Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-06-15

haps things would be cast down upon
us. That would be the quickest way
OF getting rid Of you. But now must
get out of sight, or somebody will come
and spoil everything"
Dickory Charter had not told Miss
Kate Bonnet all that he had heard
when he was stealthily wandering
about the ship. He had slipped down
into the chains near a portfolio, on
the other side of which Big Sam and
the black-haired man were taking sup
per, and he heard great deal of talk
Among other things he heard bit of
conversation which, when expurgated
of it's oaths and unpleasant expressions,
was like this:
"You are sure you can trust the
men?" said Black-hair
"Oh, yes!" replied the other, they're
all right"
'Then why don't you go now? At
any time officers may be rowing out
here to search the vessel"
And well they might. For what
needs an old farmer with an empty ves-
sci, crew of 70 men, and ten guns?
He is in trouble, you may wager your
life on that or he would be coming to
see about his girl
"And what will you do about her."
"Oh, she'll not be in the way" an
swered Big Sam with a laugh. IF he
doesn't take her of before l sail, that's
his business. II am obliged to leave
port without his cash box, will marry
his daughter and become his son-lp-
law-1 don't doubt we can find a par
son among all the rascals on board
then, perhaps, he will think it his duty
to send me drafts to the different ports
touch at"
At this good joke. both of them
laughed.
The minutes moved slowly, very
slowly indeed, as Kate sat, listening
for the sound of the old clock, and at
the same time listening for the sound
of approaching footsteps.
1t was now so dark that size could
not have seen anybody without light,
but she could hear as if she possessed
the ears of cat.
Presently the old clock struck, enc.
two In a moment she was climbing
over the rail. In the darkness sht
missed the heavy bit of rope which
Dickory had showed her, but feeling
about she clutched it and let herself
down to the ledge below Her nerves
were quite firm now. 1t was necessary
to be so very particular to follow Dick
ory's directions to the letter, that her
nerves were obliged to be firm. She
slipped still farther down and sat side
ways upon the narrow ledge. So mar
row that if the vessel had rolled she
could not have remained upon it.
There she waited.
Then there came, sharper and clearer
out of the darkness in the direction OF
the town, the first stroke of nine
o'clock from the tower of the new
church. Before the second stroke had
sounded she was hanging by her two
hands from the ledge. She hung at her
full length; she put her feet together;
she hoped that she would go down
smoothly and make no splash. Three
four-hve- six-seven-e eight - nine
and she let her fingers slip from the
ledge. Down she went, into The dark
ness and into the water, not knowing
where one ended and the other began.
Her. eyes were. closed, but they might
as well have been open; there was
nothing for her to see in all that
blackness. Down she went, as If il
were to the very bottom of black air
and black water. And then, suddenly
she felt an arm around her. 't =
Dickory was there!
~. ITO Be Ceut1nHSd.1