Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-15

can De seen by reference to the plan; but
OF course the boys argued that there was
little chance thieves would attempt to come
IN that way, more especially since they would
nave no means of knowing that any money
was IN this particular room.
1t was when everything had been settled
to Their mutual satisfaction, both in the store
ana IN the living room portion of the boat,
that Jethro, who had been contentedly smok
ing hls pipe on the forward portion of the
craft, called out:
rs pretty nigh sundown, an I reckon
we'd better be looln' out for chance to tie
up. We Jest passed Rsin' Sun, an there's
some likely places on the Injanny side to lay
at"
The town of Rising Sun, in the State of
INDIANA thlrty-six miles below Cincinnati
mie, knowing how important it was that
boats like the River Queen should ''tie up"
in secluded and safe places. authorized the
cook to select such spot as he thought best
saw, nearly mile ahead, '..a right smart,
safe kind of a place." and all hands turned
to at the heavy sweeps to force the unwieldy
craft toward the shore.
The task was laborious rather than diff
cult, and soon the River Queen was moored,
bow and sterm to the steep bank, in sort of
eddy, where there was but little chance that
she would tug and chafe at her hawsers, as
would have been the case had she been lying
where she could feel the full force of the
current.
Jethro busted himself preparing supper,
True and Bent went on shore in search of
game or adventure, and Jimmie remained in
the store feasting his eyes on the neatly
arranged goods, which he believed were to
bring him in handsome profit.
A lantern had been hung the flagstaff,
even though it was not yet dark, to prevent
any possibility of the River Queens being
run into during the night by some passing
craft, and jim had assured himself that there
was no chance that the boat could break loose
during the night.
When True and Bent returned; when the
hanging lamps in the sitting room, the store
and the kitchen had been lighted; and when
a hearty supper was placed ON the table, the
boys thought, and rightly, too, that they were
in about as comfortable quarters could be
found.
They were already eongratulating each
other on the fact that no mishap had occur.
red on their first day, when Jethro driy
remarked:
the woods. It's, only bout a. dozen hours
sence we left Cincinnaty, an l wouldn't
wonder much eff we got inter trouble afoe
morning: I've heerd of sich things,
"What do you mean, JethroW asked True,
fancying he detected something queer in the
tone of the cooks voice.
81 don't mean nothin' more'n that it's
alters better to kinder watch out for trouble
alters watchin' out for bad luck don't git
disappointed when it comes"
AS he finished speaking, the cook walked
out on the stern of the boat, and True gazed
after him curiously, wondering if there could
have been any hidden meaning in his words.
The other boys did not think there any
thing unusual in the cooks speech or actions,
but laughed heartily at what Ned called
"evil croaking."
At eight o'clock True proposed that they
all go to bed, and having had consider
able excitement the past few days and having
arisen very early that morning every one
was so tired that the thought of turning in
was grateful one.
One more inspection was made that the
safety of the River Queen might be assured,
and the boys retired, leaving Jethro bustling
around in the kitchen, although what he
could possibly be l about thno4 no one aso knew
night" said Bent, with a laugh, as he rolled
himself up in the blankets of his BERTH
"True and I went fully mile back from
the shore, and we didn't see living thing
not even a squirrel"
"Oh, we needn't trouble about such things
Confidently. ~rifT "It's after we get into the,
Mississippi that there's any chance of trouble,
and even then l don't think there's much
danger, only it is just as well to be prepared
'Are the doors all locked, Jim?" asked
True.
'Every one"
"Then good night all"
In few minutes the. inmates of this
particular IOOm NtlS Slecp1nR dS OHly IlFeu
boys can sleep, while the tall, angular cook
was sitting in the kitchen as wide awake as
if a bed never had any cnarms for him.
How long True had been asleep when he
was awakened by crash as of breaking
glass he did not know, but it seemed that it
must be midnight when the noise caused him
to start to his feet exelaiming:
'What's the matter, boys-Bent Jim?"
Tn an instant the other two boys were out
of their berths, asking the cause of the out
crv' cr Il don't know" replied True, excitedly
ri heard noise as if glass was being broken
and / was only about half awake when
cale4 out. ,,
I:a.lA 4 H. lnr W. hn.r L..