Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-29

L.
doesn't she stop for passengers?"
''Nope."
Glow does she know when there's
freight"
"Oh they signal her from the MILL"
But Thorpe was gone
At the mill Thorpe dove for the en-.
CINE room. He knew that elsewhere
the clang Of machinery and the hurry
Of business would leave scant attention
for him; and, besides, from the engine
room the Signals would be given. He
found, as is often the case in north
country sawmills, Scotchman in
charge.
"Does the boat stop here this morn
ing? be inquired.
'Weel," replied the engineer, with
fearful elaboration, IT Gamma say. But
I haze received ma orders to that effect"
Cant you whistle her in for mey'
asked Thorpe.
! II canna," answered the engineer,
promptly enough this time.
"Why not?"
"Ye're ma what body might call
freight"
mo other way out of it,"
INA"
Thorpe was seized with an idea.
"Here!" he cried. "See that bowlder
over there? want to ship that to.
Mackinaw City by freight on this
boat" "a
The scotchman's eyes twinkled ap-
preciatively.
''I'm dootin' We hae tn freight bill
from the Office" he objected simply.
"See here" replied Thorpe, give got
to get that boat. It's worth $50 to me,
and I'll square it with the captain.
There's your twenty"
The Scotchman deliberated, looking
aslant at the ground and thoughtfully
oiling cylinderSwith greasy rag.
1T rnT be matter of life and
death?" he asked hopefully. "She aye
stops for life and DEATH"
Then. with an explosion: Yes, by
heaven, it is! If l don't make that
boat I'll kill your
The Scotchman chuckled and pocket
ed the money.
"I'm dootin' that's in order" he re-
piled. I'll be no party to any such
proceedings. I'm goin' moo for fresh
pail of waiter" he remarked, pausing
at the door, "but as wee item of in
formation yander's tn wheestle rope,
and mon wheestles one short and one
long for tn boat"
he disappeared. Thorpe seized the
cord and gave the signal. Then he
ran hastily to the end of the long lum-
Der docks and peered with great eager
ness in the direction of the black
smoke.
The steamer was as vet concealed be-
hind low spit of land which ran out
mem the west to form one side OF the
harbor. In a moment, however, her
bows appeared, headed directly down
toward the strait of Mackinaw. When
opposite the little bay, with a grand
free sweep she turned and headed eli
rectly for him.
He negotiated briefly with the cap
tafn, paid $40 more for speed and the
privilege Of landing at Mackinaw City.
Then he slept for eight hours on end
and was awakened in time to drop into
a small boat, which deposited him on
the broad sand beach Of the lower pen
lnsula-
The train was Just leisurely making
up for departure. Thorpe, dressed as
he was in old pepper and salt" gar
ments patched with buckskin, his hat
a Hopping travesty on headgear, his
moccasins worn and dirty, his face
bearded and bronzed, tried as much
as possible to avoid attention. He sent
an instant telegram to Wallace Carpen-
ter conceived as follows:
Wire thirty thousand my order care land
Office. Detroit, before 9 o'clock tomorrow
night Important
Then he took a seat in the baggage
car on pile Of boxes and philosoph-
tcally waited for the train to start He
knew that sooner or later the man, pro-
vided he were on the train, would stroll
through the car, and he wanted to be
out Of the way. The baggage man
proved friendly, so Thorpe chatted
with him till after bedtime. Then he
aenLereu Tie SMOKING Car anu waited
patiently for morning.
At the last thought Thorpe decided
to send a second message from the
next station. He did SO. 1t read:
Another buyer Of timber on same train
with me. Must have money at o'clock
or lose land.
He paid day rates on it to insure i'm
mediate delivery. Suppose the boy
should be away from home!
Everything depended on Wallace
Carpenter, and Thorpe could not but
confess the chance slender. One other
thought made the night seem long.
Thorpe had but $50 left.
Morning came at last and the train
drew in and stopped. Thorpe, being