Mower County transcript., 1908-11-04

the rail and dropped into the black
water.
Mike O'Connor's quick wits were
hard at work the moment after Jerry
announced his determination to leave
the vessel that night and to risk his
life in the waters of the harbor. Aft
er taking the launch in about 100
yards he suddenly stopped the ma
chinery and appeared to be worried.
Come, come, man." impatiently said
Andre, who sat nearest him. "Why
do you not go on?'
"The propeller is baking" answered
Mike, seeming to concentrate his
whole attention to part of the ma
chinery. His sole purpose in stopping
the machinery was to afford Jerry all
possible time before effecting a land
ing. The delay was not as long as he
intended it should be, for the i'm
patient, nervous Andre touched the
wheel that set the propeller in motion
again.
Mike made no excuse, but his wits
were working harder than ever. He
was as familiar with the waters and
the dockage of Vera Cruz as any sailor
that came to them, but this time he
determined to make his memory fall
Ing. Instead of drawing up at the
proper pier he nosed the boat into an
adjoining slip, discovering the mis-
take" only after he had gone Is yards.
He exercised undue caution in swing
ing the launch around and in picking
his way to the right landing place,
which, judging from the conversation,
was familiar to Andre. As he brought
the boat to a stop, he figured that he
had unnecessarily consumed about 20
minutes. He also knew, however. that
Jerry had not had time to reach the
pier, and there was a feeling deep in
his heart that he would not succeed
in getting to shore at all.
Andre and Felipe appeared very
nervous as they landed, each contin-
ually casting his eyes about and scan
ming the faces Of the few men at the
landing. Mike assisted in taking
some luggage to the end of the pier,
where closed carriage was in wait
Ing. There was no other vehicle in
sight, and the quick-thinking Irish
American, unable to hear the instruc-
tions given the driver, noted the color
OF the horses and got good look at
the man on the box. Andre gave Mike
a coin, and the next moment the
horses were Gathering down the dark,
narrow street.
Mike waited in the shadows at the
end of the pier for more than two
hours, and he was beginning to fear
all the more that Jerry had not sue
ceeded in reaching shore when he saw
a small boat draw up at the landing.
He got farther back in the shadows,
for he knew that the boat was from
the yacht. Presently the captain and
member of the crew walked briskly-
down the pier, stopping and looking
about within 20 feet from where he
was hidden.
'He's had more than plenty of time
to get back" fumed the captain, who
wore a bandage over his eye, land
he is In league with that other fellow.
T.
Americana"
The conversation that followed in
dicated to Mike that the jackie was in
the captains confidence.
'You know where they went from
here?" asked the jackie.
ITO a house in Celle Cordoba, I
think" said the officer. Il don't know
whoro II 10 ond a. will ho ;v,oooce;h1o
for me to see them until they keep
their appointment with me to-day"
Mike O'Connor determined not to
lose sight of the captain, but q few
minutes later the officer and his man
returned to the yacht. Mike watched
them until he saw them going over
the side of the vessel, and then ven
tured from his hiding place, just in
time to see the dripping Jerry coming
towards him.
THANK God, you're saved, anyway"
exclaimed Mike, drawing him into the
shadows and embracing him. Jerry
was SO exhausted that he could not
speak for minute or two, and it was
not until Mike had gone down the
street to an "all-nighter" and procured
some whisky, of which Jerry partook
freely, that he told of his death-in-
viting swim. The excitement that
was aroused within him by the story
told by Mike gave him new strength.
It was agreed that the thing to do
was to await the captain and to
shadow him to the place where he was
to meet Andre and Felipe. In the
meantime, one at time, they bought
suits OF cheap clothing and ate break
fast at a little restaurant nuar the
pier.
To be continued