Sharp County record., 1903-05-08
TRAPPING A
BLACKMAILER
b. HA RRY &. CHAP ,LEN
"DY the way, ] saw an old friend
n of yours last night Wilton

"lou don't say so! How was ne
80! all right; not altered bit.
He asked after you, and told me to
remember him to you II / ever saw
you again"
Hes a good sort. is Sherry" re-
marked Wilton.
"lIe wanted to know il you'd seen
Della lately"
81 was just go.'g to ask you if he
had either" and hearty burst of
laughter rang out simultaneously
from both men.
"Shut up, you two idiots" | ex-
claimed, "and talk sensibly. II you
have got joke there between you
pass it on and don't be greedy"
Wilton was chief officer in the
Anglo-Columbian line. and had seized
the opportunity of his ship being
docked to run up and see me, whilst
Archer was a young doctor and an
old schoolfellow of both Of us.
Well" said Archer, this took
place some two years or so ago. |
was in treaty for a post as ships
doctor, and one day when had been
kicking about Tilbury docks waiting
for n man who never came, went
into the pub near to get a drink and
something to eat.
81 was just finishing my meal when
the door opened and young fellow
hurried in.
"Hullo, Sherry l snid, what are
you doing here?'
"For a moment / thought he was
going to faint, he went so white,
then he stared at me, vainly, trying
to recognize me.
Don't you remember me, Sherry?
I'm Archer
Frank Archer So you arcl
And he shook hands as though | was
the one person in the world he was
most pleased to see.
| could see he was in an awful
state of funk over something. and if
the door opened he looked scared,
and was generally SO nervous that |
couldn't stand it.
What is the matter with you?'
l said
40, nothing, he answered, though
his face gave the lie to his tongue.
Then made n chance shot who
is she?'
GLOW did you know?' he gasped.
Didn't know; | guessed. In 10
cases out of 20 there is always she
mixed u.' in the business
Then | carried him off TO pri-
yate room, where he told me- eycry-
thing.
Some month or two before he had
been out of sorts and consulted
doctor, who recommended a sea yoy.
age.
"On looking through the shipping
advertisements, he came across one
that seemed to be just what he want
ed.
"'The Isle of Beauty, Capt Delisle,
had accommodation for one or two
passengers desirous of taking trip
to or from Madeira-would leave Til
bury in a few days., etc, etc.
Zone other passenger, a gentleman,
was also going the trip out, intend
ing to winter on the island; and as
the days passed Sherry congratu-
lated himself on his choice of ship,
for she was comfortable vessel,
well found, and the living was excel
lent, whilst Capt. Delislc was most
agreeable, and Sherry decided to re-
turn with him rather than wait for
another steamer.
when he came on board again he
went into his cabin without seeing
the captain, and before he had been
there very long he heard voices in
the saloon.
The captain was speaking, and his
voice had a bullying tone in it, which
Sherry had only heard when he was
upset by any of the crew.
SHERRY felt feeling of pity for
the wife rise in his heart.
"lf this happened when, as yet, he
had not seen her, what would ii be-
come when he did? In the days
when the whole affair was but
memory he raved Of her beauty, for
when he went in to dinner he was in
trodNced to a dainty little woman,
hardly more than n girl, with golden,
real, dazzling golden hair, and eyes
like the blue Of the sky he had been
living under for the last few days.
THE days passed, and the liking
he had for the captain gave way in
Sherry's heart to wrath and hatred
at his contemptuous treatment of his
wife whom he declared to himself
vas IN angel.
~ day before they were due in
tie thames matters came to u
climax. Sherry heard the captain
bullying her in such fashion that
his blood boiled, and he vowed to
himself that IL he could only per-
suade her to seek shelter with some
of his or her friends, he would teke
her there ms soon ag they rnnrh pJ