Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-10-04
CHAPTER III.


fast a servant Of the hotel entered to
tell me that a man who wished to speak
with me was waiting outside. l said,
Send the man here" and presently he
entered, when to my intense surprise
found him to be no other than one of the
rufians-the one called "Four-Eyes," L
had met on the previous evening. He
walked into the room with a seaman's
lurch. His first words were somewhat
unexpected:
'Oi was priests boy in Tipperary.'
said he. and then he looked round as if
that information should put him on good
terms with US.
''Will you sit down, please" was my
request as he stood lingering his hat
Thanking yer honor, it's meself that
amt aisy on them land craft I'll be
standin. sure, an gettin' to the writin'
which is fur yer honor's ear alone as me
Observation-Disclosures goes"
He gave me a letter, we'll written on
good paper. l write it here:
Captain Black presents his compli-
ments to Mr.. Mark Strong. and hopes
that it will be his privilege to receive
him on his yacht La France, now lying
owe ragainst the American vessel Port
land. in Dieppe harbor, at II tonight"
Now. that was curious thing, indeed.
Not only did it appear that my pretense
of being Halls partner in trade was COM
pletely unmasked by this man. but he had
my name. Whether such knowledge was
good for me | could not then say but
made up my mind to act with cunning
and to shield Hall in so far as was posi-
BILE
Did your master tell You to wait for
any answer" | asked suddenly.
rs it for the likes of me to be advisin'
yer honor? Sure says he, If the gen
tleman has the moind to wrote he'll
WROTE. if he has the moind to come
aboard he'll come aboard f."
Tell your master, with my compli-
ments,' | said, that | will come another
time-I have business in Paris to-day"
He looked at me earnestly. and when
he spoke again his voice had fatherly
ring IF | make bold, it's yer honor's
forgiveness 1 ask-but, if it was me that
was in Paris I'd stay there"
When he was gone, the others, who
had not spoken, turned to me, their eyes
ASKING LOT an exp
Zone of Halls friends" I said, trying
to look unconcerned. "the mate on the
yacht La France-the vessel he joins
to-day"
Roderck tapped the table with his fin
gers: Mary was very white, I thought.
HE knows a queer company" L added.
with grim attempt at POPULARITY.
they're almost as rough as he is"
DO you still mean TO sail to-night?"
asked Roderick.
II must | have made promise to
reach Plymouth without a moments de-
lay
"Then 1 sail with you,p said he, being
very wide-awake.
"Oh. but you can't leave Paris; you
promised Mary
YES. and l release him at once" in
terrupted Mary. the color coming and 60
ing in her pretty cheeks. Il shall sail
from Calais tonight, with you and Rod
erick."
I'VE mean to come" added Roderick.
Go and pack your things, Mary I have
something to say to Mark.
We were alone, he and l, but there was
between us the first shadow that had come
upon our friendship.
Well" said he. 'how much am I to
know? | distrust Hall who seems to me a
perfect mailman. He'll drag you into
some mess, if you'll let him. 1 suppose
there's no danger vet or you wouldn't let
Mary come"
There can be no risk now-we are go
ing for three days cruise in the Chan
mel. that is all"
/ we at once to the office of the po-
lice, ana laid as much of the case before
one of the heads as | thought needful to
my purpose. He laughed at me; the yacht
La France was known to him as the
property of an eccentric American mill
ionaire, and he could not conceive that
anyone might be in danger aboard her.
As there was no hope from him. drove
to the embassy. where one of the clerks
heard my whole story; and while inward
ly laughing at my fears. as l could see,
promised to telegraph to friend in Ca
lais. and get n message delivered that
might call Hall back to Paris.
had done all in my power. and l
returned to the hotel. but the others had
left for the station. Thither l followed
them, instructing a servant to come to me
it, any telegram. should be sent: and so
reached the train. Ii was not. however,
until the very moment of our departure
that messenger raced to our carriage,
and thrust a paper at me; and then
knew that my warning had come too late.
The paper said:
La France has sailed and your friend
with her ~