Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-22

see about his girl"
 And what will you do about herr"
 "Oh, she'll not be in the way" an- swered Big Sam with a laugh. "If he doesn't take her off before sail, that's his business. If am obliged to leave port without his cash box, will marry his daughter and become. his son-in- law-I don't doubt we can find 8 par son among all the rascals on board then, perhaps, he will think 1t his duty to send mo 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.
 It was now so dark that she could not have seen anybody without light, but she could hear as if she possessed the ears of a cat. ..
 Presently the old clock struck, one, two In moment she was climbing over the rail. In the darkness she 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. It 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-fve-six-se eight - nine and she let her fingers slip from the ledge. Down she went, into llne 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 1t were to the very bottom of black air and black water. And then, suddenly she felt an arm around her. aDickory was there!
 She felt herself rising, and Dickory was rising, still with his arm around her. In moment her head was in the oir hn ho wI,a felt that he was swimming, with one arm and both legs InstinctiveIy she tried to help him, for she had learned to swim. They went on dozen strokes or more, with much labor, until they touched something hard
 My boat" said Dickory in the low- 1 est of whispers; take hold of it.'' Kate did so, and he moved from her.. | She knew that he was clambering into | the boat, although she could not see or I hear him. Soon he took hold of her l under her arms, and he lifted with the l strength of young lion, yet so slowly. l go warily, that not a drop of water could be heard dripping from her gar l ments And when she@Vas drawn up I high enough to help herself, he pulled l. ACI HI, SI4il WdIlly Auu CAOWly. AcA he slipped to the bow and cast of the rope with which the canoe had been anchored It was his only rope, but he 1 could not risk the danger of pulling up l the bit of rock to which the other end | of 1t was fastened Then, with q pad dle, worked as silently as if 1t had been handled by an Indian, the canoe moved away, farther and farther, into ] the darkness.
 "Is all well with your" said Dickory, thinking he might now safely murmur few words.
 All we'll" she murmured back, stex- cept that this is the most uncomforta- ble boat ever sat in!''
 T expect you are on my orange bas- ket.9 he said; perhaps you can move 1t & Httle.''
 Now he padded more strongly, and then he stopped.
 Where shalf take you, Mistress Bonnet?" lie asked, little louder than he had dared to speak before.
 Kate heaved sigh before she an swered; she had been saying her prayers.
  she answered, "but it seems to me that you can't see to take me anywhere. Everything is just as black as pitch, one way or another"
 ''But I know the river" he said, with light or without it. I have gone home on nights as black as this. Will ' you go to the town?"
 "I would not know where to go to there" she answered, land in such a plight"
 ''Then to your home" said he sBut that will be long row, and you must be very cold Y
 She shuddered, but not With cold. If her father had been at home it would have been all right, but her stepmother would be there, and that would not be all right. She would not know what to say to ter. I Tes1