Charlevoix county herald., 1908-12-19

si::sS windows of the neighbor-
hood, started briskly up
the steps Of No. 112 and pressed the
button.
Num-" he said to the elderly wom-
an who opened the door, II see by
these here notices that you hev rooms
to let. and as that's what I'm arter /
kinder cal'lated I'd gin We a call.
How much be they?"
He distracted a huge roll OF bills
from his trousers pocket and thrust
them bunglingly into her hand.
do what ye can for me on thet,"
he continued. Count 1t out and see
what's In 1t. Twas 300 when
skinned her over, and cal'lated
'twould do. Stow the ditty-box under
the berth and long bout eight bells
I'll drift back and kinder tidy things
up bit for night. Good-day, NUM-"
He gave his hat an awkward pull
and waddled off hurriedly, leaving the
lodging mistress red in the face and
short OF breath with the surprise of
her life.
Save us, there's wan man for
youse!" she gasped, following him
with amazed eyes as he stumped down
the street on his short legs, the huge
trousers Topping in the wind, the rusty
hat pulled down to his cars and the
coatsleeves dangling to within an inch
of the tips of his stubby fingers.
At noon the queer lodger returned,
received his key and was shown to his
quarters. Pausing on the threshold
he turned to Mrs. Tull, the flesh OF his
face packed like hard putty, as i'm
mobile as a board, his unwinking eyes
staring into her own.
Num-" he said in voice like fog
horn, my name is Golfer, Cap'n
Joshua S. Golfer. This here is my
cabin. Dye see? IT'S mine for one
twelvemonth. Ontil thet time is up
1 cal'late I'm the size myself to load
1t clean to the skylight, and l don't
never low to hev no petticoats fussin'
up any vessel O mine. I'll swab the
docks and trim sails myself and now
you en- go below and stay there.
Show your figgerhead on my compan-
ionway agin without orders and I'll
shove We plumb overheard through the
portfolio"
At II o'clock the next morning,
when she heard him bulkily descend
ing the stairs, she stood in the back
parlor doorway to observe him, but
had the doughty captain CHANGED to
look that way he could have seen
nothing but the tip OF an inquisitive
nose and the toe Of a large boot 1t
was the same on the second and third
mornings, but on the fourth the cap
tain did not appear at IL o'clock as
usual She felt some uneasiness oser
this fact, which grew greater when
the next~1ay also he remained invis-
fble. For more than 4S hours not
sound had issued from his room. She
waited until the next noon, and then,
ell remaining as quiet as the houses
of the dead, she ventured up to the
head of the stairs and stood a mo-
ment gazing steadfastly at the closed
door of the mysterious cabin"
Always at this stage of reflection,
with persons of Ann Tull's grade of
mind and experience, the police be-
gin to figure. And within ten minutes
afterward she was standing on the
stairs pointing out to an inspector and
a plain-clothes man the door behind
which lurked some dark secret, she
was sure.
Looks to me as IL he had rum" said
the inspector How much was he
into you, Mrs. TULIP"
mot wan clint. / know me business.
'Tis in advance / always do be getting
II from strange vans"
"WeII. don't see as there's any
thing for us here" remarked the in
snector taking a last look around.
sT,ock UP the room and keep the key
EN- his time is out, or till he comes
hack. But IL anything more turns up
10, us know at the station" Then he
vent away with his man.
At eight o'clock young Autograph
ar who with his brother, a house
oainter, occupied the room directly
ever the captains. came jumping down
che stairs. and tearing the bitchen door
omen rushed upon Mrs. Tull, and put
t,ns his hands on her shoulders began
60 sob. crying brokenly:
ooh. I am sorry, / am sorry! II
waa Jim and me that done It. told
btm we'd be found out, and now It's
come. What shall we do? Can't you
hide us. Mrs. Tull, and say nothing?
Then Il will be oil right. for nobody