of in
demnity.''
Apherson went away without mani
faef;Dn .1;~,,0-f+;o..r -c.4.r~