The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-25

You can't sit down here, sir. Gently.
gently. 1t amt FIR. Now, old up q ~
! and pitt your arms round my neck. That's
i Just fine. Hang IT,. you'll fall"
/ He helped Cllvo along into the little
back street Clvo's step became nrmof
i after a time. "a IN /.
'Janls," he said hoarscly, ''yeu must
/ 60 and find out about the barge"
| All In good time, sir, all in good time.
It's only broke adrift Tho ropes were
| getting rotten. They've got 1t some
where further down the river, you bet.
IN see to III you come in here"
! Jack Marsden unlocked tho door or ms
| little cottage and deposited Give IN Ills
| only easy chair.
'n1'll get you a cup Of ten n q second"
he said. 'sit there and don't talk for q
BIT When you've had some grub III SEQ
to the barge You'll be fined for letting
hor adrlft."
Give could not ent. Hc dreaded the
worst He drank little tea, but It al
most choked him. The good-nnturod
Waterman donned his pea-5ncket.
you won't Stir out till T come back
he said. IF you don't promise III not
co."
"Then I promise. It's splendid Of you,
Jack. haven't got q cent to give YOU.
60 I'll go myself"
"You can't CO.
"But must"
"1'hen como with me. Il won't mako
no difference. We're pretty sure to hear
down at the station"
"1f she's not scuttled." groaned Cllve
He was still very weak. Tho boat was
| tethered ito the wharf Marsden began
to pull down stream. They hailed seve-
raj ships. but learned nothing.
| "There's the station" said Jack. 'and
there's a chap know Alloy sam!"
| One of the river police was baillng out
a boat
"TIello, Jack" no shouted chow COOS
it7'
"seen anything Of a barge adrlft7"
''Yes; picked one up last night. Shea
lyin' behind that Brazilian steamer.
There was a niger aboard.
The good news turned Cllvo into a now
man. He called out. asking II the negro
was safe, but the scream OF tugs
boat glided round the stern OF the biz
vessel, and they saw the barge moorod
to stake.
shes been ablaze." said Jack.
Give leaned forward; his heart was
sinking again The frame Of the httl'
window was charred and blackoned. Be.
hind her q boat swung In the current,
telling that someone was aboard;
ruby" shouted Give ruby"
e A mans head and shoulders appeared
at the window.
~ salvage chap" said Jack. WALT till
make fast, sir. Now you're right"
Give mounted on deck and foundercd
into the cabin.
where's tho negro?" nc painted.
I'm 'orspital, guv'nor.' said tho man
in charge Of the derelict. 1T you're tho
owner. the police wants to sec you.
There's been foul play"
"Is-is he hurt"
"A Bit but not so bad"
Give caught at the woodwork. Tie
saw the oily water cleaning through
the charred holes in tho floor. He dropped
on his knees and lifted the loose boards.
lie uttered no cry, but rose quietly to
his feet. His face had suddenly grown
old He bad been robbed
TN go to the hospltai az once" ne
said. with strange calmncss. II suppose
nothing has been touched?'
Mt reckon there wasn't lot to touch
grlnned the man. TITS Just as I found
1t, anyhow"
Give did not answer. The shock had
almost stunned him. He sat white and
still in the stern. staring straight before
him. Fills airy castles had tumbled about
his ears Others would reap In gold the
harvest he had sown in toll and bitter,
ness And who was the thief?
The boat touched the steps.
"cilve me the kitten, Jack" he said.
= d J.
And then hugging the cat In his arms. |
he walked away with springless tread.
CHAPTER TX.
To sleep pauper, to awake a King! @
Could even dreams stranger picture
bring?
But Jack N1arsden waited for Give in
vain. Give did not return He was
lying in one Of the white cots OF the hos
pital. muttering and raving wildly. The
doctor was puzzled but he was near the
mark when he put Gives illness down
to strong mental shock. Give how
ever. was tough. and they were all very
kind to him. It was three long weeks
before he began to see and understand.
Ruby haunted the place. for the sturdy
negro had soon recovered. And at last
Give awol1e, feeling very weak and
tired to wonder where he was. what no
was doing there, and what 1t was all
about.
Nurse Agnes looked after him. She
was q pretty. dark eyed girl, with a
gentle voice and gentle hands. Little
by little the mist faded Every dn2 there
were fresh flowers at Cltve's bedside, Flo
never thought OF asking who sent them,
They came from big-hearted Ruby. who
worked as hard as ever a Niger worked
as stevedore to buy comforts for
"Massa Give" Tho red-faced doctor
and the pretty. nurse were always max
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