Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-20

"Boat?" mumbled the man, scratch
ing his head to stimulate thought
Down the creeks? Lord love you, sir
you can borrow Mr.. shil's punt"
do you mean to say cried Tan
kerlane, that there are no boats in
this country. which seems chock full
of water? How the devil do you get
about it,"
mo there amt no boats,' the man
replied slowly. We've no call for
boats. Them as has boats come from
sea. and not from land. We amt
marsh folk in Pinge."
do yous mean to say that I can't
get boat anywhere near here?"
mo, you can't, for certain. But
there's plenty of boats at Gor'ven
Fishin boats, yachts, steamin' boats,
most anythin' you please"
do you know Con sea?" asked Tan
kerlane, pronouncing the name as he
had heard it from the lips of the
keeper.
81 amt never heard of it. But you'd
best go to Gor'ven. and they'll larn
you all about boats and marshes. I
come Of inland folk, do; I amt new
er bin in a boat and by the Lords
help I never will"
Tankerlane looked at the man in
blank amazement The station of
Pinge was but two miles from the
creeks. and here was man who had
never been in boat.
Glow far is Gor'ven?" he asked.
Matter o twenty mile
when is there a train?"
In ten minutes. If 1t amt late"
"How long does it take to get
there?"
Matter of an hour"
Great Scott" cried Tankerlane.
mad with Impotence. "This must be
the end of the world. I suppose I can
get food there, or are they all vege-
tarians?"
There be seventeen publics there
the man replied proudly.
'Where is the booking Officer
asked Tankerlane He had resolved
to spend the night in a place where he
could obtain boat and commence
his search in the morning. "Gor'ven'
as the porter called it, was evidently
part of the civilized world.
The porter did not reply. but led the
way to small black shed covered
with tarred felt After fumbling in his
pocket for key he opened door,
and slid back a tiny hatch in the
wall.
"Where for?" he said mechanically,
as though the words were necessary
to give validity to the issue Of the
ticket.
"Gor'ven." replied Tankerlane
sharply. "First class single
The man retired from the opening,
and mooned around the inside of the
hut looking at the various tickets in
their little pigeon holes. When he had
spent three minutes in this apparently
pleasing occupation, Tankerlane lost
his temper.
Hurry up" he exclaimed savagely.
81 can't wait here all night while
you're taking walk"
"There amt no hurry" the man
said sullenly Trains twenty minutes
late"
"Ill report you to the station mas
ter il you don't look sharp" S.
"You'd best not, sir" the man re-
piled. "'Tis his day for beans on Fri
day, and theym as bad as meat for
him. He gets that cross and uppish,
and he kick just like an old horse He
can't a-bear strangers worriting him
bout trains. But here's ticket, if
you'm in a hurry"
He stamped the slip of pink card
board and handed it to Tankerlane,
who looked at it and saw that the
name of the station was Gorehaven
Cant you get me a drink of wa,
ter?" Tankerlane asked in concilia-
tory tone.
Cant leave booking Office now it's
OPEN" the man replied. But there's
a tap round corner"
Tankerlann swore loudly. but he
was too thirsty to waste much time in
abuse. He found the tap, and, turning
it on, drank out of his hands. The
water was slightly brackish and me-
tallic in taste, but it relieved his
thirst.
Half an hour afterwards the last
train from London steamed slowly
into the platform. Tankerlane watch
ed the lighted carriages pass by him.
Then. Just as the train came to a
standstill, he gave a start and moved
a step Or two backwards into the
darkness of the dinly lit station He
had seen the face of Leonore looking
through the glass of one of the win.
dows
"Pinge. Pinge. Pinge. cried the por,
ter, who had closed the booking of
fee, and was slouching along the plat.
form, lantern in hand. No one got out
of the train, but the beanfed station
master appeared at the door of his
house, and stroked his yellow beard
Then, with a look Of contempt at the
train. he retired and closed the
door behind him.
The porter who appeared to be in
charge of everv department in the
station waved his lantern. and the
guard of the train blew whistle
Then the train began to move, and
not till then did Tankerlane leave the
shadow Of the wooden roof, and make
dash for Leonore's carriage. He
knew we'll enough that she would
have changed to another compart
ment if he had appeared moment
sooner. AS it was. he would be able
to talk TO her until the next stopping
place. He opened The door, and. jump