Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-08-06
CHAPTER IN

enumerated the caDby, his tone
4 that of man prepared for
trouble. inclined to give trouble well
: come. His bloodshot eyes blinked
trucuently at his alighted fare Three
N six." he iterated aggressively.
An adjacent but heretofore abstract
ed policeman pricked up his ears and
assumed an intelligent expression.
'Bermondsey or Stairs to Sam Pan
cras." argued the cabby assertively,
seven mile by tn radius-three m
ski"
kirkwood stood on the outer station
platform. near the entrance to third
class waiting rooms. Continuing to
tumble through his pockets for an elu-
sive sovereign purse. he looked up
mildly at the man.
"All right. cabby," he said, with pa
chic purpose; you'll get your fare in
half q shake"
''Thrce N ski" croaked the cabby.
like blowsy and vindictive parrot.
The bobby strolled nearer.
"fes?' said Kirkwood, mildly divert
ed. why not sing it, cabby?"
"Lor' lumme!" The cabby exploded
with Indignation, continuing to give a
lifelike imitation of rumpled parrot.
Il 'ad trouble enough wifi you at Ber-
mondsey or Stairs hover that quid
you promised. didn't 1? Sing it! My
hcye!"
"Quid, cabby?" And then, remem-
bering that lie had promised the fell
low sovereign for fast driving from
Quadrant news. Kirkwood grinned
broadly, eyes twinkling. for Mulready
must have fallen heir to that covenant.
But you got the sovereign? You got
it. didn't you, cabby?"
The driver affirmed the fact with I'm.
necessary heat and profanity and an
amendment to the effect that lie would
nave spoiled his fares sanguinary
conk had the outcome been less salts
factory.
Inc Information proved SO amusing
that hirkwood, chuckling. forbore to
resent the manner of it's delivery and,
abandoning until Il more favorable time
the chase of the coy sovereign purse.
extracted from one trousers pocket
half handful Of large English small
change.
"Three shillings and sixpence." He
counted the coins into the cabby's
grimy and bloated paw and added
quietly: "rhe exact distance is rather
less than four miles. my man-your
fare. precisely shilings. You may
Keep the extra IS pence for be-
ing such conscientious blackguard-
N tel,
Please yourself"
tie nodded to the bobby. who, favor
ably impressed by Kirkwood, smiled
at the cabby cold. hard smile,
whereupon the latter. smirking in un-
abashed triumph. spat on the pave
ment at Kirkwood's feet. gathered up
the reins and wheeled out.
restoring 2 shillinGs and q few
rat copper pennies to his pocket. he
entered the vast and echoing train
shed. In the act his attention was
attracted and Immediately rivetcd by
the spectacle of Il bury luggage navy
IN a blue jumper in the act of making
or With Il large folding signboard, of
which the surface was lettered ex-
pansively with the advice. in red
against white background. "Boat
Train Leaves on Track 81
EXcitedly Kirliwood touched the
mans arm with a OBTAINING hand.
Boat train?" he gasped. pointing ut
the board
Left ten minutes ago. thank you,
SIR
We'll but OF course l can get
another train at Tilbury?"
'For yer boat? No. sir. thank you,
Sir. Won't be another tryne till morn
In, sir"
"Oh-hw
Aimlessly Kirkwood drifted away
his mind blank.
Some time later he found himself on
the steps outside the station. trying to
stare out of countenance glaring
electric mineral water advertisement
on the farther side of the Euston road
He was stranded.
Distracted, he searched pocket after
pocket. locating his watch, cigar case
and cigarette case, matchbox, pen
knife. all the minutiae of pocket hard
ware affected by civilized man. With
old letters Il cardcase IL square EN-
velope containing his steamer ticket,
but no sovereign purse. His small
change pocket held less than 3
shillings-two and eight. to be exact
and brass key. which he failed tc
recognize as one of his belongings.
And that was all At some time dur.
ing the night he had lost Tor been cum
ningly bereft OFF, that little purse of
chanois skin containing the three gold.
Ell sovereigns which he had been hus-
banding to pay his steamer expenses
and which. if only he had them now.
would stand between him and starva-
ton and Il night in the streets II
Brentwick We're only in town! But he
wasn't and wouldn't be within the
week.
mo good waiting here" he conclud-
ed. Composing his face, he re-entered
the station. There were his trunks. of
course. He couldn't leave them stand
ing on the station platform forever.
He found the luggage room and in
terviewed mechanically courteous at
tendant. who. as the result of profound
deliberation. advised him to try his
luck ut the lost luggage room across
the station. He accepted the advice.
1t was foregone conclusion that his
effects had not been conveyed to the
Tilbury dock. They could not have
been loaded into the luggage van with
out his personal supervision Still, any,